2:1-5 – Summary:

  • v.1 – “O man” = hypothetical person, specifically speaking of “Judaizers”
    • ALL will be judged by actions
  • v.2 – God judges perfectly by His unswerving standard
  • v.3 – Can’t ‘fool’ God
  • v.4 – “His goodness” = blessings and favor you receive in this life
    • False view: If I have good things in this life it must mean that God approves of my conduct and is blessing me for good behavior.
    • 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 11:22-33
  • v. 5 – riches + unrepentant heart in this life = wrath in eternity

2:6-11 – Summary:

Two views:

  1. Final judgment will be based on works. . . or
  2. God’s covenant with Adam is still in effect for those who are not in Christ

2:12-16 – Summary:

  • vv.12-13 – sin = sin…no matter the context
  • v. 14 – there is sense of right and wrong in everyone
    • v. 15 – hearts–conscience–thoughts
  • v. 16 – God judges through Jesus Christ
    • Jesus knows ALL

2:17-24 – Summary:

  • vv.17-20 – “Jew” = reliance on law, boast in special relationship with God, know God’s will, approve goodness, instructed from law, guide the blind, give light to darkness, teach fools and infants, a sense of knowledge and truth through law
    • note: 1 Tim. 1:6-11 – “the law is good if one uses it lawfully” (v.8)
  • vv.21-23 – disobedient hearer of the law = sinner
    • cf. Matt. 7:24-27; 23:2-4; James 1:22-25 – doing must combine with hearing 
    • Luke 13:26-27 – Warning: There will be some people who think Christ will receive them into eternity because they have “heard” his teachings, but will be rejected because: (1) Christ didn’t intimately know them, (2) They were not born from heaven, (3) They disobeyed Christ. 
  • v.24 – the Jews’ law (i.e. Scripture) condemns them
    • Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:20,23 – God cares about the reputation of his name

2:25-29 – Summary: 

  • Genesis 17:9-14
  • Deuteronomy 18:15ff
  • Acts 3:22-23
  • Galatians 3:26-29
  • Romans 11:17ff
  • Philippians 3:2-3
  • John 5:46