LAW AND CONSCIENCE
Romans 2:12-16
Tenth in the sermon series, “Romans: Gospel Blueprint.”
Paul has argued that the Jew who judges others has no excuse if he practices the same sins. He cannot escape God’s judgment by knowing the law, condemning sin, or teaching others. God’s kindness and patience should lead him to repentance, not to a hard heart. God will render to each one according to his works, giving glory and peace to those who do good, but wrath and distress to those who do evil. This judgment comes to the Jew first and also to the Greek, for God shows no partiality. Paul is making a case that all are guilty. Therefore, everyone needs the gospel of Christ.
Doers of the Law
How will God judge the Gentiles when they do not have the law? Paul anticipates this question. He explained that all who sinned without the law, the Gentiles, will perish without the law. The Jews who have the law will be judged by the law. Only the doers of the law will be justified.
Romans 2:12-13: For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
The apostle will explain in his letter that no one can be justified by the law because no one has obeyed it completely. The verdict for both Jew and Gentile is: guilty. God only justifies the doers of the law, not merely the hearers.[1]
Law and Conscience
Paul asserts that the Gentiles, even though they were not given the Mosaic law, do what the law expects from them. The argument might be similar to God making Himself “known” to the Gentiles (1:19-20). God has put a law in the conscience of the Gentiles even without the law.[2]
Romans 2:14-15: For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
The apostle seeks to show that God is at work in the consciences of the Gentiles. There is a sense of morality, even though it is distorted. There is a knowledge of what is right in their conscience.[3] Despite this, Paul would unveil the truth that all are guilty.
Judging the Secrets
According to Paul’s gospel, there is a day when God will judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. God will judge the Jew based on the Mosaic Law. God will judge the Gentiles based on their conscience. The secrets of men refer to the violation of the conscience in man, but it includes all deeds, even the hidden.
Romans 2:16: on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Paul’s intent in this section is to explain to the readers that both Jew and Gentile will be judged according to God’s righteousness. The Jew is not free from judgment just because he knows the Mosaic Law. The Gentiles, without the Mosaic Law, will be judged according to their conscience.[4] The judge is Christ.
Application
1. Let us not be hearers only. It is not enough to know the word of God, read the word of God, or listen to the word of God. We must obey His word. Those who know His will but reject it will be judged by it. Therefore, let us repent, believe in Christ, and live as doers of the word.
2. Let us listen to the witness of our conscience. It bears witness, and our thoughts accuse or excuse us before God. Therefore, let us repent and come to Christ, who alone can cleanse the guilty conscience.
Let us remember that God will judge even the secrets of men. Nothing is hidden from Him, and Christ Jesus will be the Judge on that day. Therefore, let us repent, believe the gospel, and walk before God with a sincere heart.
[1] Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans (Encountering Biblical Studies), ed. Walter A. Elwell (Baker Academic, 2014), Part 2.
[2] Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans, 2nd ed. (Eerdmans, 2018), 160.
[3] Frank S. Thielman, Romans, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan Academic, 2018), Romans 2:15.
[4] Thielman, Romans, Romans 2:16.
Poem
ONLY CHRIST HAS PASSED by Ed Pilapil Jr Gentiles without the law; do sin Jews with the law are judged within Hearing it cannot justify The doers live before God’s eye The Gentiles have the law inside It’s the conscience, they must abide Not a covenant; a compass But God’s standard, who can pass? No man can hide what he has done Before the Father and the Son The secrets of your heart are known And God will judge through Christ alone God’s standard, only Christ has passed His covenant is our compass By faith we live; that we have known Salvation is in Christ alone
Study Guide
1. What will happen to those who sin without the law and to those who sin under the law? (Ro 2:12-13)
2. What is written on the hearts of the Gentiles who do not have the law? (Ro 2:14-15)
3. What will God judge by Christ Jesus on that day? (Ro 2:16)
