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. ¹⁴ 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 ¹⁶ on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Romans 2: 12-16

Like we said before, Paul is making the case for the gospel. He is spelling out the human need for Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you have the law or you don’t have the law. All will be judged.

Those, like the Jews, who grew up with the law – still break it. Those who did not have the law but they have done what is right without it because of the work of the law that is written on the heart. They live by a conscience given to them by God and they act against it. We are judged not by whether of not we had or didn’t have the law. We are judged because we have sinned. Period.

People can live all their lives doing exactly what the law commands but because of the sin nature of the heart we still will have walked in sin and are in need of Jesus. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Jesus calls us to another way, a new way, a new covenant, one made in His blood.

People can live all their lives according to the letter of the law, according to the “right and wrong” of the conscience but it is not enough. We must have Christ’s blood applied to our sin debt!

We are absolutely accountable to God and the One who is our Judge – Christ Himself.

Do you know Him today?

All is grace,

Starla