Romans 2:14-16 - 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
Message: Everyone has a law written on their hearts. Everyone.
Time: Romans was probably written during Paul’s third missionary journey from
Corinth to a Jewish/Gentile church in Rome (around 56-57 AD).
What the Lord is Saying:
Verses 14-16 are a clarification of verse 12. Here is a further clarification of the light or the standard that the Gentile has received. The Gentile can't say that they are not accountable to God because they are not the chosen people and therefore did not receive the Law. The amazing thing about God's law is that it is in written on our hearts.
When I speak to people, using the 10 commandments, it is amazing that in talking about lying, stealing, adultery, murder, or disobeying parents, these are all things that people realize they should not be doing. Thus, the Law is written on their hearts. No one has to tell them that lying is bad or stealing is wrong.
The Unheard
Verse 15 also reminds me of the answer to the question that I often hear and that is, "What about the person that has never heard of Christ?" Well, it is clear here that all people have a standard inside. The Jews were given the Law and are clearly accountable to it, but all other men have a written law on their hearts, their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them and so they are accountable to the law in their hearts.
And so, in my thinking, just as in Romans 1:20, everyone knows that there is a God based upon the testimony of creation, man should always know there is something greater than himself. Could salvation be for someone that hasn't ever heard of Christ the simple recognition that there is something beyond themselves? That they are accountable to their own law and yet there is still something above them.
Coveting and the secrets of men
The last commandment or the sin of coveting is one that has always stood out to me and in verse 15 and 16, it is mentioned. It reminds me that my thoughts are acting as judge and jury often when I consider what to do. And ultimately, God's judgment will fall on my secrets.
This is really a major thought that man really can't comprehend. The scripture is clear that it isn't just what comes out of a man in their actions that is a problem, but it is what is on the inside that sometimes never comes out. Just because I would never say what I'm thinking or do what I'm thinking doesn't mean I am not accountable for what I am thinking.
The Changing World
One of the biggest problems I see as time goes by is the standards of scripture are no longer accepted in the world as standards. 100 years ago, stealing and lying were also judged in life, but now they are not held in the same level of wrongness. They are excused. When we don't spend our time training ourselves by the Word of God, then we get trained by the world and the world's standards are becoming more blurry.
Promise: It is a great promise that the standards man are consistent for everyone, the Gentile, the Jew, the religious, the non-religious, those aware of the Law and God, those that don't. Everyone is accountable for the Law is written on their hearts.
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