Romans 2:12-16 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Romans 2:12-16. Let’s go!
Romans 2:12-16 (NIV)
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,
15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)
16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
On verses 12-16: Here Paul addresses the question, “How can God judge everyone in the world when some people have heard of God’s law through Moses and others have not?” Paul says that whether people have heard of God’s law through Moses or not, we all have God’s law in our heart and will be judged on how well we obeyed that law. For those who grew up learning the Jewish law written down by Moses, the reason they have God’s law in their heart is because they have heard or read the law of Moses. For others who did not grow up learning the Jewish law, the reason they have God’s law written in their heart is because God gave them a conscience. Through their conscience they have a general understanding of God’s laws for right and wrong. This conscience bears witness to their actions, defending them when they do right and accusing them when they do wrong (v14-15). So one way or the other, God has a law by which to hold people accountable.
When will God formally hold us accountable? On the day when Jesus returns (v16).
Also, what can we learn from Paul’s statement in Romans 2:12, “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law”? First, we learn that our sin separates us from God and the punishment for our sin is that we must die (perish). Second, since no Jew or non-Jew has ever perfectly fulfilled the law (whether we’re talking about the Jewish law or the general laws written on our consciences), everyone deserves to die for their sin.
That is why Christ’s sacrifice is such a game-changer. When all of us, Jews and Gentiles alike, failed to obey all of God’s law and deserved to die for our sins, Christ came and took on our punishment, dying on the cross in our place as an atoning sacrifice.
God, thank You for giving us Your laws as well as a conscience, and for using both to help us see our need for Jesus. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
