"The Law" (Part 1)

Summary: Paul teaches us in Romans 2:12-16 that all people are fundamentally law-breakers before God.

What do the rules say?

If you have a disagreement about the rules of a game, what do you do?

You check the rule book (i.e. “Where are the rules?”)

Here in this text, Paul is pointing out the ultimate “rule book.”

Let’s review.

The Righteousness of God (1:16-17)

The Wrath of God (1:18-32)

The Judgment of God (2:1-11)

Who deserves it?

How can people know...?

…that they deserve the Judgment of God?

What shows them/what tells them/what can convince them? The Law (2:12-29)

There must be some rule of conduct, standards, set of commands and prohibitions, dos and don’ts

“law” - first time in Romans, 21 times in 16 verses (2:12-27, then not again until 3:19)

Principle (vv. 12-13):

Applied to the Gentiles (vv. 14-16)

Applied to the Jews (vv. 17-24)

“Principle” - fundamental rule, truth, or fact

What/who is the principle about? (vv. 12-13)

Those “who have sinned”

First time for this word. Means “to miss the mark” or simply to do wrong

According to what? What mark is there to miss? What tells us what is wrong?

The Law (1 John 3:4). We can clarified that sin is breaking the law.

1 John 3:4 ESV

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

Those “without” the Law/“under the Law”

Who is this? Gentiles (confirmed in v. 14) and Jews (v. 17ff).

How are Gentiles without the Law, but Jews are under the Law? The Law was given by God through Moses to Israel exclusively. That Mosaic Law, written down by Moses and recorded for us in the OT, consisting of the Ten Commandments and of all the rest of the written commands…that Law became THE moral code for the nation of Israel uniquely, not any of the Gentile nations.

Paul eludes to this difference (having the written Law vs. not having it) in verse 15, because the only way Gentiles have any of this Law “written” is “in their hearts.” Also, in verse 27 Paul refers to the Jew as having “the written code”/ “the letter (same root word for “written” v. 15, also v. 29).

This principle is about Gentiles who were without the Law in this way and it is about Jews who were under the Law in this way.

Those who will “perish”/those who “will be judged”

“Perish” - eternal destruction

“Judged” - condemned (v. 5; see also 1:32)

Both are the negative consequence for sinning.

PRINCIPLE: Those who have sinned by violating God’s Law are eternally condemned with or without the Law. Those who sin can be charged as law-breakers whether they have the Law as the Jews do or whether they do not have the Law as the Jews do. Both are without excuse (1:20, 2:1).

Verse 13 brings emphasis to this principle by giving the contrasts…the opposite of breaking the law is not just hearing the law, but doing the law

Remember, many Jews believed that they were exempt from judgment/condemnation because they had the law…they were special because they knew something that others did not. Paul says, the special ones are those who do it, not just hear it.

This does not teach salvation by works (Romans 3:20).

Romans 3:20 ESV

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

It teaches that the righteous and those who will be declared righteous (“justified”) at the final judgment (v. 16) are doers of the Law/commands of God.

The key to this principle is about not doing the Law whether you have it or not as the Jews had it. This principles eliminates the excuses to being a Law-breaker.

How does this apply to the Gentiles? (vv. 14-16)

How is this fair if the Gentiles do not know? Paul says here they do know (v. 14)

“By nature” - instinctively, inherent, they know it/feel by default, it’s human nature to know it

It’s so real, they even try to follow it. Which means they are their own accountability for right and wrong. They do know better somehow.

There’s no doubt that certain laws that God has ordained are natural or instinctively right to everyone (v. 14). There has always been a sense of right and wrong in everyone everywhere, even if it is limited in some. This is why there is guilt for wrong doing even by those who totally reject God. This is why the societies of the world have always had there own systems of laws even though they discard the Bible. This is why most people believe that it is wrong to murder, steal, lie, and even to commit adultery, though they do not believe that God gave the Ten Commandments.

How do they know? Why is this true? (v. 15)

Not the whole law that the Jews had, but “the work of the Law” - the deeds; there are deeds of the Law that are...

“Written” - inscribed, recorded; “heart” - internally (thinking, feeling, choosing)

It is in there, and they are aware of it (“conscience” - perception, awareness). Something inside them, tells them (“bears witness”).

It is so real, that they have internal battles between right and wrong. Where does that come from?

Now, this tells us something else...

Though there are many laws/commands that are confined to the written Mosaic Law...

There are some laws/commands that are instinctive/natural and are not confined to the written Mosaic Law.

Those laws/commands have always been and will always be a standard of right and wrong that mankind is held accountable to before God who implanted them in mankind. All people of all times are without excuse.

Paul points to a future day when all of this will be made clear (v. 16)

The first phrase likely refers back to verses 12-13 (vv. 14-15 are parenthetical).

When will the final perishing/condemning (v. 12) and justifying (v. 13) take place? The final judgment.

When Christ will judge the world, even what’s concealed will be proven - all evidence of guilt will be revealed (at least to the guilty party so that they will have no innocence/morality to stand on).

So then, what hope will anyone have? Not themselves, but another. Not their own righteousness, but someone else’s righteousness - in fact, it is the righteousness of the Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice that this is not contrary to the good news Paul preaches, but in accord with it…because good news is essentially connected with bad news.

When God identifies our sin, we will be unable to defend ourselves - there will be no legitimate case for our defense. Our only hope is to trust Christ. We can only be saved from what we deserve by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

All people are fundamentally law-breakers.

This is a world view - the world is doomed and there is only one way out.

We must believe this to help others believe this.

We can be thankful to God.

And we can be concerned for others.

Benediction: Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Scripture Reading: Galatians 3:19-29