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Romans 2:12-16
In this passage of Romans 2:12-16, the Apostle Paul is giving explanation for his comments in Romans 2:11 (NKJV) as he stated, “For there is no partiality with God.” There is the law given to Moses at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-31), and there is the law in which is the natural law written in the hearts of all humanity as Paul speaks of in Romans 2:14-15. This is the law in which the prophet Jeremiah spoke of in Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV) which proclaims, “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” This is the same law in which God called David to be anointed King while rejecting his older siblings. 1 Samuel 16:7 proclaims, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” It is this law, Paul declares, that will accuse or excuse the Gentiles in the day of God’s judgment as the secrets of the hearts of all humanity will be exposed as no man or woman can keep anything secret from the Almighty God of heaven (Romans 2:15-16). Paul also notes in Romans 2:13 that the hearers of the law are not justified by it but that only the doers of the law will be justified. It is also important to note here as Paul states in 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.”
This is a promise that God shows no partiality – all have sinned and are in need of His forgiveness.
This is a promise that the true law of nature is written on the hearts of all humanity and is governed by our consciences.
This is a promise that everyone has sinned and will stand in judgment before Christ Jesus; it is only through His righteousness and receiving His forgiveness that we will be justified.
Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 5:17 (HCSB), “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Only Jesus has kept all the law and fulfilled its requirement for righteousness – that’s why He is justified as our Savior – when He died on the cross, He took our sins with Him in offering Himself an eternal sacrifice for them that we may be justified through his resurrection and receive the free gift of life eternal – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
In Your timing, You brought the Law into view so that humanity would become aware of sin and gain an understanding of the fact that we, because of sin in our lives, do not have the capacity or ability to follow all the Law; we all have broken it in some way, shape, or form. Please help us to see that we cannot justify ourselves but that Jesus, through living a perfect, sinless life did fulfill the requirements of the Law unto righteousness. Jesus died in this physical life for our sins as He was justified to life and not deserving of death, but arose from the dead victorious over sin, death, and Satan. He now offers to all who will believe in Him eternal life and true righteousness that He has prepared for us…if we will humble ourselves before Him and ask of His forgiveness. Please lead us all to Him LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.