QT 10/22/2024 Rom 2:12-16, Everyone is under some law

Romans 2:12–16 (ESV) —

12 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.

 

NOTE: We are all judged by a type of law, either the law that God has given or the law that God has placed in our heart, our conscience. Paul is not teaching salvation by works, since later he will tell us that no one has fulfilled the law (either the OT law or their conscience's law) but all have fallen short. So we are all guilty of breaking the law, either the external law or the internal law within our hearts. There will be a day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, and no one will pass that test, … unless you have traded your sinful acts for Jesus' righteousness. 2 Cor 5:21 (ESV) — For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Therefore our only hope is Jesus and faith in Jesus. I believe Paul wrote the passage in Romans in a technical or scientific way, that is, if it was possible to obey the law (internal or external) perfectly, you could save yourself. That would be a true statement, but because we all have a sin nature, passed down from Adam, we all fail, and we all are in need of a savior.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly understand my need for a savior?
2. Do I secretly believe I am good enough (even if I have publicly declared Jesus as my savior)? It is a subtle thing to forget what Jesus has done for us.

 

PRAYER: Father, I am a sinner. I know and believe that Jesus paid my sins. And I know and I believe I have no other hope. Every day should be a reminder of how I fail to live for you. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you so much. I feel so unworthy.