Judgement of Conscience - Romans 2:14-16
Law And Conscience | Romans 2:14-17
TEXT
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. 17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
1. What does Paul say about our conscience and the written law?
2. How can conscience direct us to a law fulfilling life, without necessarily knowing the laws themselves?
3. What kind of judgement will we face when Christ Jesus is the channel of that judgment?
Topical Study: Conscience
When people without knowledge of the scripture follow the teaching of scripture, it validates that God has written His law within the heart of man.
Again Paul emphasizes that every human has the knowledge of right and wrong within their hearts, even Gentiles who have no knowledge of the scriptures. He camped on this notion in chapter 1, and will continue to emphasize it proving that the “righteous shall live by faith” in 9:30-10:13. Righteousness (or a just life) comes by believing God and doing what we know is right within our hearts. When people without knowledge of the scripture follow the teaching of scripture, it validates that God has written His law on the heart of man.
In the classic Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis makes the point that all cultures have the same values. For instance, all cultures value loyalty, courage, and truthfulness. They may define the values differently; loyalty to one tribe will be considered disloyalty to another. The fundamental values are the same. Even the Mafia has a strict moral code within its own ranks. The fact that humans twist and pervert these values only further demonstrate the point that the values are implanted in the first place. Not only has God written His law upon the heart of each human, God has placed within each human life a conscience that judges whether or not we are adhering to that internal standard. The Greek word translated conscience here is used the same way we use the word in English. Our conscience is our internal judge. Here are some things the Bible says about our conscience:
—It can convict us properly (John 8:9)
—It can give us confidence to resist improper human authority (Acts 23:1, 24:16)
—It can demonstrate God as Creator (this verse, 2:15)
—It can commune with the Holy Spirit and give confirmation (Romans 9:1)
—It can bring upon us a form of wrath via guilt if not clean (Romans 13:5)
—It can be defiled (1 Corinthians 8:7; Titus 1:15) through our perspective of our behavior
—It can be weak by having a misguided perspective shaped by cultural or other factors, and accordingly be defiled by actions that are not wrong in and of themselves (1 Corinthians 8:10-12)
—It can be protected by avoiding certain kinds of knowledge, and is something we should be aware of protecting in fellow believers with weaker consciences (1 Corinthians 10:25-29)
—It can be seared, so as to cease being pricked by wrong behavior (1 Timothy 4:2). This is likely part and parcel of the progression of wrath set forth in 1:24-28.
—It can be cleansed from the effects of sin by the cleansing blood of Jesus for believers when we approach God’s throne of grace in prayer by faith, asking forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:14; 10:22)
The Greek word translated “secrets” referring to secrets of men that will be judged by God is kryptos, which is a root of the English word cryptic, and is also translated “hidden,” as in Matthew 6:6which says God is hidden. The evidence of God is all around us as we have seen many times already in Romans. But God is not visible. The judgment of God will not be based simply on what other humans see, but what is done by us in kryptos, or out of view. This concept is seen frequently in the gospels (see Matthew 6:18; Matthew 10:24; Mark 4:22; Luke 8:17; Luke 12:12; and John 7:4 for example). The message addressed to Jewish believers in Hebrews 4:12-13expands this concept to make clear that our thoughts and intents will also be judged and laid completely bare before God.
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Once again Paul makes clear that the “good news” or “gospel” he preaches goes far beyond simply how to be born into the family of God by receiving His grace through faith, but extends to living His grace through faith in our daily lives. This explains why Paul desired to visit Rome and preach the “good news” to a group of believers whose faith was already being declared throughout the entire world (1:8); the gospel is “good news” for our entire lives. Every believer must give an account of his or her deeds in the Day of Judgment, and our actions, and the intent behind our actions will be judged. Every good thing we did for others in service and obedience to God will be rewarded, not a single thing will go unnoticed. This is indeed good news.
Footnote: copied from: https://thebiblesays.com/commentary/rom/rom-2/romans-214-16/
Apply
□ What are some benefits of living life according to the law versus according to conscience?
□ In what ways you think those who live according to conscience have an advantage to those who live according to the law?
□ What kinds of life would one live if they live according to the law and their conscience?
Commentary
Possession of the law is no advantage to the Jewish man in the Day of Judgment.
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
a. Although not having the law, are a law to themselves: Paul explains why the Gentile can be condemned without the law. Their conscience (which is the work of the law written in their hearts) is enough to condemn them – or, theoretically this law on the heart is enough to justify them.
i. Written in their hearts: Many pagan authors of Paul’s day referred to the “unwritten law” within man. They thought of it as something that pointed man to the right way. Though it is not embodied in written laws, it is in some ways more important than the written law.
ii. A law to themselves does not mean that these “obedient Gentiles” made up their own law (as we use the expression “a law unto himself”), but that they were obedient to conscience, the work of the law residing in themselves.
iii. “He indeed shows that ignorance is in vain pretended as an excuse by the Gentiles, since they prove by their own deeds that they have some rule of righteousness.” (Calvin)
b. Their thoughts accusing or else excusing them: In theory, a man might be justified (“excused”) by obeying his conscience. Unfortunately, every man has violated his conscience (God’s internal revelation to man), just as every man has violated God’s written revelation.
i. While Paul says in Romans 2:14 that a Gentile, may by nature do the things contained in the law he is careful to not say that a Gentile could fulfill the requirements of the law by nature.
ii. Though God has His work within every man (resulting in conscience), man can corrupt that work, so that conscience varies from person to person. We also know that our conscience can become damaged through sin and rebellion, but then can be restored in Jesus.
iii. If our conscience is condemning us wrongly, we can take comfort in the idea that God is greater than our heart (1 John 3:20).
c. Their conscience also bearing witness: People who have never heard God’s word directly still have a moral compass they are accountable to – the conscience.
i. “God is describing how He has constituted all men: there is a ‘work’ within them, making them morally conscious.” (Newell)
ii. “He is not saying that the law is written on their hearts, as people often say, but that the work of the law, what the law requires of people, is written there.” (Morris)
d. The day when God will judge: On this day no man will escape God’s judgment by claiming ignorance of His written revelation. Violating God’s internal revelation is enough to condemn us all.
i. “God therefore will judge all nations according to the use and abuse they have made of this word, whether it was written in the heart, or written on tables of stone.” (Clarke)
e. According to my gospel: Notice that the day of judgment was a part of Paul’s gospel. He did not shrink from declaring man’s absolute accountability to God.
i. “‘My gospel.’ Does not this show his courage? As much as to say, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God onto salvation to every one that believeth.’ He says, ‘my gospel,’ as a soldier speaks of ‘my colors,’ or of ‘my king.’ He resolves to bear this banner to victory, and to serve this royal truth even to the death.” (Spurgeon)
f. God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ: This concept is distinctively Christian. The Jews taught that God the Father alone would judge the world, committing judgment to no one – not even the Messiah.
