A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 14 Chapter 2:12 – 16

  1. Introduction
    1. We need to understand all will be judged by Jesus Christ, whether lost or saved, Jew or Gentile it does not matter. All will be condemned because of sin and it also does not matter unless you have been saved by the blood of Christ Jesus.

a.       V. V. 8, 9 “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9.) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;” Contentious means those who do not obey the truth.

b.      But let’s not forget verse 11 “For there is no respect of persons with God.” - Respect of person’s means – partiality or favoritism - in other words God will judge Jews and Gentiles alike. Some may attempt to make something out of this that it is not. The Jews may be judged stronger because of the law was given to them however Paul make it very clear we are all sinners whether Jew or Gentile. 

c.       Election is not partiality or favoritism it is simple His choice of love and grace. God’s election was not to a particular people i.e. Jews or Gentiles, or black or white, or American or Russian, but rather people from the entire world however still just a limited number.  

    1. It is true we are not under the law, in fact the law was not written to us Gentiles but rather to the Jews however just as they are we are all sinners in need of salvation. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” The word “all” means the whole that is the entire population of man on the earth throughout time.
  1. Verse 12 “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;”
    1. Paul seems to divide Jews and Gentiles into two groups here, those who sinned without the law (the Gentiles) and those who sinned in the law (the Jews) Please remember both groups are sinners whether with in or with out the law. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned,”
    2. The law was not written when Adam sinned, therefore he had one law (not to eat of the forbidden fruit) The Israelites had ten called the Ten Commandments (they truly had more than ten however this is simply a numbers game) and in 1 Thessalonians 5 we have more than 22 alone. Whether we were under the Ten Commandments or not we are all guilty of sin and the same single sin and that is the sin of Adam.
    3. We see an example of this in which some call the law of nature verses 14 – 15 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (15.) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
    4. Mankind (those outside of Christ) will all be judged for crimes of breaking God’s laws whether it is the Ten Commandments or not. It is true the Jews could be judged by God’s written law but none the less all will suffer for their sins against God.     
  2. Verses 13 – 15 is a deeper explanation of verse 12 - (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (14.) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: (15.) Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”
    1. These verse reminds us of James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” It was not good enough for the Jews to simply hear and agree with the law but to do the law, which is to cross every “t” and dot every “i”. To be a hearer and not a doer your faith is dead.  
    2. To those Jew to whom the law was written; Verse 12 “as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;”
    3. To us Gentiles; “the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law,” This is why some refer to it as the natural law of God.

a.       Verse 15 “the law written in their hearts” – their own heart tells them it is sin.

b.      Verse 15 “their conscience also bearing witness” their own conscience tells them it is sin.

c.       Verse 15 “and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” their own thoughts allows them to understand wrong it wrong and it is unacceptable to God. 1 Corinthians 11:14 “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”

  1. Verse 16 “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
    1. “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men” God knows everything and therefore man will not be able to hide their sins from God. In judgment open before all they will be revealed.
    2. Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
    3. Luke 8:17 “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.”