All who sin outside the law will also perish without reference to it, and all who sin under the law will be judged in accordance with it. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles who do not have the law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even defend them 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people’s hidden works through Christ Jesus.
Paul wrote to the Church in Rome to introduce himself and to tell them that he would be visiting them. In it he explained his understanding of the Gospel. His theme is God’s justification and salvation is offered to all through faith in Jesus Christ and is not based on the Mosaic Law.
Judgment will be rendered against all who have sinned. The Gentiles could not be expected to live by the demands of the Mosaic Law because it was not revealed to them. So, God does not judge Gentiles according to Jewish Law. Since they live outside the Mosaic Law, if they sin, they could not be condemned or judged according to the Law. The Jews who live according to the Law would be judged according to the prescriptions of the Law. The Torah was read to the Jews in the Synagogue every Sabbath, but simply possessing or hearing the Law does not justify them in the eye of God. Only those Jews who live according to the prescriptions of the Law “will find life (Lev. 18:5).” All must be “doers of the word and not hears only (Js. 1:22).
Divine Justification will be based on one’s works once the Gospel is received in faith. If the Gentiles observe the Law even though it is not known to them, it shows that the demands of the Law are written in their hearts so they can discern moral right from wrong. The law of conscience will accuse or defend their actions based on how they defend or criticize the actions of others. God will judge through Jesus Christ based on the things that are hidden in men’s hearts.
Almighty God, cleanse our hearts that we may be worthy to kneel before you and cleanse our lips that we may raise our petitions to you in truth. Help us to be doers of your word and to serve you in faith. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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