Romans 2:13-15 // Moral Law

Based on Romans 2:13-15

13 (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;)

It is not true that knowing and believing the truth about Jesus dying for our sins is necessary and sufficient for our salvation. Of course, this is more specifically talking about the law, which is the standard of truth, and what is right. Simply going to church and hearing and believing the truth does not make you righteous. We would all agree on that. But it may be new for some to know that to be righteous in God's eyes we must actually do what he commands in his law. The Bible is not teaching legalism here, that issue is addressed later. But you ought to know that if you know the Ten Commandments and knowingly break any, you are in peril. If you are told not to eat between meals and you agree it's bad for you and you say you won't do it, that doesn't help your health if you do it anyway. Saying the law is good doesn't help you if you break it anyway.

Six of the Ten Commandments are known by every human, without being told. We have a sense we need to honour our elders and leaders and have a natural affection for our parents. We all feel guilty about killing at first, even killing animals. We know it's wrong to betray our close companions; of all betrayals, unfaithfulness in marriage may be the most extreme example. We know that there is something unfair about stealing. Lying is so deeply perceived as wrong that they can make lie detectors which detect the physical revulsion our body has for lies. We know that envy is not helpful or desirable, especially in others. All societies share these general principles, and have traces of the first three commandments. Desire for unity relates to the command to be united by God. Desire for censorship of evil relates to the command to keep our attention away from worthless idols. Rules against coarse language relates to the command to use God's name with respect. This general sense of what is morally right means that every society shares some common moral threads. God does not condemn people who do not have access to the Bible for failing to keep all of his Ten Commandments. He only expects them to live up to the commandments they know, as he brings conviction. On the other hand, when people who are ignorant of God's entire law break the laws they do know, they accuse each other. An example of this is the politician test. The best test of the morality of a nation is the esteem with which they hold their politicians. This is because politicians get into power through general popularity, and therefore accurately represent the ordinary people. In very depraved societies politicians are despised, in very upright societies politicians are revered. This is a general rule of thumb, how does your society rate? What does that suggest about the standard of morality you are comparing yourself to? Compare yourself to Christ not to evil men.

We are told here that those who do not know the law are allowed to have their own standard to be judged by. What about those that do know the law or have access to it? Can they be judged by their own standard too? I think that issue will come up later, but from what I see here; my answer would be "no". If you own a Bible you will be judged by all of the Ten Commandments. Now, there may be room for interpretation, subject to whether God brings conviction. We notice in history that after the warped theology of the Middle Ages the reformers were only themselves able to each make a few small steps, back into the truth. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world... (Acts 17:30) The time of judgment has come, the time has come when it is time to measure up to the full truth again, God excused people in the past, but now we need to keep the full law.

That means obeying the law, not merely acknowledging it is good. That also means remembering the Sabbath Day to keep that day holy, not some other day. That particular commandment has not so much to do with rest as it has to do with the day itself. Have a read of it and see for yourself. I used to rest all day once a week and think I was keeping the commandment, but if you read it carefully you will notice that it doesn't even mention work until it is half over.

God is preparing a group of people all over the world, to stop needing to be winked at, and start repenting. Only Jesus can make us faithful to his commandments, pray that he will make us faithful.