God’s Law Written on the Heart and His Final Judgment

Romans 2:12–16 (NLT)

¹² When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. ¹³ For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. ¹⁴ Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. ¹⁵ They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. ¹⁶ And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

I. God Judges Both Gentiles and Jews (12-13)

God judges both the Gentiles and the Jews (12). The Jews, who have God’s written law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it (12^b, 13). But the Gentiles did not have God’s written law. So how does God judge them?

II. Gentiles Show the Law Written on Their Hearts (14-15)

They show that they know God’s law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it (14).

See verse 15 (NIVUK).

¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.

They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts in the following way:

• The conscience functions as a witness.
• The thoughts function as lawyers, sometimes accusing and sometimes defending.

III The Final Judgment Through Christ (16)

Finally, the Day of Judgment —the Last Day—when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life (16).