Grace and Peace Episode Season 2 Episode 9
Presbyterian Church of Easton
March 20, 2022
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)
Romans 2:12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 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.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
According to Paul some people sin apart from the law, and others sin under the law. What could Paul mean by this? The church at Rome was a multicultural church with both Jews and Gentiles worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ. Jews are under the law that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Gentiles were everyone else who lived without God’s law.
Jew are sinners because they have the law but do not follow it. The law has been handed down, generation after generation since the time of Moses. Parents, elders, teachers and priests all had the responsibility to teach the law to the children. So the children grew up knowing the law, but because they were stained by Sin they violated the law. And therefore are subject to God’s judgment and wrath.
Gentiles, non-Jews, are also sinners. Even though they didn’t learn God’s law as children they still knew it because God had given them consciences and the knowledge of right and wrong. They too are stained by Sin and violate the law God has revealed to them. Therefore Gentiles are also subject to God’s judgment and wrath.
What about us? If you were raised in a faithful family who taught you the law of God, then you are subject to God’s judgment and wrath because of the Sin. Or if you were raised in a family that never brought up the subject of faith, then you too are subject to God’s judgment and wrath.
In other words all of us are stained by Sin and are subject to God's judgment and wrath. Our only hope is God’s merciful forgiveness. And God’s merciful forgiveness is available to all who believe in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father we confess our Sin and humbly lay ourselves down at your feet. Forgive us, we pray in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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