Romans 2:12-15 “For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law, for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts.”
Observation: In the remarkable passage above, Paul was affirming those who kept the law, declaring that even those who had never heard of the law yet lived according to its precepts, would be blessed by God; their very being had “become” the law just as Christ Himself embodied, or fulfilled the law. Of course, the opposite is also true: the law condemned those who had known the law but failed to practice it. Paul said that those who had kept the law had been justified, set free from the consequences of sin, whether they had ever heard of the law or not.
Application: It seems that the Lord is serious, indeed, about the importance of keeping the law, knowing that the alternative to law keeping is lawlessness, which must surely result in death.
Apparently we who have trusted in Christ for our salvation will be greeted, and probably surprised, in heaven by countless souls who found their way to glory by keeping the law, by having it written on their hearts, and as a result, by then living according to its precepts.
I am reminded of Christ’s words to Thomas who, after seeing the wounds in the hands and feet of the risen Christ, finally overcame his doubts and was able to believe. Even while affirming Thomas for believing after seeing, Christ affirmed even more those who would believe without seeing. In much the same way, Paul exhorts me to bless the lawgiver by my obedience to His precepts. In doing so, He says that my sins will be forgiven by the keeping of the law.
Prayer: Father God, I pray that You would find the law of Christ written on my heart; make me a wholehearted lover of your dear Son. I ask your Holy Spirit to nudge me each time I violate any of the precepts You have laid down, not just by my actions, but by my thoughts and heart attitudes, as well. I bless You, Lord, and thank You that You have provided a way of salvation for all who believe.