Romans 2:12-16 (ESV)
o Paul’s conclusion in 2:1-11 is that God shows no partiality in his judgment of sin. All people, whether
Jew or Gentile, will be judged according to their works (v6) with God’s righteousness as the standard
for perfection. In 2:12-16, Paul is addressing the potential argument that God’s judgment is not fair
because Gentiles do not have the written law of God like the Jews.
o “All who have sinned” in Greek is an aorist tense verb. The aorist tense here is being used as an
indefinite past action. This is pointing out the total sinfulness of both Jews and Gentiles is not based
on present sinful actions but ultimately on our sinful nature received from Adam (Rom 5:12,19)
o Judgement of sinners will occur based on their response to the truth that they have access to (v12) so
that Gentiles will not be judged against their knowledge of Jewish law.
o Paul explains the reason why (using the word “For”) simply having the law does not provide an
advantage to the Jews. Rather, only those who perfectly perform all the aspects of the law can be justified (declare righteously). Only Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly and is the only basis for
justification. We are declared righteous not because of our righteousness but because of Christ’s.
 Calvin states this idea well, “If righteousness is sought from the law, the law must be fulfilled; for
the righteousness of the law consists in the perfection of works.”
o Who is Paul referring to with the term “Gentiles?” Are these Gentiles who have been saved apart
from the law? Are these non-Christian Gentiles who perform some part of the law?
o The phrase “by nature” could be translated as instinctively. Paul is making clear that even though
Gentiles might not have the Mosiac Law they have a natural law “written on their hearts” (v15).
o Paul is stating explicitly that all humans have knowledge of moral standards that ultimately find their
foundation in the person of God.
o The conscience bears witness first to the individual to show them what is right and wrong. Also,
within the context of the section, the conscience bears witness to the future judgment. No one
will be able to stand before God and claim ignorance of truth and righteousness when it is imprinted
on the heart and revealed in the conscience.
Questions
o Is it right that God would condemn someone who has never heard the gospel? How do these
verses address that “problem”?
o What is the difference between how a non-Christian does moral things (keeps the law) and a
Christian does moral things (keeps the law)?
o How do we see natural law in society and culture? How do people show the work of the law on their
hearts?
o This will be dealt with more in Rom 14, but how does the conscience work to identify instances of sin
in our lives? How can we refine and train our conscience to follow Christ’s law (1 Cor 9:19-23)?

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ECC Mission
Multiply passionate love for Jesus Christ and those made in his image

ECC Core Commitments
- Making disciple-making disciples
- Unifying peoples
- Training and challenging men to lead sacrificially
- Planting church-planting churches
- Equipping women for ministry

GCC Mission
To help make the gospel central to all of life