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;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets
of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Paul seems to be reflecting also a sentiment made by Peter
regarding those who we would not regard as being in the fold.
Acts 10:34 ¶ Then Peter
opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of
persons: 35 But in every nation he that
feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
It is likely here, though, in this passage in Romans 2 that Paul
is not even referring to the church of God as he makes a distinction elsewhere
of three groups before God.
1Corinthians 10:32 Give
none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of
God:
In fact, this appears to be the foundation, what we have read,
upon which Paul builds his argument for justification through Christ alone. If
he is referring to unsaved, self-righteous Jews and commenting on unsaved
Gentiles who follow the Law without even knowing it is the Law with no mention
of the Church of God in the passage we can then see a pattern to Paul’s
argument. Notice his interaction with the Jews at Rome.
Acts 28:17 ¶ And it came to
pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and
when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I
have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I
delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have
let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was
constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
20 For this cause therefore have I
called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of
Israel I am bound with this chain. 21
And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea
concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm
of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of
thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where
it is spoken against.
23 ¶ And when they had appointed him a day, there
came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses,
and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were
spoken, and some believed not. 25 And
when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had
spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our
fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people,
and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall
see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart
of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their
eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I
should heal them. 28 Be it known
therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and
that they will hear it. 29 And when he
had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among
themselves.
30 ¶ And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own
hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching
those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man
forbidding him.
So, Paul is preaching here, after the review of the religious
history of mankind, about the unsaved but self-righteous Jew as part of an
argument that salvation from an eternity of agony and loss can be found only
through Christ, the visible image of the invisible God. See how he greets the
church at Rome early in the first chapter and then proceeds to expound on the
religious history of mankind and then goes on with a short dissertation about
those who have the Law and are judged by it and those who do not have the Law
whose conscience would bear witness against them. But, then Christ is the
ultimate judge.
A preacher once said that the sound of a man falling into Hell is,
“AAAAA-mennnn!” The point is that no one has an excuse.
My conclusion for this passage is that Paul is speaking about the
self-righteous Jew and the lost Gentile and the hopelessness of both without
Christ. And this will seem to be borne out in the next passage.
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