READ: Rom. 2:12–24: … in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel …
In the eyes of the LORD, it matters that you are not only a hearer of God’s law, but especially also a doer. Possessing and reading God’s law does not automatically save anyone. Nor does church membership.
You also cannot live with the idea that as a baptized person your sins will be forgiven anyway. This “covenant-automatism” that appears in some churches is disastrous for a healthy life of faith.
The Jewish teaching of legal righteousness, in which a person can supposedly keep God’s law by their own strength and please God, is just as disastrous. It does not take into account the sinful nature of man, who can live only by the rebirth of God’s grace.
Moreover, it excuses one’s own sinful behavior. In both cases, covenant automatism and legal righteousness, there is no faith in dependence upon Jesus Christ as your Savior, through whom the Holy Spirit writes God’s law in your heart.
God’s law has not been abolished, but in Christ it receives its proper place in your life. Jesus made this very clear in Matt. 7:21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Paul also rejects prideful boasting about keeping the law. Discover your sins and realize that in everything you are dependent on Christ, also for keeping His law as part of His covenant. Continually ask for forgiveness and live in gratitude according to God’s law.
Judging others is a serious sin, because you do not see your own sins and you want to take God’s place. In verses 14 and 15, Paul states that Gentiles sometimes act in accordance with God’s law. The work of the law (not the law itself) is written in their hearts. In this way, God restrains total lawlessness in society.
Do you pray every day for the Spirit to live according to God’s law?
Sing: Ps. 1:3