Context No. 2795 of 4322 · Romans

Romans 2:10-16: in context

10But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God. 12For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified 14(for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them) 16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.

Paul lays down a principle that levels everyone: there is no partiality with God. Glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and also Greek. It is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, he says, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

Then he adds something searching. Even Gentiles who never had the written law show its work written on their hearts; their conscience bears witness, their thoughts accusing or defending them. Two truths follow. God plays no favorites; the measure is real doing, not mere hearing or belonging to the right group. And no one is left entirely in the dark, because even those without Scripture carry a conscience that testifies. So the day God judges the secrets of every heart will turn not on whether I had the law, but on how I answered the light I actually had.

Am I merely a hearer of what is right, or do I actually do it, living up to the light my own conscience already gives me?

Sources

Romans 2:13: "For it isn't the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified."
James 1:22: "But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves."
Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter... but he who does the will of my Father."