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Romans, Part 12

A Law Unto Themselves

In the beginning of this series, we said we were not going to try to do a commentary, but would try to discover important themes and concepts which Paul mentioned, and develop them to broaden our understanding of the message of the book. These themes are often found in incidental statements, and even parenthetical phrases, which require some thought and study.

Such a statement is found in Romans 2:14-15: "...when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law unto themselves...they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness...". 

Man's ego is an uncontrollable monster, which causes all the ills of the human family. From Adam and Eve's ego-centered desire, which separated them from an intimate relationship with God, to the rapacious greed for power, that has triggered world wars, the egos of men have proved to be the undoing of civilization's attempt to rise above the animal level, and achieve the identity with the Creator which was its destiny. 

In the dark ages, religious leaders turned the church into a power organization with which to control and rule the pagan population. Afterward, the Reformation leaders tried to change its rules, but they continued the pattern of creating organizations, with hierarchies of power, rules of identity, and behavior which made them different from others. All of this was a far cry from the family of believers, held together by a mutual faith in the Savior, a love for one another, and a love for the Father in Heaven, which Jesus undoubtedly had in mind when He said, "I will build my church." 

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Paul tried to call the Jews away from their pride in their identity, which was bound up in their possession of the law. His thesis was that every point of the law was a principle of life, which added together meant, as Jesus said, "Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself." In the book of James, the writer says that to violate one point of the law was to violate the whole law. Why? Because every point of the law was an admonition to treat your fellowman as one you loved. You do not steal from, lie to, covet the possessions of one you love. To do any of these things is to violate the ultimate meaning of the law of God. 

Religious people have been so prone to make their Christianity an identity with some particular party group and its individual laws of identity, that they have given little concern to the real "law", which demands that we be family with all who believe in and accept Jesus Christ, and behave accordingly. I spoke to a missionary lady once, and in the conversation I asked her what church she belonged to. Her answer I will never forget. She said, "The same one you do. There is just one, you know"! The technical rules of identity and behavior, which separate us, have obscured the real purpose for which Jesus prayed in the garden. As a result, it is difficult to tell the difference in many a Christian and their irreligious neighbors, when one observes their life.

Paul identified and defined the law of Christ, when he said those who "do by nature the things of the law". He placed the receptacle of the law in the heart, rather than the head. He put the judge of the law, not in some religious court, but in the conscience of the individual. In other words, if you have God's law in your heart, and your built-in sense of right and wrong, given to you by God, urges you to behave accordingly, then you are an obedient child, even if you miss a few technical points. Those who love God, and hunger for His righteousness, do not have to look up chapter and verse to know how to behave. They "...do by nature..." the things in God's law. This will not win many religious debates, nor will it lift your church to a position better than others, but it will lead you down the path followed by Our Lord.

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