It’s Not Fair For People….

When people say “it’s not fair for people who have never heard of Jesus to be condemned”, how do you respond? Do you agree? Disagree? Do you even know how to respond? Here in today’s scripture verses we get a glimpse of what Paul’s response would be. Earlier in Romans chapter 1, we hear Paul tell us we are all without excuse. Here in chapter 2 we read that when we follow our conscience by doing what is right we are agreeing with the law and realize God’s law is written on our hearts. When someone seeks out truth, asks God to reveal Himself to them, He answers. The key is that you do it whole-heartedly, not haphazardly. If someone is condemned, it’s not because they never heard the name of Jesus. They are condemned because they denied God by not listening to their conscience; the place where God reveals Himself to all people. When you stop listening to your conscience, you seal your own fate. It’s how God communicates with us. A seared conscience means you live your life with only one goal, one purpose, and that is to please yourself. God has written His law on our hearts, it’s translated through our conscience. Do you listen to yours? If so, how finely tuned are you to adhering to what it tells you?

12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in His sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know His law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim–that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. Romans 2:12-16