For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
 ~ Romans 2:14-16 ~
Dear Beloved, these familiar words were written down by the apostle Paul (Romans 2:14-16) through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And although they’re not hard to read, they convey so much more than what readily reaches our eyes and minds. Romans 2:14-16 instructs us that God’s Law was always binding on mankind – whether believing or unbelieving, whether a part of Old Covenant (OC) Israel (Romans 3:1-2) or the New Covenant (NC) people of God (Ephesians 2:11-22) – even unto this very day.
In the last two weeks, we have learned in our studies on the Law that, firstly, our Lord Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17-18, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished”); and secondly, that love for God is truly seen by our love for His Holy Law (Matthew 22:37-40, “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’”).
Therefore, we have learned that God’s Law was never replaced by God’s grace – either under the Old or New Testaments! But rather, that some aspects of God’s Law have been set aside through Christ’s first advent (Galatians 3:19-26). Namely, there was the brief time in biblical history when the Ceremonial and Civil (or Judicial) aspects of God’s Law were in force beginning in OC Israel until Christ’s death, when He fulfilled them; and thus, finally affirmed the primacy and enduring validity of His moral Law (cf. Matthew 23:23).
This can be no more clearly seen than in our theme passage above, taken from Romans 2:14-16. In those verses we learn that the Gentiles were always under God’s moral Law because it was written on their hearts, though they had never received a written Law like Israel’s Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:7-21). This truth was confirmed by the words of Moses in Genesis 26:5, “because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” In other words, six to seven hundred years before Moses received the tablets on Mount Sinai, Abraham, our father in the faith, was an evangelical Law-keeper, after having been graced by God (Genesis 15:6). So then, the same OC Law mentioned in the NC prophecy of Jeremiah (31:31, 33), is the same enduring moral Law for Christ’s church today. Therefore, there’s really no Law-Grace controversy today among those who love God and His Law-Word. Furthermore, obedience is the loving response of a recipient of God’s grace – “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12; cf. Romans 10:4).
Some final thoughts:
  • “The needle of the Law must precede the thread of the gospel” (C.H. Spurgeon).
  • “The Law demands what it cannot give; grace gives all it demands” (Blaise Pascal).
In conclusion, let us draw near to God today: first, by paying attention to our heart preparation for encountering the Living God this coming Lord’s Day, through our praises and prayers with His people, and secondly, through our attending to the public reading and preaching of His Holy Word. Come worship with us, in person, this Sunday at 10:30 am – 2601 Audubon Drive, here in Laurel; or visit our website, www.audubonchurch.org, where you can be directed either to our Worship Services online through our YouTube channel, Sermon Audio archive, or our upcoming livestream. Soli Deo Gloria! 
Jerry Marcellino is pastor of Audubon Drive Bible Church in Laurel. He can be reached by email at: pastorjerry@audubonchurch.org