Title: With or Without the Word/Topic: Judgment

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

Scripture: Romans 2:12-16,
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
26 If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

Observation: These verses give me pause. I will always proclaim Jesus to anyone I meet as being the only way to salvation, for that is the truth. However, these verses indicate that God has a way of judging those who have never been taught about Jesus that is fair and just based on what they do know. Paul is writing this to Jews and convincing them that God accepts Gentile believers, even though they don't follow all the Mosaic law. However, I think there is clear implication in these verses that Paul thinks God ha a way of dealing with people who have never heard the gospel message by judging them by what they do know to be true from what God has put in the conscience and heart of every man.

Application: We need to be careful about judging the eternal state of those who have died but didn't follow our system of belief. Will a Buddhist go to hell if he dies never having heard the Word that would allow him to accept Jesus as his personal Savior? Or does God have a way of looking into his heart and determining that he repented when he knew he had sinned and offended his conscience? Since Jesus died once, purchasing forgiveness for all men, is there a way God judges those who have never heard of Jesus but who keep the law's requirements in their hearts? The questions raised by a thoughtful probing of these scriptures should at least give me pause and keep me from an arrogant assertion that I have all the answers to such things. I know Jesus is the way to salvation and I know that the Judge of all the earth will do the right thing in his judgment. Anything beyond that puts me on ground that is not firm.

Prayer: Teach me your ways O Lord. Lead me in the truth. May I win many people to you, for he who wins souls is wise. But also keep me humble. May I never be arrogant and expound on things I do not understand fully.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.