The Law and The Conscience | Romans 2:12-16
The Text
Romans 2:12-16 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 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.
Some Thoughts
The law was given to show God's standard for living a perfect life. No one can be justified as perfect by trying to keep the law.
On the other hand, not having the law doesn't make living lawlessly excusable. God has built into each of us a conscience. That's how we know that things like stealing and murder is wrong. God has written his law on our hearts, but following our conscience is also not enough to save us.
The searing of the conscience is our way of calming our minds while sealing our judgement. I find it very disturbing that people who claim to be "Christian" will claim that they have been given peace about... and then proceed to tell you about their pet sin that they are feeding at the time.
God is perfect, holy, righteous and can not stand sin. God never gives his children peace to sin, and those who have peace while in sin and never feel the need to repent of their sin are not God's children.
If there is no remorse for being angry with people, if there is no remorse for cheating, if there is no remorse for stealing, if there is no remorse for lying, if there is no remorse for adultry, if there is no remorse for bearing false witness in court, if there is no remorse for slander against someone, if there is no remorse for taking advantage of someone... you are not a child of God. Hebrews 12:6-11 and Proverbs 3:12 spell this out very precisely.
