In our legal system we often hear the phrase, “Ignorance
of the law is no excuse.” While we may
get by with a warning or reduced penalty on a first offense, we are not,
therefore any less guilty of breaking a law simply because we did not know
about it. Probably in most cases, we had
at least some responsibility for learning what the law required or prohibited
before we actually broke it.
When it comes to final accountability for observing God’s laws, the Scriptures are very clear about His judgment: “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:12 NASB) There will be a time when everyone must give an account.
When it comes to final accountability for observing God’s laws, the Scriptures are very clear about His judgment: “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:12 NASB) There will be a time when everyone must give an account.
“But,” some will protest, “if God is just and fair,
how can He judge people for disobeying laws they never knew about?” “What about the tribal people who live deep
in the jungle and never even heard of the Bible or God?” When asked from an intellectually honest desire
to know the truth and not simply to rebel against the reality of a final
judgment, those are worthy questions and deserve an answer. Thankfully, God has not left us as fatherless
orphans without anyone to guide us, but in Romans 2:1-16, He has given us what I
believe to be a clear teaching on that very subject.
A little study of this Scripture passage reveals that God will not even need to speak a word for anyone to stand condemned before Him. Let me explain what I mean. (I am drawing heavily on an illustration used by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer). Suppose that each of us at the time of birth had received an implant of a small digital recorder that automatically recorded our speech, but only those times when we accused or passed judgment on someone else for their actions. On the day of judgment we get to listen to the recording and must answer one simple question: Did you ever do any of the things you judged others for doing?
Who could pass such a test? Regardless of our culture, its moral standards (however primitive or perverted), our time in history or any other factor, we all would stand condemned by our own words. Jesus said, “And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment, for by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 NASB) We may not have implants, but somehow our words will be brought back to mind to condemn us.
In Romans 2:1 and following, it starts getting a bit personal. “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things… So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (NIV)
One of the characteristics of humans that distinguishes us from animals and points to our being created in God’s image is the existence of conscience. Why is it that even primitive people with no outside influence of civilization have their own set of moral standards? Read on in Romans 2. “Indeed, when Gentiles [people without the Scriptures] 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. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15)
So then, we can conclude that God is totally just and fair in calling us to judgment. First, because we will be held accountable to what we do know, and we all will fail miserably to measure up even to our own standard, the one that we have held others to. Second, God created us with a built-in sense of right and wrong, warped and corrupted as it may have become because of sin. We have known intuitively that we have done wrong and are acquainted with guilt. Over time, though, we can reject the promptings of our own consciences so that become deadened and hardened, and we no longer hear them.
The good news is that God in His compassion toward us sent Jesus, who willingly paid the price for us. And in telling others why this is such good news, we can share it with confidence knowing that God is just and fair in judging us because we have fallen way short of even our own weak performance standards and we stand condemned by our own words. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 NASB)
A little study of this Scripture passage reveals that God will not even need to speak a word for anyone to stand condemned before Him. Let me explain what I mean. (I am drawing heavily on an illustration used by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer). Suppose that each of us at the time of birth had received an implant of a small digital recorder that automatically recorded our speech, but only those times when we accused or passed judgment on someone else for their actions. On the day of judgment we get to listen to the recording and must answer one simple question: Did you ever do any of the things you judged others for doing?
Who could pass such a test? Regardless of our culture, its moral standards (however primitive or perverted), our time in history or any other factor, we all would stand condemned by our own words. Jesus said, “And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment, for by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37 NASB) We may not have implants, but somehow our words will be brought back to mind to condemn us.
In Romans 2:1 and following, it starts getting a bit personal. “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things… So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (NIV)
One of the characteristics of humans that distinguishes us from animals and points to our being created in God’s image is the existence of conscience. Why is it that even primitive people with no outside influence of civilization have their own set of moral standards? Read on in Romans 2. “Indeed, when Gentiles [people without the Scriptures] 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. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15)
So then, we can conclude that God is totally just and fair in calling us to judgment. First, because we will be held accountable to what we do know, and we all will fail miserably to measure up even to our own standard, the one that we have held others to. Second, God created us with a built-in sense of right and wrong, warped and corrupted as it may have become because of sin. We have known intuitively that we have done wrong and are acquainted with guilt. Over time, though, we can reject the promptings of our own consciences so that become deadened and hardened, and we no longer hear them.
The good news is that God in His compassion toward us sent Jesus, who willingly paid the price for us. And in telling others why this is such good news, we can share it with confidence knowing that God is just and fair in judging us because we have fallen way short of even our own weak performance standards and we stand condemned by our own words. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 NASB)
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