Romans 2:12-13, Our Lost Condition Before God

Romans 2:12-13 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

This is the first time the “law” of God is introduced. God’s law may be summarised by the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai. It includes all the instructions in the Torah or the Law – the first 5 books of the Old Testament written by Moses. It may be broadly defined as all of God’s instructions to men, the Bible itself. God’s law is the standard by which God uses to judge man.

Later on, Apostle Paul would articulate the truth in Romans 3:20 that “…by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  For example, the fifth commandment says “Honour thy father and thy mother”. When we dishonour our parents whether by word or thought or deed, we fail to keep the law. Sin is simply failing to obey God’s law. Hence, by the knowledge of the law, we are able to see how God, the only Just Judge, would assess us.

What Paul is saying is that even though a person may not know God’s law, he will nevertheless be judged by it. Even if he transgressed God’s law unknowingly, he is guilty of sinning before God. He is still culpable! But Paul is bringing a greater indictment against those who know the law of God and wilfully disobeys it. He distinguished between the hearers of the law in verse 13 with the doers of the law. Only the doers of the law would find favour in the sight of God. The hearer who has a head knowledge of the truth and is not convicted to obey it will face God’s judgement.

And therefore, he is leading us to see our lost condition before God. And he is charging believers to endeavour by God’s help to love and obey His laws. May God help us. Where we have failed, may we come to the Lord to confess our sin and find forgiveness with Him. Amen.