Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 5
In Romans 2:12–15 the Gentiles “without the Law” still perish because they have “natural law,” conscience, and “the work of the law written in their hearts”; what does this reveal about God’s fairness and expectations of people outside the covenant, and how should it affect the way Christians talk about accountability in unreached cultures?
Another way to ask: Romans 2 says Gentiles without the Law still have conscience and a sense of right and wrong. What does that say about God being fair to people outside the covenant, and how should it shape how Christians talk about people in unreached places?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
The speaker teaches that God is fair because he judges people according to what they actually know: Gentiles without the Mosaic Law still have conscience and natural law, so they are accountable for real moral knowledge, not for rituals they never received. Christians should therefore talk about accountability in unreached cultures in terms of conscience and basic moral precepts, while still recognizing God’s coming judgment of “secrets.”
- He identifies “without the Law” as Gentiles: “They didn't have the [Mosaic] law.”
- Yet Paul says they “will also perish without the law,” showing accountability still exists.
- He asks the fairness question directly: “Is that fair of God?…The Gentiles didn't have that.”
- He answers with early Christian explanation: “The Gentiles will be judged based on natural law…Everybody has a conscience.”
- He qualifies the standard: “They're not going to be judged on things they didn't know, but…on things they did know.”
- He lists examples of natural moral knowledge: “wrong to steal…wrong to commit adultery, wrong to murder.”
- He adds that God will judge “the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,” so even hidden realities matter.