No Partiality to Jew or Gentile

23 Mar 2025
No Partiality to Jew or Gentile | Rom 2: 11-16 | Ian Goodman
In the sermon we looked again at the second chapter of Romans where Paul is showing how God shows no partially when judging our works. Paul first intends this as a wakeup call to the unrepentant and presumptuous church. But then he elaborates in vs.11-16 on how this applies to Jews who have the law and Gentiles who do not. God is not going to show partiality to Jews who break the law they have written in scripture, nor is he going to show partiality toward Gentiles who break the law written on their hearts.
Romans 2:14 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.
This statement raises interesting theological questions: What happens to those who have neither the law in scripture nor the law written on their hearts, such as babies or the intellectually disabled. Paul is arguing that Gentiles can be condemned because they have a law on the heart and a conscience that tells them what’s right and wrong. But babies don't have that. So, it would seem they are exempt from this judgment.
What application does this passage have for our lives? We are reminded that every person we have ever spoken to about the gospel and their need for Jesus has already been made ready to see the necessity of forgiveness by their conscience that tells them they are a sinner. Let’s remember this the next time a person seems uninterested in the gospel. We need to remember not only do they need the gospel, but if they are truly honest they know they need it. Let’s try again with our unsaved friends and neighbours.