How can humans who don’t know God’s law be held to God’s standard? In this passage Paul explores how ignorance is no excuse and attempting to deflect blame is futile.

Our passages today: 1 Samuel 15:17-23 and Romans 2:12-29. Preacher: Ian Bayne, Sunday 19th November.

Recap

In Romans 1 there were 29 charges levelled at those who reject the truth of the gospel.

This has consequences: a result borne out of those who reject Christ.

We then looked at different types of hypocrites: Paul is gathering in all kinds of sinners and preaching the true gospel to the church at Rome; it’s like an avalanche.

Psalm 139 tells us that God knows our situation and our hearts. This should give us a sense of wonder and inadequacy.

Our passage explored

This week I was at the farm gathering my sheep into a pen to invite volunteers to go the abattoir. There were a few holes in the fences, so I wondered if they might sneak out of the pen. I fixed the holes in the fences first! Sure enough, some of the sheep were looking at the previous holes and would have escaped.

Paul starts on the obvious sins, then covers hypocrisy, and now he’s trying to fill in the holes that sinners may try and slip through.

Some years ago we were going to see my sister and heading down in the car. I was getting tired and handed over the driving. The police came up behind and said we were going a bit fast. We thought we were doing the speed limit and didn’t see the sign. But did we still get a ticket: yes we did.

Not seeing the speed restriction sign is not an excuse.

Paul’s point here is addressing the question of how people who don’t know the law need to follow the law. His response is that everyone should know by nature.

Possible responses

• “My foot is naturally heavy” the other response is that by nature we are not capable. But God’s law is.
• “Im genetically disposed” our race and human state make no difference to God’s law
• “Do you know who I am? I’m a son of Abraham” – being a Jew makes no difference, whether we are one race or another or bear the sign of circumcision – it’s not a get out of jail free card.
• “It was the woman” – there’s no deflecting to someone else. Adam was held responsible by God.

Ps 139 is about how God sees us. Paul is concerned that we see ourselves as guilty before God and that God is right. As we see here our human condition will always seek ways to avoid responsibility. Paul is trying to help us die to self and put on Christ.