A Rule of Life

The beauty of a community garden run by women in Guinea-Bissau. 

Scripture:

When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them

(Rom. 2:14–15 NRSV)

Observation:

In the midst of Paul’s writing he adds a parenthesis that includes these two verses. He wants the readers to understand that while the Jews may have strict laws, he agrees with the Greek tradition that all human beings seem to possess an innate moral sense of what is right or wrong. Just because the Jews possess the law of Moses doesn’t mean that they have some kind of a decisive advantage over the Gentiles when it comes to knowing about and doing the will of God. There are universal moral absolutes which reveal that all people have imprinted upon them God’s moral will. 

Paul is refuting the way in which the Jews have been condemning the Gentiles and wants them to understand that God will be just in judgement upon all. It’s an affirmation of prevenient grace which is revealed in the lives of those who live according to the Ten Commandments, whether they have read them or not. Instead of being a law in and to themselves, Paul is affirming the law has actually become a universal rule of life. Ultimately, people will not be condemned for what they don’t know, but for how they will respond to what they do know. 

Application:

There are many Christians who can quote scripture (or, at least they think they’re quoting scripture) and use it to preach to others who don’t necessarily live according to the word. This is a problem because we are not supposed to just have head-knowledge of the law of God, but we are to reveal the law of God through the way in which we live our lives. Therefore, the rule of life becomes the witness to our response to the presence of God in our world. 

Just as in Paul’s day, an argument could be made for “heathen” who were living better than some of the religious leaders. Their rule of life reflected their sensitivity to the universal laws of God. We call this a response to prevenient grace which we believe is continually at work in this world. Unfortunately, there are times when we become frustrated that God might extend grace toward someone whom we believe may not be deserving. That’s certainly what the Jews in Paul’s time believed. They were irritated that God, through Paul, might believe that there were heathen who were better examples of the rule of life than the Jewish leaders. 

The witness of our lives will always reveal more about our relationship with the law of God than our ability to quote the law. The rule of life revealed is of much more consequence than a law hanging on a wall. The power of the combined testimony of Christ-followers, reflecting God’s law through a rule of life is transformative. The law should be visible in us on a daily basis, for this is our rule of life. 

Prayer:

Lord, may my life reflect you rule. Amen.