What role does "the law" in Romans 2:18 play in moral guidance today? Setting the Scene: Romans 2:18 “if you know His will and approve what is superior because you are instructed by the law” • Paul addresses people who possessed the written commandments of Moses. • They could “approve what is superior” because God’s revealed standards gave moral clarity. • The verse assumes the law still communicates God’s will—an assumption that echoes through the New Testament. What “the Law” Means Here • Primarily the Mosaic statutes, moral and ceremonial (Exodus–Deuteronomy). • By extension, the whole of God’s revealed commands recorded in Scripture. • Not merely rules, but a revelation of God’s character—holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). Why the Law Still Speaks Today • God’s character has not changed; therefore the moral truths embedded in the law remain true. • Jesus affirmed its abiding authority: “Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the Law” (Matthew 5:18). • Paul tells Timothy, “We know that the law is good if one uses it properly” (1 Timothy 1:8). Key Roles the Law Plays in Moral Guidance Today 1. Revealing God’s Standards – Shows what pleases or offends Him (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9–10). – Defines right and wrong in an age of shifting ethics. 2. Exposing Our Sin – “Through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20). – Conviction leads us to seek mercy in Christ. 3. Guarding Society – Its precepts restrain evil by informing conscience and civil law (1 Timothy 1:9–10). – Even unbelievers sense the basic justice reflected in the commandments. 4. Guiding Believers’ Conduct – The Spirit writes the law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16). – Love becomes the fulfilling motive, yet the commands still define love’s shape (Romans 13:8–10). 5. Pointing to Christ – “The law became our guardian to lead us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24). – Its sacrifices foreshadowed the cross; its moral demands show our need of grace. How to Use the Law Properly • Read it Christ-centered: look for how each command reflects His righteousness and foreshadows His atonement. • Distinguish moral from ceremonial: the temple rituals found fulfillment in Jesus (Hebrews 10:1–14), while the moral core (e.g., Ten Commandments) remains authoritative. • Depend on the Spirit: “the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). • Apply it relationally: love God first (Deuteronomy 6:5) and neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). Every specific command flows from these two. Living Out Romans 2:18 Today • Study the commandments—especially Exodus 20, Leviticus 19, and Deuteronomy 5-6—to “know His will.” • Compare daily choices with Scripture’s clear standards before “approving what is superior.” • Let conviction drive repentance, not despair; remember Christ “redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13). • Pursue obedience as grateful sons and daughters, empowered by the Spirit who engraves the law on willing hearts. Balancing Law and Grace • Salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9); obedience is the grateful response (Ephesians 2:10). • Law without grace breeds legalism; grace without law drifts into license. • The gospel holds both together: forgiven sinners now delight in God’s commands, finding in them a reliable compass for holy living. |
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