Romans 2:14-15, For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)…”
It would be difficult, to say the least, for all of us who live in the year 2020 and are members of the New Testament Church of the Lord Jesus Christ to imagine a time when the Gentiles lived in darkness without the knowledge of the information of God. But there was such a time when the nations of the world did not have, or have access to the oracles and commandments of the Lord as the Jews. Paul, In Romans 3:1-2 teaches us that one of the advantages of the Jews (national Israel) was that “unto them were committed the oracles of God.” Yet, according to Paul in our study verses, the Lord had a people among the Gentiles who were born again. When we read, “the work of the law written in their hearts”, it is referring to the finger of God writing His laws on their hearts in Regeneration, or the New Birth. In 2 Corinthians 3:3 we read, “Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” In this verse the Apostle Paul is referring to the same. When the elect child of God is born again, the Holy Spirit writes the Laws of God on the new heart which is given to them by His direct life giving work. You may ask, I wonder if this has happened to me? If you feel guilty for your sins and the wrong doings of your life, it is good evidence that this efficacious work has been accomplished in you by God’s grace (2 Timothy 1:9). The Gentiles in our study verse manifested that this work had been done to them before they received the information of God’s commandments, “having not the law…”
When we consider these two verses in God’s Holy Word, we are able to come to a few theological conclusions. (1) God has had, and does have a people in every kindred, tongue, people and nation (Revelation 5:9), not just where the gospel is or has been preached. (2) God’s eternal grace and salvation is without the knowledge and information of God’s word, or the gospel. (3) Those who are eternally saved are able to show forth the work of salvation without the knowledge and information of the word of God, or the gospel. (4) The knowledge and information of God’s word is for them who are already born again, to teach them that they may be comforted in the salvation they have and be informed of a better way to love to please the One Who saved them by His grace. And so, finally, we are able to conclude that life precedes believing the information of life. Amen!