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 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
What is the role that conscience has to play in our ability to live a life that pleases God?
In the verses surrounding this passage, Paul is once again emphasizing the point that all are subject to the judgment of God: both those under the law (Jews) and those not under the law (Gentiles).* Paul interestingly explains that some Gentiles (presumably Christians, though scholars argue this point) have the work of the law written on their hearts.* To be clear, it does not say that the law is written on their hearts, but that the work of the law is written on their hearts.* This means that the things that they must do to fulfill the law is written on their hearts.* The Jews have the way to fulfill their hearts written on stone in the form of the Mosaic law.*
Paul suggests in the context of this verse that the only way to please God is to be doers of the word, not hearers only, but we see from other writing in Romans that one can live a life that does all of the law (except for Christ).* Hence, all fail equally whether they, like the Jews, were given the written law or not as is the case for those with the work of the law written on their hearts (see, God is fair… everyone fails equally).
That said, the conscience is not to be trusted. The best the conscience can do is to bear witness to things that have been done, bear witness to what others are doing, or bear witness to the intent of a future action.* This conscience of ours operates based upon the things that we know we should or should not do.* Because we are fallen humans, our conscience too is fallen, only providing us with as much light as we have received.* Because of this, our conscience can never substitute for or play the part of the Holy Spirit.* Surely, at times, our conscience has told us not to do things that God would permit while at other times permitting us to do things that the Holy Spirit would never agree to.*
Paul’s discussion leads to this point: God judges the secrets of man by Christ Jesus.
As we walk through life, we must discern between the voice of our conscience and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Surely no one, including Paul, would suggest that we should go against our conscience, for this could lead to folly.* But at the end of the day, we are not judged by our conscience, but by Jesus Christ, the Word Made Flesh. His must be the voice that tells us what is right and wrong.
I want to be guided by His voice. Lord, help me to discern it.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to question your source of right and wrong. Perhaps God wants you to awaken your conscience to the truth of God’s word. Maybe God wants you to hear His voice through the works of the law written on your heart. Perhaps He wants to show you things that you know that you should not be doing that you should stop, or things thing you should be doing that it’s time to begin.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.
Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!
*Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 67-71). InterVarsity Press; Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 124-128). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press; Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 141). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 84-89).