How is the law written on everyone's heart?

[Deuteronomy]

...if I understand you correctly, the law is not written in the hearts of non-covenant people (Gentiles), but rather the “works of the law” or “requirements of the law” but not the law itself. That’s just like saying that people, regardless of who they are, have morals and ethics but those morals and ethics will not necessarily align with what God’s law is. Is that what you’re saying or am I way off?

Hello Runningman, you are not way off, but I need to do a better job of explaining myself apparently, so I will consider how to best do that and get back to you.

It comes from just learning morals from friends, family, and society. Secular society generally frowns on murder, cheating, and being hateful; that’s all cultures.

No, I don't believe that's it. As the Apostle tells us, a basic understanding of right/wrong/good/evil is something that we possess "by nature" or inherently. Although it can be taught and confirmed by us (and a greater/deeper of understanding can be taught/learned over the years), I believe that this innate sense of godly morals/ethics, IOW, our basic sense/understanding of the difference between right/wrong, is part of us/part of our makeup from the get-go.

I'll be back (Dv).

God bless you!!

~Deut
p.s. - for what it's worth, what I find most fascinating about this study is what Jeremiah 31 is actually telling us, especially in the light of Romans 2

Romans 2​

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, ​

15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. ​

​

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hello @Runningman, I also meant to say that all of this is far from easy for us to understand. Although it is not a Biblical mystery of the caliber of the Trinity, it is, nevertheless, enough of one that fully comprehending ALL of it is not going to be possible for us on this side of the grave. So, like the Trinity, we hold to the truths that the Bible teaches us, and then we do our best to understand as much of the truth as possible at this time.

There is much more to consider (and I hope to be able to return to do so later this evening).

God bless you!!

~Deut

Deuteronomy 29​

29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.​

​

 

[Runningman]

Hello @Runningman, I also meant to say that all of this is far from easy for us to understand. Although it is not a Biblical mystery of the caliber of the Trinity, it is, nevertheless, enough of one that fully comprehending ALL of it is not going to be possible for us on this side of the grave. So, like the Trinity, we hold to the truths that the Bible teaches us, and then we do our best to understand as much of the truth as possible at this time.

There is much more to consider (and I hope to be able to return to do so later this evening).

God bless you!!

~Deut

Deuteronomy 29​

29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.​

​

For sure absolutely agree. Thanks for your interesting and valuable insight from the word.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Hello Runningman, you are not way off, but I need to do a better job of explaining myself apparently, so I will consider how to best do that and get back to you.


No, I don't believe that's it. As the Apostle tells us, a basic understanding of right/wrong/good/evil is something that we possess "by nature" or inherently. Although it can be taught and confirmed by us (and a greater/deeper of understanding can be taught/learned over the years), I believe that this innate sense of godly morals/ethics, IOW, our basic sense/understanding of the difference between right/wrong, is part of us/part of our makeup from the get-go.

I'll be back (Dv).

God bless you!!

~Deut
p.s. - for what it's worth, what I find most fascinating about this study is what Jeremiah 31 is actually telling us, especially in the light of Romans 2

Romans 2​

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, ​

15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. ​

​

Amen mans nature ( spirit ) came here out of God

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“All the while my breath is in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils;”
‭‭Job‬ ‭27:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, Searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our spirit that made our created body come alive the spirit of life on man came from God who is spirit. In this spirit is the nature of light , goodness and truth the ways of God are inherently mans original state of bieng it’s within us all but some won’t acknolwedge, being thier own lord decoding what’s good and evil like the forbidden fruit

we know it’s wrong to kill even a killer knows but they do not anyways it’s transgression .

They show it’s wrong and they know because they hide the proof and deny they did it , they knew it was evil ( breaking of the law ) but they by nature still rebel and follow those sinful ways.

Also Later if they feel guilt they confess showing again they understand the transgression inherently but also inherited nature of rebellion to this knowledge

man is in a snare caught between good and evil now and need to choose Christ wholeheartedly , our deliverer and strong defender

 

[pottersclay]

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Now read the book of revelation and see how he does it🤔🤔🙄🙄

 

[TMS]

How will the Law be written on our hearts?
You need to understand the old covanant and which law is being talked about.
The Lord i serve is a God of Order, and an unchanging God.
There is one Law that is unchanging and has been in place from the start.
The Covenant made with Adam, Noah and Abraham were all the same as the covenant Jesus fulfilled.

God communicated the Law and covenant to the people so they could all believe by faith.

Jesus came and by perfect example showed us what it means to obey the law.
Jesus was the lamb and the high preist, etc...
By allowing the same Spirit that controlled the life of Jesus to control our life we will obey the same moral Laws, and believe by faith in the laws that justify and sanctify us today.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Jesus came and by perfect example showed us what it means to obey the law. By allowing the same Spirit that controlled the life of Jesus to control our life we will obey the same moral Laws, and believe by faith in the laws that justify and sanctify us today.

Hello TMS, “faith in the laws that justify”?

Which “laws” are you referring to, and how/in what way(s) are these laws capable of justifying us (also, what does it mean to have faith in these laws )

Thanks for your help!

~Deut

 

[TMS]

Hello TMS, “faith in the laws that justify”?

Which “laws” are you referring to, and how/in what way(s) are these laws capable of justifying us (also, what does it mean to have faith in these laws )

Thanks for your help!

~Deut

Believe by faith in the Laws thats justify and sanctify....
I mean the principles,
Like the law of gravity...
Justification and Sanctification are imputed and imparted righteousness that comes by faith. If we don't believe by faith the principles (laws) of the gospel we can't be justified..
I shouldn't have used the word law. I should have said gospel principles.

 

[DavidTree]

God said that He would write the law on the hearts of the people He will make a new covenant with.

Jeremiah 31:33 KJV
33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Then Paul seems to be saying that the law is also written on the hearts of unregenerate Gentiles who don't have a covenant with God, but I can't find a verse to back up what Paul said about the Gentiles too.

Romans 2:14,15
14For 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: 15Which 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

Thank you!

In Romans chapter 2 the Apostle Paul(thru the Holy Spirit) is revealing that the Eternal Law of God is Christ.
The Law of Christ is found in the Gospel and was preached beforehand by God in the Garden and Foreward even by the Holy Spirit into men's hearts = "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."

'in the Day that Christ will judge all men according to their heart'

There is only One Eternal Law as outlined by the LORD in His Gospel.

The earthly law given to Moses was to prepare the World for the Messiah thru the Jewish People.

Now that the Eternal Law of God has come - the earthly law has passed away being nailed to the Cross.

 

[DavidTree]

Believe by faith in the Laws thats justify and sanctify....
I mean the principles,
Like the law of gravity...
Justification and Sanctification are imputed and imparted righteousness that comes by faith. If we don't believe by faith the principles (laws) of the gospel we can't be justified..
I shouldn't have used the word law. I should have said gospel principles.

Truth Principle #1: There is no such thing as = "the law of gravity"

Remember this? = "if you are told a lie long enough, you will believe it"

 

[reneweddaybyday]

The Gentiles have “the works of the law” written in their hearts. The “works of the law” is just a way of saying that those are the actions necessary to obey the law. Roman’s 2:14, says that by their nature (not because God wrote the law in their hearts) do the things contained in the law.

I believe the work of the law was written in the heart of mankind by God and through this mankind is able to understand certain behaviors (murder, lying, stealing) are wrong and certain behaviors (helping others, giving to others, loving others) are right.

However, some do not heed the prompting of the work of the law written in the heart. So they murder, lie, steal and because of this behavior by some, societies have made laws.

God's Word tells us the law is for the lawless ... those who disregard that work of the law written in the heart. And even with the laws established within societies, there are some who continue to disregard so more and more laws are put on the books ... all because some disregard what God wrote in the heart (the work of the law).

At this point in time, there are some laws on the books which actually protect the wrongdoer and incriminate those who are doing good (Isaiah 5:20 - Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!).

In reading through Romans 1, we see a pattern of moving further and further from God and God giving over (see Rom 1:24, 1:26, 1:28). Just before the verses which state that God gave them over, there are certain behaviors revealed. A person does not start out from birth with a reprobate mind. A person moves further and further away and God, at various points in the process, lets them go. so sad
.

 

[Runningman]

I believe the work of the law was written in the heart of mankind by God and through this mankind is able to understand certain behaviors (murder, lying, stealing) are wrong and certain behaviors (helping others, giving to others, loving others) are right.

However, some do not heed the prompting of the work of the law written in the heart. So they murder, lie, steal and because of this behavior by some, societies have made laws.

God's Word tells us the law is for the lawless ... those who disregard that work of the law written in the heart. And even with the laws established within societies, there are some who continue to disregard so more and more laws are put on the books ... all because some disregard what God wrote in the heart (the work of the law).

At this point in time, there are some laws on the books which actually protect the wrongdoer and incriminate those who are doing good (Isaiah 5:20 - Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!).

In reading through Romans 1, we see a pattern of moving further and further from God and God giving over (see Rom 1:24, 1:26, 1:28). Just before the verses which state that God gave them over, there are certain behaviors revealed. A person does not start out from birth with a reprobate mind. A person moves further and further away and God, at various points in the process, lets them go. so sad
.

So if I understand correctly, the “works of the law” are the actions necessary in order to perform the law. That’s just a fancy way of saying that the Gentiles are capable of following the law. Paul seems to have used some very careful wording to not really say the law is written on the hearts of those who are not in a covenant with God.

So Gentiles don’t have the law of God in their heart and don’t have a covenant with God. I think once you realize this key fact, the book of Romans has a whole new meaning.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

So if I understand correctly, the “works of the law” are the actions necessary in order to perform the law.

here's some information from a couple of commentaries (bold mine):

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges:

"The work of the law" has been explained as if collective for "works;" but this is ill-supported by real parallels. It is better to explain it as "what the law does," than as "what is done for the law's sake;" and thus it means the teaching of the Difference of right and wrong (see Romans 3:20). This "work," done in an intense degree by the law, is done in a lower degree by conscience alone; but the work is the same in kind. The sense of wrong and right, which it is the law's work to produce fully, is somehow and in some measure, without the law, "written" in heathen "hearts."


Clarke's Commentary:

Which show the work of the law - In acting according to justice, mercy, temperance, and truth, they show that the great object of the law, which was to bring men from injustice, cruelty, intemperance, and falsity, is accomplished so far in them: their conscience also bearing witness - that faculty of the soul, where that Divine light dwells and works, shows them that they are right; and thus they have a comfortable testimony in their own souls of their own integrity: their thoughts, the mean while, accusing, or else excusing one another; or rather, their reasonings between one another accusing or answering for themselves. As if the apostle had said: - And this point, that they have a law and act according to it, is farther proved from their conduct in civil affairs; and from that correct sense which they have of natural justice in their debates, either in their courts of law, or in their treatises on morality. All these are ample proofs that God has not left them without light; and that, seeing they have such correct notions of right and wrong, they are accountable to God for their conduct in reference to these notions and principles.
.

 

[montana123]

God said that He would write the law on the hearts of the people He will make a new covenant with.

Jeremiah 31:33 KJV
33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Then Paul seems to be saying that the law is also written on the hearts of unregenerate Gentiles who don't have a covenant with God, but I can't find a verse to back up what Paul said about the Gentiles too.

Romans 2:14,15
14For 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: 15Which 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

Thank you!

The Bible says that creation testifies there is a God and of His attributes which one of them is love for He provided food, and the means to make clothing and shelter so there is no excuse and testify of the 2 greatest commandments love God and love people for if God loves people and created all things then they should love God and people.

Love is the fulfilling of the law and the all the prophets and laws hang on those 2 laws, which Paul said that the law is spiritual, holy, just, and good, the moral laws, laws of love.

The law is written on the heart of the Gentiles for they know right from wrong so there is no excuse but they do not have the power of the Spirit to help them to be perfect.

God gave us the ability to understand right from wrong our conscience bearing witness.

The saints have the law written on their hearts by the Spirit which means they have the Spirit working in their lives to help them to overcome sin which a Spirit led life will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh for they have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts and show the ways of the Spirit, and God will not allow them to be tempted above measure and will give them an escape from the temptation so they can bear it.

The dead shall be judged according to their works and if they believed in a higher power, and loved people which means they did not offend them and helped them with their needs caring about them, and asked this higher power for forgiveness if anything was amiss they should be able to be saved even though they did not know the word of God or heard of Christ for God.