New Covenant Theology: Time For A More Accurate Way by Long Gary D

Author:Long, Gary D. [Long, Gary D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-09-25T00:00:00+00:00

New Covenant Theology’s Understanding of

Romans 2:11-16 with Genesis 1:27

In context, the Apostle Paul is here setting forth the case for God’s righteous judgment of sin. Foremost is the case made against the Jews, but it is also made against Gentiles, for “there is no respect of persons—no partiality—with God” (v. 11). Now the “the law” in this passage is clearly referring to the Old Covenant (OC) law of Moses. But notice in verse 14 that “the Gentiles, which have not the law [the Mosaic law] do by nature [do instinctively] the things contained in the law.” They show “the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts accusing or else excusing one another [defending them]” (v. 15). This answer given here by the Apostle Paul goes back beyond the Mosaic law to creation and man being created in the image of God: “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:27). In brief, Adam and Eve were created with a God-consciousness. That is, they knew by nature that they should love God and one another—the two greatest commandments. On the meaning of nature in Romans 2, NCT agrees with John Murray, a highly respected covenant theologian, who wrote that “by nature” refers to that aspect of God’s law which is “implanted or “engraven on our [man’s] natural constitution’”8 The best explanation for the two greatest commandments being innate, being implanted, in Adam and Eve’s natural constitution is due to the fact that they were created in God’s image with a God’s consciousness. Thus far NCT is in agreement with CT. However, the difference arises over the Westminster Confession of Faith explanation of God’s law before the fall to be moral law “for ever” “summarily comprehended in the “ten commandments” (answer to Q. 98 in the Larger Catechism) which bind all persons to obedience (WCF, XIX.v) with the Sabbath commandment understood to be a creation ordinance.9

I submit, therefore, that Romans 2, especially vv. 14-15 and Genesis 1:27 help explain God’s absolute unchanging law to be the two greatest commandments, love of God and neighbor, which began with the creation of Adam and Eve and which continues until Christ returns at the end of the present age (and extending into the eternal age to come for the redeemed). This innate law created by an unchanging God is righteous because God is righteous. It never changes. It exists in all of mankind from Adam and continues unchanging throughout the history of redemption until “the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus according to my (the) gospel” (Rom. 2:16). “That day” for believers will be “when (Christ) comes to be glorified in His saints” (II Thess. 1:7-10), that is, when He returns in His resurrection body at the Second Advent and ushers in the eternal state of the age to come.10

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