Romans 2:12-16

New International Reader's Version

¹² Some people do not know God’s law when they sin. They will not be judged by the law when they die. Others do know God’s law when they sin. They will be judged by the law. ¹³ Hearing the law does not make a person right with God. People are considered to be right with God only when they obey the law. ¹⁴ Gentiles do not have the law. Sometimes they just naturally do what the law requires. They are a law for themselves. This is true even though they don’t have the law. ¹⁵ They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts. The way their minds judge them proves this fact. Sometimes their thoughts find them guilty. At other times their thoughts find them not guilty. ¹⁶ This will happen on the day God appoints Jesus Christ to judge people’s secret thoughts. That’s part of my good news.