The Work Of The Law

Romans 2:12-16 (ESV)

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 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 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

For those under the Law, the Law condemns. For those not under the Law, their conscience takes over in accusing and excusing. Righteousness becomes a much more personal thing and the secrets of the heart, not just actions and rule following, are the basis of God’s judgment. 

The Law does not disappear, but is fulfilled in the hearts of men according to the gospel. What was engraved on stone is now written in hearts of flesh. Our interaction with the law is now very personal because we are in Christ and He is within us. We do not merely read His word, for we have the word within.