For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For 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: Which 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;) Romans 2:12-15

Jesus said “Unless you repent, you will all perish” (Luke 13:3) This is a message that is highly offensive to everyone, however God is calling everyone to repentance and to turn to Christ. However the unsaved person will say “I don’t believe in God”, and  “I don’t believe in Repentance” Is this person exempt from the gospel? Can an atheist inherit eternal life simply because they refuse to believe?

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, addresses this issue. Paul said “For as many sinned without the law, shall also perish without the law” There are many people who have never heard the Law of God (Ten Commandments) yet they will be judged by the Law of God and will perish. The Atheist will say “That’s not fair, I thought I had an exemption from Gods judgment”  As Paul said “As many have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law”

So this brings up the question, what is the law? The Law is not just commandments, but its Gods nature, as Paul said “The Law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24) The Law of God reveals our sinful nature, it reveals how far away we are from the nature of God. Consider when Jesus spoke to the Rich Young Ruler, (Mark 10, Matthew 19, Luke 18) the man asked Jesus “What shall I do to inherit eternal life”? What was Jesus’ response? He walked the man through the Ten Commandments, the moral law of God. Why? Because that reveals our sinful nature and our need for a Savior, Jesus Christ

As the Apostle Paul continues on “The Gentiles , who don’t have the Law, by nature do things required by the Law, because the Law is written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness” We are all made in the image of God, so because of our nature, we have been born with a conscience, which tells us when we are doing things that are wrong. Even though we may have not been taught the full Law of God, we instinctively know parts of the Law of God.

Let me give you an example, most of us would agree murder is wrong, rape is wrong, stealing is wrong, because the Law is written on your heart, even though many deny their Creator. If you look at most cultures or civilizations, most have the same moral rules, because we were born with a conscience of God

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (v16)

Therefore since we are all made in the image of God, we bear the responsibility of our sins because we have been born with a conscience. There will be no exemption clauses at the judgement seat of Christ, this is why everyone needs to hear the gospel, everyone needs to come to repentance and be Born Again in Christ for salvation, Amen