Is There Anything Besides ‘The Works of the Law’ Written on People’s Hearts?

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Is There Anything Besides ‘The Works of the Law’ Written on People’s Hearts?

Is there a code of moral conscience ‘written’ on all people’s hearts? Does every human being come imprinted with God’s behavioral standards? The scriptures say the following:

“So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the ‘work’ of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them.” (Romans 2:15-16)

In other words, those that are “apart” from God show that there is some common moral standard amongst them. There’s a sense of right and wrong that guides them. Unfortunately many use this moral sense as a means to judgmental and controlling ends. Some would say that humans have become so corrupt, and that this inner sense of morality has become so obscured, that they are completely unaware of it and unable to access it. I would disagree. According to Romans 2, those who are apart from God “demonstrate” that some of it remains. John Gill says,

“there are some remains of the old law and light of nature,

which as by their outward conduct appears,

so by the inward motions of their minds.”

Beyond the proverbial “slap on the wrist” manner by which some use the law to impose human guilt followed by human repentance, there is refreshment, trust, wisdom, joy, and radiance. True repentance, changing one’s mind/direction, is a gift of God and in no way can be leveraged by human force. The Law serves “other” purposes too:

The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

(Psalm 19:7,8)

In reading an obscure book by a missionary who served in an Eastern context for almost 40 years, I found this quote where he states;

“God has put within us the knowledge of His love. Whoever our Maker is, He has made us with common knowledge: Love fulfills all moral and ethical responsibilities toward one another… We believe God is love, because He has written the truth of His love in the hearts of all people.”

A few questions:

Is there more than just “The Law” written on the hearts of all people?

What more?

What are the implications for Evangelism & Discipleship?