Both Jews and Gentiles Will Be Judged by Gospel Laws
(See Romans 2:1–20.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“As a prelude to his great proclamation that men are justified by faith in Christ, without reference to the performances of the Mosaic law, Paul here discusses the status of the Jews, through whom the Mosaic requirements were revealed.
“Yes, the Jews of old were favored above all people because they alone had the laws of salvation and knew the mind of God. Yes, the Jews had the law of Moses and were therefore under greater obligation to conform to righteous principles than were other men. Yes, the law of circumcision profited men anciently because it bore record of their covenant with and devotion to the God of Israel.
“But, No, the Jews of Paul’s day were no better off than their Gentile associates because they no longer walked in the paths of their fathers. No, they were no longer lights to the world because they violated the laws which God had given them. No, there was no longer preferential status for them because the gospel is now for all men. No, they were not justified (and thus saved) through conformity to Mosaic principles alone.
“And, Yes, as [Paul] was now ready to say, both Jew and Gentile must turn to Christ, and worship and serve Him with full purpose of heart, to be justified through the cleansing power of His blood. See Acts 15:1–35; Rom. 3:21–31.”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 2:226–27.)
