Accountability Before the Mosaic Law
Romans 5:12–14 shows that sin and death were already present from Adam onward.
Even without a codified law, humanity’s conscience testified to God’s invisible attributes (Romans 1:19–20). Creation itself functioned as a witness: the order, beauty, and power of the world revealed God’s divine nature, leaving mankind “without excuse” (Romans 1).
Thus, even before Sinai, people were accountable through conscience. The Law was given to the Jew who were under its guard. The Gentiles, who were not under the Mosaic covenant, Paul writes in Romans 2:14–15 “show the work of the Law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness."
Romans 5:12–14 shows that sin and death were already present from Adam onward.
Even without a codified law, humanity’s conscience testified to God’s invisible attributes (Romans 1:19–20). Creation itself functioned as a witness: the order, beauty, and power of the world revealed God’s divine nature, leaving mankind “without excuse” (Romans 1).
Thus, even before Sinai, people were accountable through conscience. The Law was given to the Jew who were under its guard. The Gentiles, who were not under the Mosaic covenant, Paul writes in Romans 2:14–15 “show the work of the Law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness."
Accountability from Adam’s Transgression and the Mosaic Law
- Romans 5:18: “therefore just as one transgression [Adam’s] brought condemnation to the extent of all men…”
Sin existed universally without a codified law, though the conscience exposed it.
- Romans 5:13: “For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not charged when there is no law.”
Sin existed and death reigned from Adam’s transgression, proving sin’s reality, but the Mosaic Law sharpened exposure and accountability.
- Romans 5:18: “therefore just as one transgression [Adam’s] brought condemnation to the extent of all men…”
Sin existed universally without a codified law, though the conscience exposed it.
- Romans 5:13: “For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not charged when there is no law.”
Sin existed and death reigned from Adam’s transgression, proving sin’s reality, but the Mosaic Law sharpened exposure and accountability.
Harmonizing Paul’s Teaching
At first glance, Paul seems to contradict himself:
- All are condemned since Adam (Romans 5:12, 18).
- But sin is not counted against without the Law (Romans 5:13, 20).
Were all men condemned because of the transgression of Adam or did the Mosaic Law hold then count sin toward them? Or is this accountability that Paul speaks of through the Law just make sin explicit?Accountability in three different ways:
- Universal Condemnation in Adam – Humanity inherits death and corruption, apart from the Mosaic Law. God revealed right and wrong through nature and conscience so that all mankind are without excuse (Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:14-15). The first sign.
- Heightened Accountability under the Mosaic Law – The Law does not introduce sin or death but makes it explicit, see illustration below. The second sign.
- The new covenant, a ministry of the Spirit – The Spirit convicts the world of sin and judgement (John 16:7-8). The third sign.
Paul’s point is not contradiction but progression:
- Adam → the plight of mankind and the universal problem of sin and death revealed through nature and the conscious.
- Mosaic Law → sin made explicit in written code.
- Christ → superabounding grace that overcomes both through a new creation. God’s righteous requirements are fulfilled in a new living way of the Spirit, not by written code.
But sin is not counted (charged; held accountable) without the Law (Romans 5:13). The Greek word referring to accountability, (ellogeō), means “to enter into account; to be charged against.” What is Paul meaning when he says the Law charged against or held accountable? Lets look at an illustration.
At first glance, Paul seems to contradict himself:
- All are condemned since Adam (Romans 5:12, 18).
- But sin is not counted against without the Law (Romans 5:13, 20).
Accountability in three different ways:
- Universal Condemnation in Adam – Humanity inherits death and corruption, apart from the Mosaic Law. God revealed right and wrong through nature and conscience so that all mankind are without excuse (Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:14-15). The first sign.
- Heightened Accountability under the Mosaic Law – The Law does not introduce sin or death but makes it explicit, see illustration below. The second sign.
- The new covenant, a ministry of the Spirit – The Spirit convicts the world of sin and judgement (John 16:7-8). The third sign.
Paul’s point is not contradiction but progression:
- Adam → the plight of mankind and the universal problem of sin and death revealed through nature and the conscious.
- Mosaic Law → sin made explicit in written code.
- Christ → superabounding grace that overcomes both through a new creation. God’s righteous requirements are fulfilled in a new living way of the Spirit, not by written code.
But sin is not counted (charged; held accountable) without the Law (Romans 5:13). The Greek word referring to accountability, (ellogeō), means “to enter into account; to be charged against.” What is Paul meaning when he says the Law charged against or held accountable? Lets look at an illustration.
Illustration: The Mosaic Law as the “No Trespass Sign”
Imagine walking across someone’s land without permission. Your conscience may already whisper that it is wrong, but once a “No Trespassing” sign is posted, accountability is undeniable.
The sign does not create the wrongness of trespassing; it exposes it, removes excuses, and makes wrong explicit. Likewise, the Mosaic Law did not invent sin but revealed it in sharper detail. For those who had seared their conscience, the Law stood as an external witness, holding them accountable.
Romans 5:20: “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase.”
Just as the “no trespassing” sign makes the one trespassing explicitly guilty, the charging of, the Law did the same.
The conscience knows right from wrong (the knowledge of good and evil). The conscience is defined as a "inner feeling or voice acting as a guide to distinguish right and wrong." When Adam and Eve ate from the tree they received this knowledge. But because of the fallen sinful nature and the searing of the conscience, the Law was introduced which exposes or makes the charge explicit. Thus, sin is “counted” or “charged” by a written code.
Imagine walking across someone’s land without permission. Your conscience may already whisper that it is wrong, but once a “No Trespassing” sign is posted, accountability is undeniable.
The sign does not create the wrongness of trespassing; it exposes it, removes excuses, and makes wrong explicit. Likewise, the Mosaic Law did not invent sin but revealed it in sharper detail. For those who had seared their conscience, the Law stood as an external witness, holding them accountable.
Romans 5:20: “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase.”
Just as the “no trespassing” sign makes the one trespassing explicitly guilty, the charging of, the Law did the same.
The conscience knows right from wrong (the knowledge of good and evil). The conscience is defined as a "inner feeling or voice acting as a guide to distinguish right and wrong." When Adam and Eve ate from the tree they received this knowledge. But because of the fallen sinful nature and the searing of the conscience, the Law was introduced which exposes or makes the charge explicit. Thus, sin is “counted” or “charged” by a written code.
Summary
- Condemnation in Adam: All humanity is under sin and death. Their conscience is a testimony.
- Exposure by the Mosaic Law (The Sign): The law explicitly states the wrong in written code.
- Weakness: The Law was spiritual, but nature of fallen man is carnal, these are opposed to one another, thus the carnal lacks power to be obedient.
- Fulfillment in Christ: Grace abounds beyond sin, and the Spirit empowers fulfillment of God’s righteous requirements.
- Condemnation in Adam: All humanity is under sin and death. Their conscience is a testimony.
- Exposure by the Mosaic Law (The Sign): The law explicitly states the wrong in written code.
- Weakness: The Law was spiritual, but nature of fallen man is carnal, these are opposed to one another, thus the carnal lacks power to be obedient.
- Fulfillment in Christ: Grace abounds beyond sin, and the Spirit empowers fulfillment of God’s righteous requirements.
The New Living Way
The Law was holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), but it was weak because the natural, carnal man lacked power. In Christ, there is the introduction of a better hope (Hebrews 7:18-19).
Even before God sent his son, righteousness was counted through faith (Hebrews 11:39-40).
In the new covenant, God does what the Law could not:
- He writes His laws on hearts and minds (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).
- He gives His Spirit to indwell believers, enabling obedience not by a “natural” way but by a “supernatural” way of empowerment.
- Believers have the Spirit to guide, so Paul writes do not suppress it but prove all and hold fast to good, abstain from evil of all kinds (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)
- He convicts all the world through the Spirit. Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit, which acts as a sign exposing sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:7-8).
The Law was holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), but it was weak because the natural, carnal man lacked power. In Christ, there is the introduction of a better hope (Hebrews 7:18-19).
Even before God sent his son, righteousness was counted through faith (Hebrews 11:39-40).
In the new covenant, God does what the Law could not:
- He writes His laws on hearts and minds (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).
- He gives His Spirit to indwell believers, enabling obedience not by a “natural” way but by a “supernatural” way of empowerment.
- Believers have the Spirit to guide, so Paul writes do not suppress it but prove all and hold fast to good, abstain from evil of all kinds (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)
- He convicts all the world through the Spirit. Jesus sent the promised Holy Spirit, which acts as a sign exposing sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:7-8).
Final Summary of Accountability
Condition Description Accountability Status Trespassing without a sign (Conscience) Conscience reveals wrong, but men make excuses or have a seared conscience (Romans 2:14-15). Implicit, but excuses are abundant. Trespassing with a sign (Mosaic Law) Here’s the sign! Accountability is undeniable; transgression is explicit. Heightened and Explicit. New Covenant Spirit Not a sign or written code, but a new living way where the Spirit writes God’s laws on hearts and minds. Enabled and Empowered Obedience.
God’s Spirit is put within the believer, the heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh, we inwardly become tablets, epistles, letters where God writes his laws on our heart and puts them in our mind. See Epistles of A Living God: The Laws of God Written on Hearts and Minds
| Condition | Description | Accountability Status |
|---|---|---|
| Trespassing without a sign (Conscience) | Conscience reveals wrong, but men make excuses or have a seared conscience (Romans 2:14-15). | Implicit, but excuses are abundant. |
| Trespassing with a sign (Mosaic Law) | Here’s the sign! Accountability is undeniable; transgression is explicit. | Heightened and Explicit. |
| New Covenant Spirit | Not a sign or written code, but a new living way where the Spirit writes God’s laws on hearts and minds. | Enabled and Empowered Obedience. |
God’s Spirit is put within the believer, the heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh, we inwardly become tablets, epistles, letters where God writes his laws on our heart and puts them in our mind. See Epistles of A Living God: The Laws of God Written on Hearts and Minds