Right from wrong

Welcome to the BB, vermae.

I believe all men are created with the ability to discern right from wrong, with the ability to choose, and with consciences.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Rom 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

 

We are born into sin at the moment of birth. We are born with a desire or propensity to sin. Psl. 51:5. Of course we have the power to choose from right or wrong, but because of the power of sin in our human nature we more often than not do not what is pleasing to God, whether in thought, word or deed. This is why we need to be born again by the POWER of God's Holy Spirit.Titus 3:5

Read carefully Paul's words on his struggle with sin within him and how he found victory in the Holy Spirit. Please read all of Romans chapters 7 and 8. The NIV translation brings this out very nicely for the modern reader.

 

No. At birth, we only know pleasure and displeasure. As we grow, our ability to reason and discern develop, and with that comes our comprehension of right and wrong.

You mean a "conscience"? Yes. All humans have a conscience.

 

Babies, as well as young children know nothing except their needs. They are, of course, completely dependant on their parents to supply those needs. As we grow older, we get to what is termed the "age of accountibility" where we do know right from wrong and are able to understand the basic message of the gospel. I've heard different age ranges, but I've seen it in a wide range of ages to be able to narrow it down as some have done.

Hope this helps!

 

In Rom. 2.14-15, God is saying the Gentiles know right from wrong through the conscience:

Evidence for God is that nature shows us a Creator (Rom 1) and human nature shows a conscience (Rom 2).

 

True, Marcia.

C.S. Lewis, in "Mere Christianity," used as evidence for the existence of God the fact that people as a general rule have an almost universal standard of right and wrong.

Usually if someone claims to believe that something that most everyone believes is wrong is not wrong as far as they are concerned, you can do that very thing to them that they say is not wrong and they will cry foul at the top of their lungs, proving that they actually do believe it is wrong.

I'm afraid Lewis said it much better than I did, but his point was that this universal standard had to come from somewhere.
Or someone.

MR