Romans 2:14

[Jkdbuck76]

I started this in another thread,
but I'd like to keep it away from
the original thread. So here it is.


Let me ask this:

If we are all totally depraved, how is it that
unsaved man, by nature, do that which is
in the Law?
See Romans 2:14.

I'm asking.....I'm not roping people into
arguments.

If unsaved man is depraved, how do they
do the things in the law? Which law?

 

[npetreley]

Here is the text.

14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

How did the requirements of the law get written on their hearts? Is this something that is true of all men, by default, Jews and Gentiles alike? No, it is not, as is demonstrated by scripture.

31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

The above is from Jeremiah and is speaking of the Jews, but it demonstrates that they did not have the law written on their hearts. God promised He would write it on their hearts after He punished them.

You can try to isolate that passage if you wish, but it only takes one exception to prove that man does not have the law written on his heart by default.

 

[webdog]

You can try to isolate that passage if you wish, but it only takes one exception to prove that man does not have the law written on his heart by default.

Either you are correct in your reasoning, or Paul is...

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
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.
Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

 

[DQuixote]

14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

There was a time when you could go into just about any small town in the USA and find most folks living there, Christian and non, behaving "in a Christian manner." You couldn't tell Christian from non just by talking to them, observing them, for the most part. Everyone was just being nice. They may not have been knowingly following Christian convictions, but they followed a certain convention. There are some mighty nice Mormons all over Utah. That's how depraved folks follow the law.

It is getting harder and harder to find a town like that today. I remember one, where I walked to and from school, a city mile, never once being afraid. I go back there from time-to-time, but the old school house is gone, replaced by the Police Department building. Back then, there was one Town Marshall, with little to do.

:tear: