A perfect example of James 4:17. Has nothing to do with your example of the Catholic doing something out of ignorance.
It does when you read the actual text
Just stating the obvious to most.
For example - I do not believe that Catholics are all lost because they all bow down before images and promise to serve those they represent even though this clearly violates the Commandments of God. (
As I have said in the past) --
"to him that knows to do right and does it not - to him it is sin". James 4:17
so then your "non essential for salvation" could be worked into a lot of scenarios trying to get all of scripture to be "non essential".
I also believe that Romans 2:13-16 - says that gentiles with no access to scripture at all - are in some cases saved because they experience the New Birth - via the Holy Spirit.
This does not mean that as Christians we should ignore the Bible or should bow down before images or should not know who Christ is... Or should view all of that as "not important" for Christians.
all of your games aside
"the saints KEEP the Commandments of God AND their faith in Jesus" Rev 14:12.
the text remains true no matter how many "yes no" games you would like to engage in as we probably both agree
I just gave the example above of Catholics bowing down before images and promising to serve those that they represent. You read that right?
By contrast Romans 1:18-32 is about pagans who have no access to the Bible at all - their only access to truth - is nature itself.
Romans 1:18–32
[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [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. [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. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
[24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
[26] For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions... [32]
Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
As already stated above
They have some degree of truth and conviction of sin even while not aware of that specific sin as Romans 2 points out in general.
James 4:17 remains true -- even if you object to the Catholic example of not knowing that bowing down to their images is wrong.
catholics have a long list of sins (some real and some imagined) that they believe are a sin and that they believe they have committed -- hence their various confession sacrament rituals seeking some method of absolution. I don' t know of any Catholic claiming that they have never sinned. You and I both know this is true...
I am only stating the obvious.
James 4:17 states they are accountable for what they do know to be sin -- not for what they do not know to be sin.
At this point it is hard to tell if you are simply gaming or are in the least bit serious about this point
Your attempt to BEND Proverbs 16 so as to directly contradict James 4:17 "noted". But it fails. James is dealing with the real issue of those who know certain things to be true - but do not know "all truth" and thus are not accountable on certain points.
John 9:41 -- Jesus said,
"If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains".
My break down of each passage is spot on. So who here would be gaming or mocking God?
As already shown James 4:17 perfectly fits the case given.
I do not play around with salvation. This is why i stand up and point out Scripture abuse by false teachers.
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death".
Your gaming is no different than Catholicism.