Here's the correct answer to the OP question. It is found in Romans 2.
Paul writes that those who don't have the law are a law unto themselves. I think that means that those who have never heard the gospel will be not be condemned for unbelief. So what is the basis of their condemnation?
Are you deliberately skewing this scripture to make it fit your soteriology? Where in the text is
A LAW even mentioned?
It's NOT a law, it's THE LAW:
6 who will render to every man according to his
works:
7 to them that by
patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:
8 but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation,
9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that
worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;
10 but glory and honor and peace to every man that
worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:
11 for there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without
the law: and as many as have sinned under
the law shall be judged by
the law;
13 for not the hearers of
the law are just before God, but the
doers of
the law shall be justified:
14 (for when Gentiles that have not
the law do by nature the things of
the law, these,
not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
15 in that they show the work of
the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);
16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.
17 But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon
the law, and gloriest in God,
18 and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of
the law,
19 and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in
the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;
21 thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
23 thou who gloriest in
the law, through thy transgression of
the law dishonorest thou God?
24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.
25 For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of
the law: but if thou be a transgressor of
the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.
26 If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of
the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?
27 and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil
the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of
the law?
Please, by all means, flesh it out, from the context point this 'moral code' out to me.
It is that each person has a sense of right and wrong--a moral code. Paul called it the "law written on their hearts"...
Again, are you deliberating skewing the scripture? Or is it this 'tunnel vision' that seems to afflict so many with this passage?
These are
DOERS of the law.
These are non Jews who neither have
THE LAW nor have heard
THE LAW who are doing by nature the things of
the law. These,
not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of
the law written in their hearts.
(some might call it conscience).
Like so many others you're fixated on that word 'conscience'.
Compare:
in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts,
their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); Ro 2:15
With:
The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: Ro 8:16
A good conscience is a very desirable thing to have:
For our glorifying is this,
the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God,
we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 2 Cor 1:12
having
a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile
your good manner of life in Christ. 1 Pet 3:16
Herein I also exercise myself to have
a conscience void of offence toward God and men always. Acts 24:16
which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of
a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; 1 Pet 3:21
Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also
for conscience sake. Ro 13:5
Deacons in like manner must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in
a pure conscience. 1 Tim 3:8,9
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in
a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day 2 Tim 1:3
And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God
in all good conscience until this day. Acts 23:1
Now, we ourselves know that we can't keep the law perfectly. That's why we must by faith put on the righteousness of Christ.
Where does the scripture say that OUR faith applies the righteousness of Christ to us? Please, flesh that out.
Those who never heard the gospel can't keep their own moral code perfectly either. They will recognize that truth and admit that God's judgment on them is just.
Again, show this 'moral code' you keep talking about from the context.
Not so much, the others.