dear Tammy...
I believe that paul was talking about jewish believers and gentile believers because that segment on the law (in romans 2:1-16) is sandwiched in between pauls discourse on the righteousness of God REVEALED from faith to faith.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith. romans 1:16-17
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. romans 3:21-26
you said: "The law would be written on anyone's heart... depending upon the nature of the heart"...but the law to the jewish people was also to be seperated for holiness to [their] God...that isn't written on "anyone's heart"...that is written first on the jewish believers heart and then the genitle believers heart...throughout the OT God is calling for the jewish people to RETURN to Him and in the NT the gentile TURNS to God through Jesus Christ.
I wrote:
that seperated "holiness to God" isn't written on the non-believers heart, at all, is it?...so thelaw isn't written on non-believers hearts...but it IS written in its entirety on a gentile believers heart. ie. seperated holiness to God, justice and mercy...because the spirit of the law IS kept by the same Spirit as Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled that law (but didn't do away with it).
and you said: "and interpretation. Everyone was a believer back then, in some god or another. "...so, are you suggesting that God wrote your "law of love" on the hearts of people who worshipped other gods?...for what purpose would He WRITE on the hearts of those who worshipped idols?...
I wrote:
Scripture says that no one is justified by works of the law but by faith in God and Jesus Christ. Without faith in God it is impossible to please God. That is the impetus behind preaching the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. There are the saved and the lost...not the saved AND the saved by their own works apart from faith in God AND the lost. (though you seem to believe that you've found a "loop hole" in the book of revelation that completely skirts the issue of salvation IN Jesus Christ alone)
and you said: "No loophole. Mainstream doesn't teach this, and so I understand why you do not believe it."...you're right, the church nor the bible teach what you do BECAUSE the great commission is about being sent to preach the gospel of salvation IN Jesus Christ to the nations...even if one is sent to the farthest point on the earth they are sent to preach the gospel to those who haven't heard it...no one is sent ahead of Jesus Christ to preach that they will be saved by good works. The scripture that you refer to in revelation when preaching that some will be set aside as sheep by their good works is acknowledged as those who haven't heard the gospel but it is in NO WAY representitive of the present company that you preach to. You believe that you have found a loophole that those who have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ but rejected it can slip through and be saved.
you said: "You already make an exception Michelle, for those who have not had a chance to get to know Him... why do you make even that exception?"...where does Jesus indicate that people have the opportunity to get to know Him before making their decision to accept His gift of salvation or reject it?...His disciples were told, "follow Me"...without ANY preamble. scripture states...NOW is the day of salvation(2 cor. 6:1-2)
you said: "Using it [the bible] to teach that Christ and God will send people to hell, no matter that they might have done good to others, is twisting it to serve another purpose... other than to share good news and truth."...I haven't said that God or Jesus is going to send anyone to hell...I've stated that Jesus saves from the present condemnation...that is what Jesus said in john 8:24...man is already condemned...Jesus saves man from that condemnation...that salvation (or not) being the result of an action of the free will.
You have given your listeners here a third option though...they don't have to make a choice for Jesus Christ they are free to reject Him because by their good works alone they may be saved...
love michelle
