Stuartcr, you are in pretty good company:
"For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all." - Romans 2: 13-16
I really am not good at interpreting scripture but ill say thanks in the hopes that its a compliment.
Coicidently, my grandfather was from around Rome
Personally, I don’t promote or defend atheism, but each to his own I suppose if you think that defending atheism is good.
“Stuartcr, you are in pretty good company:”
You both are in terrible company. Read just one verse earlier:
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Paul does not propose that anyone can be justified by the law. His argument is that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile in regards to law keeping. For the one, having the law, is judged by the law (and therefore perishes), and the other, with the law written in their hearts, perish as well.
Rom 3:19-23 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
It’s quite blasphemous to claim that there is salvation in the law for infidels, when salvation is ONLY through the blood of Jesus Christ.
But there are SO many who wish they did!
Thank you for posting the passage from Romans.
I think there will be a lot of surprises at the Last Judgment.