YES I freely admit that I have NOT been schooled in the systematic methods of pulling selected words out of the midst of Scripture and claiming they mean something they do NOT mean.
What exactly do you think “show the works of the law written on their hearts,” means?
Those words are followed by "their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while *ACCUSING* or else *EXCUSING* one another;)" (playing God)
Then Paul says in verse 16 IN that *DAY* when God shall judge the *secrets* of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Who else but the Heavenly Father can judge those that show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, but their *THOUGHTS* the mean while accusing or else excusing one another????
This kabuki dance of yours doesn’t change the fact I answered with scripture your question of how one could know sin apart from the bible.