I'm curious as how anyone understands this scripture:
Romans 2:14-16So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences testify in support of this, and their competing thoughts either accuse or excuse them. On the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
Feedback would be appreciated.
Steve
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Lamentation 3:24 The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.
I found an interesting website by accident the other day that is an online comparison Bible. Here is the "God's Word" translation of those scriptures. (However, I still don't know what this is talking about! I'm sticking with Luke 10:27!!!)
For example, whenever non-Jews who don't have laws from God do by nature the things that Moses' Teachings contain, they are a law to themselves even though they don't have any laws from God. They show that some requirements found in Moses' Teachings are written in their hearts. Their consciences speak to them. Their thoughts accuse them on one occasion and defend them on another. This happens as they face the day when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge people's secret thoughts. He will use the Good News that I am spreading to make that judgment.
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
Paul was talking about how some Jews thought and taught that JUST because they were born Jewish, then that meant that they were absolutely certain that they were "God's favorite"... sorta like some SO-CALLED "Christians" in today's church that think and teach that because that they're straight that they have a "better chance" of making it into heaven than us gays. These Jews believed that this meant that they could do ANY kind of wrong and God wouldn't hold them accountable for it, as long as they obeyed "the law". But Paul used the example of Gentile pagans that knew nothing of God's law, yet had their own "code of conduct" (like Aesop's fables and the Code of Hummarabi) that they lived by that made them act more "religious" than these Jews were. In today's vernacular, Paul would use the example of how we gays are fighting for the right to marry our spouses, yet most church members that try to stand in our way of this are often themselves divorced, addicted to internet porn and even some, like those like Ted Haggard, are gay themselves.
What I like about the King James version is that it says those who do by nature the things in the law. Men and women have a different natures and tend to do some things different. As a man I tend to give no thought to throwing on a pair of pants because my nature in this society is taught that is proper attire. I don't have to think about it or weigh it out. It just comes naturally. My wife by nature just tends to consider me the head of the household since we were raised that way from days gone by where our dads supported our moms. It just comes naturally to her to let me have the final say and not question it. Before the ladies get mad remember that we are in agreement with that and we were brought up in a different time. The stone age, so to speak when women were housewives and men supported them like Ward and June Cleaver. When Christians have the Spirit of God to bring a renewing of their spirit the Spirit of God will instill natural desires that go hand in hand with the sex of our bodies. It keeps them from doing what the scriptures say about those who defile themselves with that which they know naturally. When I was in darkness before the Spirit of God entered into me I did things contrary to the law. Now that I have the Holy Ghost leading me I tend to do things that the law points out in accordance to the sex of my body. As I said, I don't have to think about it. One of the spiritual things I have noticed is in reference to what TaterHead said about straight Christians and those who judge others. In a spiritual sense we can apply that to the clothing of males and females. The law states that the woman should not wear that which pertaineth unto a man. We know that the scriptures declare Christ to be the husband to the church. The man! What pertaineth unto this man? The word says that Jesus is a High Priest forever after the order of Melchezidec. The High Priest wears the breastplate of judgment! When the Christian (saint, bride and woman) judges another person she wears that which pertaineth unto a man (Christ). The above illustration shows us that when a judgmental Christian is attired with her husband's breastplate of judgment she is doing that which is against her renewed nature as the a new creature in Christ should by nature be non-judgmental and shew mercy. By nature she should just worship Christ and not worry about what others are doing. Kind of how the Lord said to Peter "If he tarry until I come what is that to thee?" We may know the tree by it's fruit but that doesn't give us the right to judge it. Hopefully I didn't offend anyone. Tiff
