John wrote: > Romans 2:15 -16 speaks only of a maybe > situation : "..........their conscience either > accusing or defending them ............" > In Christ, we have the assurance of our salvation > ----------- or, at least, some of us do. > ... > Does "either accusing or defending" sound like > a guaranteed ticket to heaven to you? Not to me. > As a matter of fact, not even close.
I'm not sure I understand how you are understanding this passage. What does "assurance of salvation" or a "guaranteed ticket to heaven" have to do with the effect of the conscience upon the mind? I have full assurance of salvation, but this description of thoughts (reasonings of the mind) either accusing or else excusing one another describes exactly what goes on among believers, ESPECIALLY ON TRUTHTALK! :-) Paul's point here is that judgment is not based upon who has the law and who hears the law. It is the same argument some have made here in this forum but with a little different twist. The judgment is not based upon who has the right theology and who hears the right theology. Rather, judgment is based upon how we live. We are judged based upon OUR DEEDS (whether or not we sin). Period. The Gentile believer is not a second class citizen of God's covenant just because he does not have the law, nor because he does not jump into Judaism and learn God's law. Paul's point here is that the Gentile believer has the law of God written upon his heart, and his own conscience testifies to him that it is God's law, and he will do the same thing the Jew does, either accuse or excuse the deeds of one another, based upon that law written on his heart. His point is that the Jew who boasts in having the law really has no advantage over the Gentile who believes in Christ and walks in righteousness based not upon Moses' law, but based upon faith in Christ which causes the law of God to be written upon his heart. Why do I infer that these are believing Gentiles? Context. Also, the fact that Paul asserts strongly in this same passage that Gentiles apart from Christ are unable to keep the law. I realize that you believe this passage to be hypothetical, but that causes the passage to completely lose its force (according to Tom Wright, and I agree with him on this one :-) ). Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
