Quote:
Originally Posted by mfblume
You miss the context of chapter 1. Yes, they originally did know idolatry was wrong. But that is why we read that they CHANGED THE GLORY OF GOD.
Romans 1:20-23.. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ..(21).. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ..(22).. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ..(23).. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. |
"They" in chapter 1 is Israel. The heathen nations have not known God:
Psalm 79:6 KJV
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
Only in preflood days, and in the time shortly after the Flood, could it be said any knowledge of God was widespread. The ancients knew things, but a blanket statement that "the heathen know all the other 9 commandments are prohibitions of things they already know to be wrong" is blatantly preposterous. You seem to subscribe to the humanistic notion that everybody intuitively knows what is right and wrong, all sinners are just really unhappy and have a hole in their heart shaped like Jesus, etc.
The Bibles teaches that sinners are dumb, deceived, delusional, and foolish, especially idolaters. The idea that God doesn't need to tell mankind what is right and wrong is preposterous. Paul affirms that people wouldn't know what sin was unless the law of God tells them. People REQUIRE Divine revelation, otherwise they get lost in every imaginable abomination. Otherwise, morality is "every man doing what is right in his own eyes."
Man has a conscience, the faculty of discerning right and wrong, when presented to the mind. And yes, it is RIGHT to honour God by doing what He said in ALL TEN of the ten commandments.
