"Though it has been greatly defaced by sin, man's knowledge of right and wrong is one of the most indelible aspects of his having been made in "the image of God." Long after his conscience has been "seared as with a branding iron" (1 Tim 4:2) and he has come to the place of "calling evil good and good evil," (Isaiah 5:20) man still retains this innate knowledge in the depths of his being. It is an inescapable part of his basic makeup. Paul makes this clear in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans, where he sets forth the condemnation of "the man without the Bible." After describing in verses 21-31 the corruption of those whom God has "given over" (Romans 1:24,26,28) to the lowest reaches of depravity, he concludes by saying that even those who have sunk to this state still "know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death." This is a remarkable statement! Apart from any special revelation from God (e.g.., the Bible), all men nevertheless "know the ordinance of God" that those who practice "such things" as sexual immorality, homosexuality, unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, hatred of God, insolence, arrogance, boasting, invention of evil, disobedience to parents, untrustworthiness, and lack of love and mercy, are "worthy of death"! (Rom 1:32).
Long before the Law of Moses was ever given, God held men accountable for sinning against the work of the Law written on their consciences. For example, God destroyed the entire earth in the days of Noah because "the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and ... every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5). The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were likewise destroyed for sinning against nature (Genesis 18:20-19:25) by practicing things they knew (Genesis 19:7) were wrong. "
By Charles Leiter, from The Law of Christ, pp 130-133
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