That sounds very Gnostic. Knowing good and striving to do it.
It's the formation of conscience. Dunno about the gnostic view, but I don't think it violates Christianity. On the contrary it is: "the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness."
Sin isn't a state that one is in and out of. It is a condition.
It's also an action. This is the sense of the word I was using.
Clearly non-saved Christians can do good things.
I think that's a 'yes' of what I was so ineptly trying to ask.
However, note their condition…
I wasn't referring to their sum or condition or salvation, just whether only non-saved Christians could choose to do good.
thanks very much for your reply. I feel like I overly drew out the discussion and took more of you time than necessary by not communicating as clearly as I needed to. For that, my apologies..
People use the first two chapters of Romans and forget chapter 3 follows. No one follows God's commandments. The Gentiles know what is right by nature. The Jews know what is right by the Law. Neither follows them. All turn aside. The only thing their conscience is going to do is confirm that they turned aside.
I wasn't referring to their sum or condition or salvation, just whether only non-saved Christians could choose to do good.
As Dr. E stated, people can do good, humanistic things. That means nothing in the sight of God. By Christian standards, Gandi is in hell as nice of a person as he was.