Once again we are exposed to the truism, "A text out of context is nothing more than pretext!". 1) The Analogy of Faith, i.e., comparing Scripture with Scripture shows us that IF what you are suggesting this passage teaches, that men are saved by works of the law, then Paul is contradicting himself.
Sorry. What I have not made clear is that salvation is by grace alone through the work of Christ Jesus. In order to be entered into that salvation, one must "cut covenant" with the Father through the Son.
However, since it is not possible that all men everywhere could have heard the Gospel message, especially those in foreign countries and prior to the coming of Christ, we see that God deals with them in a different manner. This is what the Catholic Church has termed "the baptism of desire", which simply means that God regards the heart of each man, and seeing those who truly desire to find and serve Him, regards that as being the same as if they had been baptized into the covenantal kingdom. This is what I was suggesting with Lau Tzu. It is evident that the Holy Spirit was working upon Lau Tzu's heart and his response in both writing about the the Blessed Trinity and also in living out the Way, shows that he was one who was both seeking truth and willing to live out the truth which he had in his heart from the Spirit of God. As such, I believe he received the baptism of desire from God in His mercy.
Eternal life is a distinct and separate issue from salvation. That is what St. Paul is referring to in Romans 2: 5 - 10 when he speaks about the Last Judgment and Christ judging all men by what they have done. Our works are the way by which we "keep covenant" with God and thus receive the inheritance of eternal life as faithful adopted children of His. I did not mean to suggest that one might work one's way into salvation. But one does maintain his state of covenantal union with God by the works of Faith which we are commanded to do (i.e., "Law keeping"). Thus it is that the "doers of the law are justified" as St. Paul said...that is, we continue in the state of justification by being faithful covenant keepers.
For in so many other places, he makes clear that men are not saved by works of the law but by faith (cf. Rom 3:20, 28; 4:2; Gal 2:16; 3:11, 12; et al).
Yes. I agree. We place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer/Kinsman
2) The verse immediately preceding, vs. 12 reveals what Paul's intent is in vss. 13-16, as does the entire book of Romans:
The entire thrust of what St. Paul is dealing with is that the Jews thought that they had a free pass into Heaven by virtue of being Jews. Romans 2: 5 - 10 makes it clear to them that ALL MEN will stand before Christ on the Day of Judgment and will be judged by what they have done (aka "covenant keeping") There is no respect of persons with God as to national origin, religious practice, proper theology, intellectual depth, etc. The Judgment is about WHO we have become in Christ, which is reflected by our works. Are we showing mercy? Do we love. Remember that St. Paul also stated in 1 Corin. 13 that love is the highest good, without which we are nothing, despite all that we might know.
