Hello Runningman, you are not way off, but I need to do a better job of explaining myself apparently, so I will consider how to best do that and get back to you....if I understand you correctly, the law is not written in the hearts of non-covenant people (Gentiles), but rather the “works of the law” or “requirements of the law” but not the law itself. That’s just like saying that people, regardless of who they are, have morals and ethics but those morals and ethics will not necessarily align with what God’s law is. Is that what you’re saying or am I way off?
No, I don't believe that's it. As the Apostle tells us, a basic understanding of right/wrong/good/evil is something that we possess "by nature" or inherently. Although it can be taught and confirmed by us (and a greater/deeper of understanding can be taught/learned over the years), I believe that this innate sense of godly morals/ethics, IOW, our basic sense/understanding of the difference between right/wrong, is part of us/part of our makeup from the get-go.It comes from just learning morals from friends, family, and society. Secular society generally frowns on murder, cheating, and being hateful; that’s all cultures.
I'll be back (Dv).
God bless you!!
~Deut
p.s. - for what it's worth, what I find most fascinating about this study is what Jeremiah 31 is actually telling us, especially in the light of Romans 2
Romans 2
14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,
15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.