Board Thread:Bible Questions/@comment-29848406-20160903220806/@comment-1777104-20160909215846

@ Slay. That you put put "He" in quotes is a bit perplexing. Thank you, btw, for putting a link to your church. Very interesting website. I won't go into my thoughts beyond that here in the forum.

Now, concerning Romans 2:13-15. You ask if God loves all, why did he not save all.

First, the love of God is not mentioned until Rom 5:5. If we fast forward to that passage, we find in 4:20-21 that Abraham believed God would fulfill his promises. In showing faith, he proved himself to be a child of God. That faith is also what links us to God. That righteousness imputed by faith is the same that makes us worthy to stand in God's presense. And the One who makes that possible is Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, saving us from the consequences of our sin (4:24-25).

Reconciled and at peace with God, we still face hard times on the earth. This is for our own good, building character and making us cling to God rather than men. But more than that, it helps us identify with Jesus, who had to die that we can live. But, we were not worthy of affection -- we were ungodly sinners but God showed us His love when we were still sinners! That love was not to "all" people, but only to those "who are called' (Rom 8:28).

Now back to the building argument of chapter 2.

Coming in from chapter 1, Paul has shown that many (if not most) people have willfully rejected the truth for lies. However, they know within their hearts that certain things are wrong. And knowing this, they still break their own laws. These folk need God's mercy as much as any Jew might. Everyone, without exception, will get the punishment they deserve unless Jesus has intervened on their behalf. That is the gist of the parenthetical verses you cite.

The argument Paul presents can be presented without this evidence. Summarizing Rom 2:1-12, 16:

(1) Everyone has a conscience, and instinctly knows right from wrong.

(2) Everyone breaks the rules that they do know.

(3) God pays attention, rewarding those who do good and punishing those who do evil.

(4) Only Jesus knows the true nature of those coming before the throne for judgment.

So, the parenthesis tells us why this is so. The Law of God is the standard which no one can meet on their own. It does not matter if one knows the law if they don't obey it. Even those who have not read the Law, know what they are doing.

Though you did not mention it, the argument for  universal love goes back to John 3:16. "For God so loved the world ..." but the context makes it clear that not all were saved. Only the believers are saved. The others face eternal punishment. When Scripture seems to be self-contradictory, then another explanation is needed to one or both sides of the argument. Chapters 8 and 9 of Romans helps clarify the recipients of God's love.