Problem: Ephesians 2:3 asserts that all humans are “by nature children of wrath.” But Paul speaks here of unbelieving Gentiles who “by nature do the things contained in the law” (Rom. 2:14). These two things seem mutually opposed.
Solution: Ephesians is speaking of the cause of sinful actions, whereas Romans refers to the rule for our actions. The former relates to our propensity to sin and the latter to the norm for what is sin. There is a difference between what humans are inclined to do by nature and what they ought to do according to the natural law “written in their hearts” (Rom. 2:15).
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (Rom 2:14-15)
