Okay, John - correct me if I am wrong. Your position is a universalist one, and you think that all people will eventually be saved. Thus, it is okay if a believer and non-believer marry? Is this right?
I think those scriptures speak their own language loud and clear without human "spin" from the doctrine and commandments of men found in today's churches. What do you say about this?
Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 9 What then?
are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 11:32
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one (Jesus Christ) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so
by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
As for the "believer/unbeliever", Christian-Jew-Catholic, or whatever the "mix" may be, here is God through Peter, not Paul:
Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that
I should not call any man common or unclean.
1 Corinthians 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:
else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
Since some of you believe in following dead apostles rather than the
living Spirit who leads us in all truth, do you really see any difference between what the Spirit told Peter and Paul's advice about a "mixed" religious marriage? Jesus CLEANED ALL HUMANITY FOR ALL GENERATIONS BY A SINGLE ACT ON CALVARY ... as his part of the agreement with His Father!
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
I do not have a hard time
UNDERSTANDING and applying this part of Jesus' work to reality as most doctrinaire Christians do!
So all this "business" about "unclean children" is "knowing in part", plainly IGNORANCE of Jesus and what his work meant! While you debate among yourselves and proffer advice according to your perception of truth, underground4 has this decision to make for himself. He has plenty of advice in this string to mull over. The scriptures I present encompass the BIG PICTURE without leaving out pertinent Words that give "balance". The Word is a light along his path and God's thoughts and ways are perfectly expressed in them, Isaiah 55:7-10.
I think this debate is TOO LONG! I will henceforth move on. Underground4 is not "hiding" as ladylove suggests, but he has much to think about and over which to commune with His Father. Leaning on mean and asking for our input is certainly NOT THE WAY!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
John,
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