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NASB | Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 3:23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, |
Subject: Can a toddler go to heaven? |
Bible Note: Dear Disciplerami, I appreciate the fact that you derive your doctrine from the text itself, and appeal to context for it's validity. Unlike some others, you do not abandon Scripture and fly to human reason as a defense. But, I still think you err in your interpretation. The following are the reasons why I cannot except that Paul is referring to born again believers as "natural man" in 2:14. If context is to be adhered to, we must consider Paul's estimation of his readers in chapter 1. "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours..." Paul identifies those to whom he direct his teaching as "saints" i.e. bonified born again christians. They have been raised from spiritual death to spiritual life and are true temples of the Spirit of God. The "sanctified... saints" of Corinth had recieved grace in Christ (1 Cor 1:4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus...); They had been enriched in "all speech and in all knowledge" (v.1:5); They had spiritual gifts and were assured by Paul of their salvation and calling (vs. 7-9). Paul's asessment of the spiritual condition of the saints at Corinth does not agree with his asessment of the spiritual condition of "natural man" in 2:14. Verses 1-9 of 1 cor, must have been wonderfully uplifting and of tremendous encouragement to them, especially when we know the of the doctrinal divisions that had flared up between them. Paul, after he lifting them up and setting their feet on on solid ground, now gets directly to the problem; Division between the saints in Corinth over baptism. It seems as if a false doctrine regarding by whose name (name meaning, by whose authority) baptism should be considered legitimate. Paul, not wanting to see the church splinter into competing factions, chastizes them by exhorting them to re-focus on that which does not divide, Jesus Christ. It was Christ who was crucified so that they all may be one in Him. (Note: This is as important today as it was 2,000 years ago and we saints on the forum should keep it in mind as we seek the truth together.) In verses 18-31, Paul points out that it was not their wisdom or strength which accounted for their salvation; It was the all-powerfull choice of God: 1 Cor 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, Well, my wife has things for me to help her with, but God willing I'll conclude in my next post. In the meantime I hope you will re-visit chapter 1. God Bless, John |