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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, Your answer to my question is: "Paul followed a typical pattern by giving introductions and then getting to his point. Not everyone at Corinth needed chastizement. At the least, Chloe's people were probably doing ok. It was the one's who Chloe's people informed Paul of, who needed the correction and would be characterized as 'natural.'" I'm sorry but I can't agree with your answer. First of all Paul directs his letter to the "saints".Saints would include all christians regardless of their development in the understanding of sound doctrine. It is safe to assume that Paul's letter was read aloud to the church when they met as a body. Therefore, Chloe's household; those involved in quarrels; and the remainder of the church all recieved the same message. Chapter 1 (as well as that which follows) is aimed at them all! His exhortation addresses them all: 1 Cor 1:10 "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment." The term "brethren" refers back to his greeting in verse 2. 1 Cor 1:11 For I have been informed concerning YOU, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among YOU.( Notice that their is no change of the object "saints" from v. 1 cor 1:2 through 2:5 .You, Brethren, us, all refer to the saints.) No difficulty arises until we come to 2:6 when the pronoun "we" appears for only the 2nd time. The first time is in 1:23 "but we preach Christ crucified". Even if Paul was referring to "we" as the apostles and himself, it does not relegate the "saints" to an infrerior group. 1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,". Was Paul excludng the saints from those who recieved "the Spirit that who is from God"? Of course not! And why was the Spirit given to all who in Christ? To enlighten them to the wisdom and mysteries of God, But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. What Paul says about the natural man cannot be said of any person who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. It absolutely excludes the the reception of the things of the Spirit and even the possibility of those things being understood. WHY? "because they are spiritually appraised". The natural man is not capable of spiritual appraisel for a very good reason. He still is possessed of the spirit of the world Paul has drawn a sharp distinction between the natural man as compared to the spiritual man. The natural man is composed of body (flesh) and thought life (soul) but is spiritually dead. This state of being is that which we were raised from by the resurrecting power of the Holy Spirit. Christions are NEW CREATURES! While it is true that we all too often act and think as if we were natural men, nevertheless, we retain the ability to understand spiritual things for we are never devoid of the influence and power of the in dwelling Spirit of God. John |