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NASB | James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of [breaking] all of it. |
Subject: Kill your brother and drink strong drink |
Bible Note: Dear Pete, Keep in mind my friend that God’s wisdom is not confined to the Old Testament. If you think that, you miss Him revealing His Son to us and the salvation He offers. God’s wisdom extends into the New Testament as well and neither contradicts the other rather the opposite, complete harmony. You have to take everything you study in context Pete. My caution to you is not the “strong drink” you drink, nor the feelings you say it causes you have, I’ve been down that path and know what you are feeling. My contention is this, does what you do glorify God when you are also instructed through His Word to offer yourself as a living sacrifice? (Romans 12:1) Losing the slightest bit of your faculties, which is exactly what your buzz is, is also not upholding Ephesians 5:18. The point of 1 Corinthians 6:12 that I was hoping to convey is this: We have freedom in Christ. That which once may have or possibly could enslave us has been defeated. In Christ, we have freedom and liberty and we risk throwing that away sometimes because we look to the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law through grace. And we try to rationalize what we do to appease our own conscience. I’m not accusing you of doing that, but I can’t help but wonder since you asked the question to begin with, that you yourself have doubts. If that is the case my friend, abstaining is a good thing and you questioning it is a very good thing. If you are feeling uneasy in your defense in any way, maybe that is the Spirit nudging you. We risk becoming enslaved when we overindulge or do things in excess. And Pete, it really is excess when you feel that buzz. “for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” (2 Peter 2:19) I’m not judging you either friend. But we have an obligation to speak the truth in love. Please continue to look into this subject. Meditate on all God’s Word has to say and most of all pray for an answer and guidance to again, do what we are meant to do in all we do, bring glory to God. Yes, we are not to change what God commands, but we need be careful not to ignore what God in His wisdom has revealed to us throughout scripture, even to the point it makes us feel uneasy. We can’t pick and choose that which supports a particular position of ours and disregard that which doesn’t. It’s all God’s Word friend and every bit of it is to be taken into consideration. I’m praying for Pete, for you to come to the correct conclusion in a manner pleasing to God. And I’m sure others on this forum are doing the same. Stand in His grace, WOS |