Say what? I was merely quoting Paul. So if you're suggesting that this thinking belongs to me, that would be incorrect. Are you suggesting that Paul was in error when he wrote what he wrote? Are you suggesting that the master teacher of Spiritual Circumcision was actually in a "deep sleep" thus confused and deceived?
Sir, I think you were not delivering Paul's full message. You said:
Second, I don't believe that it is the will of the Lord that we become married if we have already received the Circumcision of Christ, for Paul taught CLEARLY that we are to remain in the position that we are in when we come to Christ. So if we are single after receiving the Circumcision of Christ, we are to remain single.
Paul said it is better to remain single - but I disagree he said we must remain single. I argue one may be putting the yoke of the law back onto Christians, to argue that they must remain single when they receive the circumcision of the heart. Have a look at the verses in Corinthians - it is better to remain single,
but for some, to avoid sin, it is better to marry rather than burn with passion.
1 Corinthians 7:1 - 2
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1 Corinthians 7:6 - 9
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
1 Corinthians 7:27 - 28
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
1 Corinthians 7:35 - 38
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
Remember even physical circumcision itself, and the value in being a Jew? Paul says these are good things. But the same good things can become damnable yokes , if they are treated as commandments or works to earn God's favour.
Galatians 5:2-4
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
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