The purity of life obtainable in being a Straight Edge is one that is creditable. But beyond being a Straight edge, the essence of the Lord Jesus death and how it brought man redemption is a clinically finished and proven testament, that beyond the rules of man's legality and abstinence from certain practices, Christ did a perfect job in we humans who had accepted him.
Polygamy may be culturally based, and it may even have its incidences mentioned in the Bible, but that in no way suggest its endorsement by the Instrumentality of the Word of God.! Polygamy is man sought after, and maybe man's conquest to secure harems, never has it become Bible Doctrinally approved! Never.
@Karia, "In my experience, there is a big difference between guys who say "I'm a good Christian guy" and guys who say something like "I'm a sinner saved by the grace of God and trying to be more like Him"
May I ask you respectfully, Have you seen Christian man, who says "I am good Christian Guy" and then go on to lead such a good christian life?". Have you seen? I bet they are. Bountiful of them. Just that some say and you found them in the final destination to be untrue to their professions and confession of faith dont mean that is how all are!.
There are those who walk the walk and talk the talk, there are also those who talk the talk but do not walk the talk.
In closing, look at Hebrews 13:15
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)- "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name"
New International Version (�1984)- "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name"
World English Bible - "Through him, then, let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name."
New Living Translation (�2007) - "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name."
We are encouraged to walk the talk. A good Christian life dont come by carelessness. Its a conscious effort you put in. I so like the term used in NIV and World English Bible - "Giving ALLEGIANCE to His name"...Allegiance is not care-freely gotten. Its deliberately and calculatingly given to a course. Else you will run foul and incongruous of that course you profess!
According to 1 Corinthians 7:2, �yes� is the clear answer: �But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.�
In this verse, Paul states that marriage is the �cure� for sexual immorality. First Corinthians 7:2 is essentially saying that, because people cannot control themselves and so many are having immoral sex outside of marriage, people should get married. Then they can fulfill their passions in a moral way.
Since 1 Corinthians 7:2 clearly includes sex before marriage in the definition of sexual immorality, all of the Bible verses that condemn sexual immorality as being sinful also condemn sex before marriage as sinful. Sex before marriage is included in the biblical definition of sexual immorality. There are numerous Scriptures that declare sex before marriage to be a sin (Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7). The Bible promotes complete abstinence before marriage. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves (Hebrews 13:4).
Far too often we focus on the �RECREATION� aspect of sex without recognizing that there is another aspect�"PROCREATION". Sex within marriage is pleasurable, and God designed it that way. God wants men and women to enjoy sexual activity within the confines of marriage. Song of Solomon and several other Bible passages (such as Proverbs 5:19) clearly describe the pleasure of sex. However, the couple must understand that God�s intent for sex includes producing children. Thus, for a couple to engage in sex before marriage is doubly wrong�they are enjoying pleasures not intended for them, and they are taking a chance of creating a human life outside of the family structure God intended for every child.
IamGodsPrincess, you know that same caption from your thread that says "OUR GOD IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCE", is also a very prominent saying in my country here. So it means by the Holy Spirit, that word seem ubiquitous. I believe that it was another chance that palsied man got at the pool side after being there for thirty eight years. John 5 :1-15 explains it all.
To the man humble enough to accept the gift of grace, same man is availed the ability to rise and walk again!
@IamGodsPrincess, considering that verse you quoted in Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
One thing came to mind, if the days are approaching, then one of the remedy of doing this and making it through all these approaching will be for us as believers to get together the more and share in truth and sincerity by drawing strength from each other as the Lord is the anchor for our souls!
