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Bible Discussion / I don't know what to do...
« on: November 15, 2023, 08:32:35 PM »
A situation which has been developing, is coming to a head. In short, I am having a crisis, and I don’t know what to do. I am praying earnestly for guidance. Additionally, I would gladly accept the help of fellow Christians to aid in properly dividing the Word. My problem is this: The female friend who I mentioned in my earlier testimony loves me, and I love her in return. If all goes according to my heart, then I will have her in marriage before the year is out. However, I don’t know if this is God’s will and I do not trust my heart. I am praying for guidance. Biblically, we are both of us are free to re-marry, as far as I understand it.
My dilemna comes from this: I have been influenced by the Christian Identity movement, through my other friend who helped re-introduce me to Christ. For my part, I want only to be associated with the Word of God, and not be involved with any particular sects. In case you aren’t familiar with it, C.I. espouses, among other things, that both the Old Testament and New Testament doctrine and ordinances are all still in-effect, minus the Levitical priestly duties. In my case, the point I am running up against is encapsulated in Ezra chapter 9. As it is the entire chapter, it is too long to just quote it all here. The gist of the chapter, however, is that the Israelites were taking wives of the daughters of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, which was a transgression of the Law. Ezra, learning of this, confers with the Lord God. The result is in Chapter 10:
Ezra 10:2,3
2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
Ezra 10:10-12
10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. 12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
My friend corroborates this with the doctrine of Matthew, which he takes to mean that all of the previous Law up until Christ is still in effect.
Matthew 5:17-19 17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
I am extremely conflicted. Any advice anyone may be able to give, I would greatly appreciate.
Thank you for your time.
My dilemna comes from this: I have been influenced by the Christian Identity movement, through my other friend who helped re-introduce me to Christ. For my part, I want only to be associated with the Word of God, and not be involved with any particular sects. In case you aren’t familiar with it, C.I. espouses, among other things, that both the Old Testament and New Testament doctrine and ordinances are all still in-effect, minus the Levitical priestly duties. In my case, the point I am running up against is encapsulated in Ezra chapter 9. As it is the entire chapter, it is too long to just quote it all here. The gist of the chapter, however, is that the Israelites were taking wives of the daughters of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, which was a transgression of the Law. Ezra, learning of this, confers with the Lord God. The result is in Chapter 10:
Ezra 10:2,3
2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
Ezra 10:10-12
10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. 12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
My friend corroborates this with the doctrine of Matthew, which he takes to mean that all of the previous Law up until Christ is still in effect.
Matthew 5:17-19 17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
I am extremely conflicted. Any advice anyone may be able to give, I would greatly appreciate.
Thank you for your time.