Keep up the high ideals of Christ before this "wicked and untoward generation" and a remnant will be converted and saved. Thank you for your consistently excellent work.

Concerning baptism for the remission of sins: "...because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now SAVES you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience," (1 Peter 3:20-22).

Yes, we see many accounts in the Gospels of our Christ extending mercy to "sinners and publicans," attended with the stern warning to "Go and sin no more, lest a worst thing come upon thee [irrevocable damnation]" (John 5:13-15, 8:11). Indeed the parable of the Prodigal son, consistent with all the acts of our Lord, is about Christ extending his mercy to fallen humanity, who have squandered their divine inheritance of conscience and noble faculties for "although they knew God, they did not honor him as God, but they became futile in their understanding, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Rom 1:22-23)

That's an easy one Wayne. Those which hinder my profession of allegiance to the Sermon on the Mount I will trample underfoot as an unworthy obstacle. Those which do not (no matter how unjust they may be, or how enslaving, or exploiting, etc.) I will submit to in order to silence the foolish pagans "for the Lord's sake." (1 Peter 2:13-15).

Where in Scripture is divorce or seperation considered the same as if you had never been married? Nay, rather as Abigal so presciently remarked below to be "not under bondage" means they are not guilty of sin because of separation. You have decided to twist the apostolic teaching to allow your flesh to indulge in licentious behavior under the cloak of re-"marriage." This is why when the Apostle speaks of (re)marriage he addresses only the unmarried (virgins) and the widows. And as far as elders and deacons are concerned even in cases of widowhood they are commanded to abstain from any further indulgence and so remain "above reproach."

A God-ordained marriage is indeed a better estate than fornication, but the best estate, the holiest, is that of chastity and total lifelong abstinence. This is the more "excellent way." (Citations as you asked: Matt. 19:10-12; 1 cor 7:1-2, 6-7, 38; Rev. 14:2-5).

You've lost your mind if you really think I am going to tell my friends and disciples to pack up and go back to their hell-hole of a country and go through the mind-benumbing, bureaucratic red tape to enter according to man-made laws legally. As I said, I agree with Neil that they will remain strangers and sojourners until they apply for legal citizenship but since I treat all without partiality, it doesn't affect me one way or the other.

The Christ speaketh thus: "The disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." But he said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one WHO IS ABLE [strong in faith and sobriety] to receive this receive it."

The Apostle Paul sayeth: " 1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is GOOD for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband...Now as a CONCESSION, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am...So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even BETTER."

The beloved Apostle prohesies: "It is these who have not DEFILED themselves with women, for they are VIRGINS. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as FIRSTFRUITS for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are BLAMELESS."

What I did when I was robbed at gunpoint (I own no guns or any other carnal weapons in obedience to the law Christ) was tell the burglar that he was welcome to anything in the house or on my person, and that he gave me great joy to be a blessing to others. He took a bunch of worldly junk that would not last beyond the grave, and bowed his head to me on his way out the door and whispered, "Pray for me, bro." And so I continue to do. He was a native by the looks of him, and I suppose I would treat the stranger just the same.

If I had reacted as the unregenerate and based my conduct on human principles I should have attempted to repay like for like. I should have killed or maimed in self-defense, or called the agents of the satan-worshiping State, perhaps going to prosecute in court. I chose the narrow divine way of Christ, as none that are merely human can do. But alas, we "have the mind of Christ," the merciful Christ who prayed "Father, forgive them!"

For one, consider that one marriage is itself a major concession to human weakness. For Christ would have us be eunuchs for his sake, for it is "best for man not to touch a woman." For the weak effeminate men who may be taken in by their lust Paul concedes it is perhaps better that they marry rather than burn (in Hell). The chaste and pure virgin son or daughter of God will be the Lamb's choicest specimen and will hold a most privileged place in the kingdom of Heaven for all eternity. They will receive the fullest revelation of divine perfection, will be the most united with God's essence, and will have the greatest favor from the Father. Special vessels indeed (Rev. 14:4-5).

We call this new race the twice-born or the born-again. They alone are able to live up to the exalted standards of Christ (e.g. Sermon on the Mount), to live without spot or blemish in all that they do, say, and even think (Philip. 4:8). They alone have access to the divine grace which enables them to live sinless, self-renouncing lives in this present evil world (Titus 2:11-14), and they alone are given supernatural power from God to work greater signs and miracles ("for greater works shall ye do," saith the Master).

No, our own standards, our own righteousness will not justify us. However God has given every man an intuitive knowledge of good and evil (conscience discussed in Rom 1:18-28), and while a good guide, it is infinitely inferior to the revealed law of Christ. We also are aware that "He will render to each one according to his WORKS: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and DO NOT OBEY the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for EVRY HUMAN BEING WHO DOES EVIL, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality." Rom 2:6-11

"About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ASCENDED as a MEMORIAL before God." Acts 2:3,4

Cornelius' prayers and alms, being done from a heart devoted to GOD, were not filthy rags in sight of God. Cornelius would have inherited eternal life because of his pure works, whether or not he had ever been exposed to the Gospel. However such men, when they do encounter the unadulterated Gospel of Christ, eagerly recieve and obey it.

Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.
Exodus 22:21

The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 19:34

So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:19

So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. And it will come about that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance among yourselves and among the aliens who stay in your midst, who bring forth sons in your midst. And they shall be to you as the native-born among the sons of Israel; they shall be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 47:21-22