Paul didn’t need to write that because they had the miracles such as knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, discernment, and so on to know without having direct access to those other letters. Instead of miracles today, we have the whole of the NT for comparison to get the same effect.

That is what I understand from passages like 1 Cor. 13 and the like.

In Truth and Love,

Ernie

I’m going to start deleting off-subject posts.

I re-extend my offer to host such a discussion at OneInJesus, but my agreement with the other participants is that discussions here must stick to the subject at hand.

I’ve not done a good job of enforcing that rule — announced months ago — but I will now. Henceforth, I will delete off subject post without further warning — and moderate violaters.

This is a lot of trouble on me, and I’m pretty busy, so I’d really appreciate voluntary compliance.

Colossians 3:12
Put on then, as God’s CHOSEN ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

1 Peter 2:4
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God CHOSEN and precious,

John 15:16
You did not CHOOSE me, but I CHOSE you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Just a sampling of scores of verses that say God does the choosing. Remember, dead men can’t choose.

Royce

“They might still be in the local church, but the membership of the local church does not reflect membership in God’s assembly in heaven.”

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

I think you’ve made an important point. Paul is clear that we are only to judge those within the church, and this is to encourage them to refresh their repentance so they stay in the church.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I’m not taking issue with your suggesting those other verses in relation to Romans 15. Those other verses might further enlighten us as to what was intended on the whole. We all know too many people today just take single verses or parts of passages and without connecting to their immediate context or to God’s Word as a whole attempt to make them say whatever they want. But saying one scripture must be ‘filtered’ through another seems belittling to me; as though it’s somehow less important.

May be just my negative connotation to your word choice, D’Angelo. Don’t mean to be nitpicky. Please don’t take it that way.

In 1 Cor 5:12 Paul talks about the responsibility of those in the church to judge those in the church and not those outside it. I think it is interesting that Paul still sees those who are the object of church judgment/discipline as “inside the church.” Somehow people feel like if someone has done something wrong that they are outside the church. Paul here says there are people who do wrong who are still “inside the church.” Maybe I am reading too much into that verse.

What is interesting to me is that those who think any error puts one outside the church then continue to go on and judge that person as being outside the church. If that is the stance they take, then they clearly should follow this verse and leave that person alone. So either way you interpret this verse, those on the far conservative side of the spectrum of fellowship issues have some changes to make in regard to what Paul is saying in this verse.