Context ect.

When we are attempting to find support for a position we have taken we use Christians in the centuries directly following the 1^st century and the Restoration folks. If we cannot support our belief with the bible we open ourselves to the criticism the Bible is not enough and apparently that would be true.

 

Concerning context, etc, I do not relate to Paul's comment "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."   Unless I existed before I was conceived, (some people believe I did) Jesus died for me before I was a sinner, actually before I was. On the other hand, it is likely based on their ages that while Paul and the Romans were sinners Jesus died for them. I cannot explain why we say Paul was speaking of me, today.

 

You mentioned Bible ignorance of Christians. While Paul had missed it before he was made an apostle it Luke tells us twice that Saul/Paul used the scriptures to prove the Christ had to suffer and that Jesus was the Christ. It might be useful if we could use the Old Testament to prove the same thing.

 

Forty years ago I had a friend who lived in American Fork, Utah. He was and probably still is a Mormon. Dick was confident in what he believed and it did not upset him if you disagreed with him. We should have the same outlook and not get upset when someone disagrees with us. If we assumed the position that we want to do things we can find in the Bible, if others want to do something else it is no skin off our nose. We need to have confidence in what we believe regardless of the number of people who agree with us.…