Ok, and thank you. (Finally
)
I am very analytical by nature. I take Scripture in mathematic literal terms as much as possible, and I believe God is the most perfect mathematician, and applies such precision to Scripture. And this thread is about teaching the Law, which requires great accuracy of detail and clarity meaning.
1. You object to me declaring being drunk with wine to be a sin, because you read 'wherein is excess' as a
necessary component to the statement.
I.e. Be not drunk with wine
excessively. Which also could have support from being not a drinker
of much wine, as in
frequency. There is also the fact that no
drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God, and never says no one
who gets drunk...
I can see your point, and had not considered it before.
If it is correct, then as you say, frequency would be the key for God to judge, as well as one's own conscience.
However, at this point, I still read it as the excess being in the drunken
volume, not in getting drunk frequently. And the admonition to ministers is to not be drinking
often, even if never to excess. So, if I get drunk, I sin, even as fornicate, but a drunkard and fornicator and adulterer is not necessary one who gets drunk, or fornicates, or commit adultery.
The difference in law being: the former shall not inherit the kingdom of God, because their life of transgression condemns them as not being born of God (1 John 3:4-10), while the latter can well be in error to be forgiven with confession, but not necessarily
unto condemnation and death. If a brother sins, he can be prayed for and restored (James 5:19-20), but if he sins unto death, there is no help, because no
unconfessed or unrepented sin can be forgiven by God, no matter how much prayed for by man. (1 John 5:16)
So, I believe I have a clearer understanding of the law of Christ. Thanks. And perhaps I should include full context to conclude a point of law. (Because honestly, I did not have a clue what you were so upset about)