That would be putting words in my mouth. Paul (and the writers of Hebrews and James) always gives that visible assembly the benefit of the doubt. But those warnings are *real* for those in the gathering who might be wavering or feeling comfortable in their *disobedience*. And in the church at Corinth, judgment has already fallen on some who have drunk their own damnation (1 Cor. 11:29, 30, w/ 1 Cor. 10:9,10, 21). The irony is that those who remain "babes" prove they were never truly "babes" to begin with. But from what Paul is observing at the point in time he is writing, he gives them the benefit of the doubt that they are *babes* who shouldn't be *babes* (given what we know of the situation in Corinth, that Paul even calls them "babes" is remarkable). It's not "wishful thinking"... it's merely acknowledging the reality that some professions are not real.... there are always goats in our midst. It's a thought we don't like to think about, and would rather not think about, but we must nonetheless. Pastor Chad Richard Bresson Clearcreek Chapel Springboro, OH http://breusswane.blogspot.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "H Dorrington" <hjdinfl@...> To: <soundofgrace@...> Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 10:35 PM Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Acts 6 and deacons > So calling them both babes in Christ and brethern is then nothing more > than wishful thinking? > > Harry > > Chad Richard Bresson <breusswane@...> wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "H Dorrington" >>1 Cor 3:1 babes in Christ or goats? >> 1 Cor 14:20 brethern in Christ or goats? > > Same as Hebrews and James: the visible, gathered church. > > Pastor Chad > > --------------------------------- > New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC for low, > low rates. > -- > Read the Sound of Grace pages at > http://www.soundofgrace.com > > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: > soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > > To view our online archive go to our web page at > http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace > >