Thank you for taking me at face value and for your explanation. I do understand your reasoning better after re-reading it and I appreciate that.
Please allow me to expand on my premise. This isn’t my reasoning: it’s Scripture’s. Yes, God used people who persecuted His people throughout Scripture. That is but one measure of the redeeming power of God.
However, it doesn’t change the fact that God hates all sin, including mine, in equal measure and sent Christ to redeem all sin in equal measure, even of those Biblical heroes you mentioned. Were all sin not equal, Christ could not have fulfilled his mission (Hebrews 10:10).
Cain, if indeed he did sin in the flesh, and Gingrich, who has admitted to it, surely need answer to no one in the end but God, who is under no compunction to draw a statute of limitations. If they are saved, it will be much easier on them both. But to say that God will judge one type of sin more harshly than another because it happened sooner and earthly forgiveness was obtained is, in my opinion, poor theology.
I never claimed Cain or Gingrich sinned against me, though I am called as a Christian to gently correct a sinner and he to correct me (Galatians 6:1). They have both disappointed me, though, which is a pity since they are both asking for my vote.
Thank you for the conversation.
Amen! :)
Andk BTW (just to wade into the water)....David and Bathsheba’s son died, and Paul had a “thorn in his flesh” all his life. God loves the sinner, but hates the sin and He expects us to know that we will be held accountable...as will the two gentlemen of whom you speak.
If they have asked for God’s forgiveness, God can give it. I just pray that Mr. Cain survives this. We need him.