The meaning of the Scriptures I offered to you is that if you love God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength and understanding and love your neighbor as yourself --- you will be in compliance with the law and the prophets. You need not sweat the details.
For instance, you asked:
Does your formulation mean that, so long as I love my neighbor as myself--as long as all concerned want ardently for me to do it--, it's ok to commit adultery?
The answer is that if you are as loving as Christ describes, you could not willfully injure your neighbor - neither by adultery nor theft nor vandalism nor envy nor neglect nor murder etc.
Likewise, if God is your first love and all consuming, you'll rejoice in constant prayer, you'll devour the Scriptures because you can't get enough, and you'll want to be around others who also love Him.
It is simple. Engrave the two love commandments in your heart and you will be squarely in God's will: loved, joyful, peaceful, patient, etc.
There is no need to sweat the details. Those who insist on living by the law will be judged by the law and they will fail. Romans 4-8
Bottom line: If anybody could be "good enough" to get to heaven, then Christ died for nothing.
The answer is that if you are as loving as Christ describes, you could not willfully injure your neighbor - neither by adultery nor theft nor vandalism nor envy nor neglect nor murder etc.
Well, but I stipulated that the adultery involved no deceit or injury. All concerned were fully knowledgeable, and all concerned were ardent for the adultery. I can stipulate well-known examples: Lord Nelson, for example, lives in such a situation.
So, the question still stands: is the commandment against adultery rendered null and void by the golden rule? Are the 10 commandments actually the 10 suggestions?
You mean, like the Jews, whose faith requires of them primarily that they live by the law?
No, not when it comes to salvation. But when it comes to living as saved Christians (not living to become saved), the law is our lamp.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” –Titus 2:11-15
This thread is a much better place for your having taken part Alamo-Girl. Happy Thanksgiving to all.