Then why do you differentiate between groups?

GC, I like the parallels and symbolisms you pointed out. Nice work. Thank you. However, I believe love is the fulfilling of the law and, as such, I view the law as something that is systemic to our happiness and eternal security. As you know, the law is a transcript of God's character, and character is the only thing we bring from here to heaven.

Romans
8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Because very few people know and obey everything Jesus commanded and I find it hard to believe none of them will be saved because they are ignorantly living in violation of some of the principles of God. Paul makes a differentiation in the following passage:

Romans
2:13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
2:15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

And Ellen White does too in the following passages:

Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology, but they have cherished His principles. Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them. Even among the heathen are those who have cherished the spirit of kindness; before the words of life had fallen upon their ears, they have befriended the missionaries, even ministering to them at the peril of their own lives. Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God. {DA 638.2}

Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wherever the heart reaches out to bless and uplift others, there is revealed the working of God's Holy Spirit. In the depths of heathenism, men who have had no knowledge of the written law of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have been kind to His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. Their acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted the grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The "Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God. {COL 385.1}

In the day of final reckoning, Christ does not present before men the great work He has done for them in giving His life for their redemption. He presents before them the faithful work they have done for Him. What surpassing love is this! He even mentions the work of the heathen, who have no intelligent knowledge of the law of the Lord, but who have done the very things the law required, because they have heeded the voice speaking to them in the things of nature. When the Holy Spirit implants Christ's Spirit in the heart of the savage, and he befriends God's servants, the quickening of the heart's sympathy is contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The grace of God, working upon the darkened mind, has softened the savage nature untaught by the wisdom of men. . . . {SD 364.3}

Christ implants His grace in the heart of the savage, and he ministers to the necessity of the missionary, even before he has heard or comprehended the words of truth and life. Behold that crowd collected about God's servant to harm him! But the Lord is working upon the heart and mind of perhaps one man to plead in behalf of His servant; and when the war council has determined the destruction of the Christian's life, the intercession of that savage turns the decision, and his life is spared. O, the love that goes forth to the savage for this one act! To such Christ says, in the Judgment: "I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." {SD 364.4}

PS - Besides the quotes above, I know of no place where she articulates your belief that Christians are born again ignorantly practicing some of the sins they cultivated prior to rebirth. I'm sure it's there. Do you know where?

No. It implies that the meaning of the law of taught by Christ. It also implies the law involves more than what you've been suggesting.



Same comment.



I'm taking issue with the undue attention you pay to lists. If you spent half as much time on principles as you do on lists you'd be ten times better off.

Your whole comment here is predicated on the notion that the will of God can be expressed simply by lists. Again, please consider the Sermon on the Mount.



I believe there are things which people do when they are converted which they learn are wrong and stop doing afterward. I think this applies to all converted people. I don't think it matters if these things are on this list or that list.



It sounds like you may have misunderstood Him. Consider the following:



What Jesus wanted, and wants, is that we believe in Him. This is the way to eternal life, happiness and obedience.



I think Jesus was focusing on principles. He said not to do certain things, like worry, for example, but the basis for doing certain things or not doing other things was focused on principles. For example, we should not worry because our Father cares for us and we can trust Him.

It sounds like you agree with me that Jesus focused on principles and particulars. I like the way James put it: "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

Again, both Jesus and Paul were very good about spelling out the principles in practical, down-to-earth ways. They didn't leave it up to us to apply the principles as we see fit. We are too awkward and clumsy to manage something so important, so key to our fitness for heaven. One of Paul's many masterpieces is Galatians 5. Note how he blends the principles and particulars in a winsome and persuasive manner:

5:16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

This is a really odd way to communicate. You haven't mentioned principles once. I've been mentioning them over and over. If you agree with my points regarding principles, it would be more natural for you to say, "I agree with you," as opposed to "it sounds like you agree with," when you haven't been discussing the point you are agreeing with.

Be that as it may, if you agree with me that Jesus focused on principles, I'm glad for that. I agree God gives us insights in practical matters on how to apply the principles, but surely it should be easy to see that the application of the principle without an understanding of the principle is worthless; like having a shell without the nut. This was the problem the Pharisees had.