Joh 4:16 He said to her, "Go and call your husband, and come back here."
Joh 4:17 The woman answered him, "I don't have a husband." Jesus said to her, "You are quite right in saying, 'I don't have a husband.'
Joh 4:18 For you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true."
Remember Myms, the absolute v/s relative key to understanding Gods word. God speaks absolutely. Man speaks relatively.
GOD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ETERNAL FATE OF AFRICANS
A Sermon by:
James Kennedy, A.B., M.Div., M.Th., D.D.,
D.Sac.Lit., PhD., Litt.D., D.Sac.Theol., D. Humane Let.
A Critique by: L. Ray Smith
One is the "relative" the other is the "absolute." One is from man's point of view, comparing men with men, the other is from God's point of view. One shows how a thing is perceived while the other shows how it actually is. One is for minors while the other is for the mature.
They do not contradict. However, one really is "relative" while the other is "absolute."
Theologians are always taking Scriptures that speak of the relative, from man's point of view, and insist that these verses are absolute. By doing this they commit a double sin. Because then they insist that these relative truths actually nullify God's absolute declarations. They won't admit to this in their own words, but this is what they do when they retain the "relative" at the expense of rejecting the "absolute." .
Myms, notice that the woman said that she did NOT have a husband. In HER mind, she was not married. She spoke truthfully according to her conscience. Jesus spoke Absolutely from His Spirit.
Did Jesus contradict the woman? No. Did He make her wrong? No. Did He send her on a guilt trip? No. He acknowledged her for speaking truthfully! Did Jesus make a mistake to call the man that she was with, her husband? NO. He is her husband, in God’s eyes and his accountability before God, AS HER HUSBAND will be for his account before God.
Your partner shall be held accountable for you as your husband too and like the woman, you may well have the command to call your husband and come back to Christ where YOU KNOW He is to be found - at the well of living water -there is no condemnation. Jesus knows about you and your partner. He knows and caused the circumstance you are in to elevate your faith, trust, hope and aspiration in HIM. There is NO condemnation.
Arc