Yes proof, and not proof from a biased Christian source / bible, I want to see unbiased proof from qualified historians or something.
What you're doing is a big mistake. First of all, the religion you believe in is called "Christianity", not "Paulianity". The point is to be like Christ, not Paul. If you want to be Christ-like, do what Christ did, which was get to heaven QUICK no matter what it takes, not sit in a jail cell writing letters for years trying not to die. As themickey stated earlier, Christ's ministry was extremely short. He did what he needed to do and got back to sitting on the right hand of the Father ASAP. That's impossible because when given the two ice cream cones and asked which one is your favorite, only one choice can be your favorite. The one that is preferred above all others is what the word means.
All sins are covered by the cross of Jesus. That was the whole point of the new testament. The old way didn't work. Nobody could ever live up to those commandments anyway.
If you like them equally, you have no preference. If forced to pick one, then so be it. But randomly picking one doesn't change the fact that you like them both equally. And that most of the world, I'm sure, believes that we can have more than one favorite of something. Pick your favorite of these numbers, but you can only pick one (they represent how much you like certain flavors of ice creams--again, only one favorite flavor is allowed): 1,2,3,4,2,1,3,4 ALSO: MORE?
lol. No. You're making a big mistake. Jesus never told his believers to kill themselves so they could be with Him in heaven ASAP! He told them that they would suffer, be killed for His sake and later on He commanded them to tell others of Him and turn them into His disciples. So, Paul was doing what Jesus commanded. Paul witnessed for Jesus, helped other believers by shepherding them, suffered for Jesus and then was killed for Jesus. That was all obeying Jesus.
I would just like to say this just so we are all on the same page on a certain level. First of all, I respect you all for digging into this with me. Most people I talk to are so brain dead they don't even think about any of this stuff beyond the most superficial of levels. Second, we can disagree on every single topic, but I do appreciate the time and effort you spend into crafting your responses, even though those responses might not be how I view the world. Third, in no way am I trying to say that I've got everything figured out. I'm brain dumping on these topics because they are mysterious in many ways and I think it's a valuable exercise for all of us to be challenged not just in what we believe, but in why we believe what we do, and where those beliefs came from. Anyway, back to the octagon.
I addressed this earlier. Religions vary on whether this is the proper interpretation. And as you stated, 'belief' doesn't make it true, so an individual may be unsure as to their 'coverage' (whether or not the sin would be covered). I also pointed out that--really and truly--we can't be certain that we are covered by the cross. Only believers, AS GOD DETERMINES, are covered. And we can't know, especially in advance, God's decision in that regard.