You presented the Gnostic answer as the “best answer”, but my point is that it isn’t and can’t be.

The answer to your question is that Christ’s blood is enough to destroy the devil’s hold over people, and that faith is how to identify with Christ to receive this freedom. There is no need for any Gnostic concept whatsoever.

Further, there is absolutely no reason to appeal to Gnostics whatsoever, even this “core” you have chosen.

There really isn’t any uniquely Gnostic ideas in Paul. To say there is a spiritual realm or that we have souls is not a Gnostic unique idea, and I’m not sure how else you would even cut it.

Second these parallels with John are not Gnostic unique concepts. One of the purposes of the Gospel of John is to show that Jesus is Messiah (Christ) and God (John 20:30–31).

Also, your criticism of my article on hell is a bit silly. God in the Bible says that He does not lie (Titus 1:2) and that all his decrees are trustworthy (Psalm 93:5). So yes, heaven forbid that God would break His word. Also, your trivializing of sin as “bean-counting” is simply not correct. Additionally, it is beyond unreasonable to claim God is unconcerned with justice and morality.