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In regards to your Post under > DOCTRINE > "Did Jesus Christ Come To Start A Church?" > PAGE #3 > Your Post # 27
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Aloha brother Scott,
Let's back up a minute and survey the "landscape"
. Upon reviewing several of your "Posts" I observe:
- You have A LOT of Questions - That's good, BUT
- Often times (either embedded in the question or soon after) you state a contrary opinion or comment that is in opposition to the answer given you in such a manner as to be dismissive, argumentative, or divisive.
- And herein lies the "problem" - some of us are trying to figure out: Is Scott being "sincere" or is he being "deceptive"?
- It is quite clear from your "Threads" (Questions & Comments) and "Posts" (Questions & Comments) that you are not "Grounded" in the Faith (i.e. "Doctrine"), or else you would already have settled many of your questions in your heart by having "searched the Scriptures" to see if these things are so.
- You cannot “dismiss” the extreme importance of “DOCTRINE”, just because you may not understand it, or because some us may differ with you (or with each other for that matter). Look up the word “doctrine” (doctrines) in Swordsearcher {6 verses in the Old Testament & 50 verses in the New Testament - Total = 56 verses). There are only 58 verses on HELL in the entire Bible, are you going to dismiss it so easily also?
It is obvious (even to a casual observer) that the "Church of God" today (Fundamental, Evangelical, etc. - of all "
stripes") is as messed up and confusing as it could possibly get. But that fact, doesn't give us an EXCUSE
NOT TO STUDY God's word, or "
give-up" trying to understand it because of all the "differences" between the brethren, or the fact that sometimes we just "
don't get it" ourselves.
In the 50 years I have been a Christian I have met very few Christian brethren with whom I agree with 100%. Although I have been a Christian probably longer than most of the brethren on this Forum, I have been “edified” by several of the brethren on this Forum that haven’t been saved for even half the time that I have been. And so we come to WHO can we “fellowship” with – and WHO are we to avoid?
WHO we are to “avoid” is fairly easy to identify:
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
There are others, but the Scriptures are very clear – not everyone who names’ the name of Christ is one of His (there are false brethren you know -
2Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4), and there is one sure way to tell a true brother in Christ, and that is, if he has a
genuine “love of the truth” [
2Thessaolonians 2:10].
The following is a partial list of “doctrines” that all genuine Bible believing Christians should believe, and which we can have fellowship with each other over. If there are Christians out there who don’t embrace
all of these “doctrines”, I personally “steer clear” of them:
1. God (The Triune Godhead as presented in the Bible)
2. Satan (As an existing being – The father of evil)
3. Angels (As existing)
4. Devils (Demons & evil spirits as existing)
5. Creation (The Biblical account)
6. Man (As possessing three parts – a Body, a Soul, and a Spirit)
7. The Soul (As existing and being 1 part of the 3 parts of man)
8. The Spirit (As existing and being 1 part of the 3 parts of man)
9. Evil (As Existing - The Biblical concept of)
10. The Heart (As the seat of a person’s thoughts, imaginations, affections, will, etc.)
11. Sin (The Biblical Account of the fall – The sinful nature of all mankind.)
12. Redemption (All of mankind’s need for Salvation)
13. Signs, wonders, miracles (As recorded in the Bible)
14. World wide Flood (The Biblical Account)
15. Division of Mankind (Into three basic races: Shem, Ham, and Japeth)
16. Accountability (That individuals are responsible for their own actions – not society.)
17. Judgment (That a time will come when God is going to judge all of mankind.)
18. Heaven (As a place of Eternal Life with God)
19. Hell (As a place for Eternal Punishment.)
20. Hebrews – Jews – Israel (As being God’s earthly chosen people.)
21. Jesus Christ: (As being the
bodily manifestation of the Godhead.)
(As being the
fullness of the Godhead bodily.)
(As the
Creator of the world and the universe.)
(As to his
Incarnation – Miraculous Conception & Birth)
(As the Jews [Hebrew]
Messiah.)
(As the
one and
only Saviour of mankind and the world.)
(As
Rising from
the dead.)
(As the
Head of the
Church – which is His body here on earth.)
(As the
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.)
22. The Blood Atonement (That Jesus Christ’s Blood paid the price for sin – sins.)
23. Born Again (That a person needs to be born again in order to enter into Heaven.)
24. The Church (Christ’s Bride – The Pillar and Ground of the Truth.)
25. Marriage (God’s Institution – Between one man and one woman.)
26. Inspiration of Scripture (The “words” of God “Inspired” –
NOT just the “originals”)
27. The Preservation of Scripture (Preserved through God’s church until the present.)
28. The Holy Scriptures (as being the “Final Authority” in all matters of faith and practice.)
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
I would advise you to take the “
advise” of some of the brethren here and
slow down, take some time to “
think” and “
meditate” upon the brethren’s answers – they probably have spent a whole lot more time searching the Scriptures and meditating on an issue than you have, and are more likely to have the correct answer, rather than a hastily formed “
opinion” on your part.
I don’t know how long you have been saved, but I do know that all of us picked up a lot of “Garbage” and “Baggage” before we got saved, and sometimes it takes a long time to get rid of it all (some people are never fully successful in ridding themselves of it all). Between false religions and false teachers; and the “humanistic” agenda in the schools, government, and media, etc. it’s pretty hard to come through it all unscathed.
If you are sincere, then I would ask you to check out my “Thread” and following Posts on HUMANISM: {
Thread = DOCTRINE > HUMANISM (Pernicious Satanic Influence in the world today) > Posts #1; 5; 7; 11; 13; 14. And then read my
Post on DOCTRINE > Should Christians Confess Their Sins > Page 1 > Post #10 “Garbage & Baggage”.} If after reading these Posts you cannot see the “Humanistic” influence in your reasoning, then I don’t know what I can do to help you.
2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
I have done all that I can do – it’s now up to you. I can teach some “
knowledge”, but only God can grant you
discernment,
understanding, and
wisdom, and then only if your heart is sincere in wanting to know the “Truth”.
