"We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions—but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all." -1 Corinthians 8:2-3
How many times do we pretend to know or interpret things that are really unknowable? How many things that we argue about in church- how many things that divide the church- really are known only by God and by those on the other side?
The truth is this - we can argue all day about submersion vs. sprinkling; wine vs. grape juice; KJV vs. NIV; democrat vs. republican; or any other denominational split hair, but there are some things we will not know until we're in heaven, and by then it won't matter. So, that being the case, why is it so hard for churches to work together and support each other, rather than being at odds over silly stuff that just doesn't matter?
I love what Paul writes later in 1 Corinthians:
"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said."- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
That, truly, is what is most important.
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2 comments:
I don't think that in the end when we are standing in front of God that he will look at our permanent record and say, "you have been faithful in so many things and truly loved me, but sorry you’re going to hell because you were dunked and not sprinkled!"
That just doesn't seem like the God I know.
Steve-
I am not sure what you are specifically commenting on, but this is related to what was said in your previous post and my comment. I would add to what you said about 1Cor 15:3-4 a mention of verses 1&2:
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you THE gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and WHERIN ye stand;
BY WHICH also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (emphasis mine)
So it is this message, as you said which is so important. It is believing this that saves you. Trusting this word:
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Eph 1:13-14)
There is an excellent book that I am reading by Norman Giesler and Ron Rhodes. It is called Convictions Without Compromise. It is centered in two phrases: “In essentials unity in non essentials liberty and in all things love” and “Unity does not have to mean uniformity”
The book talks about those things that are absolutely essential to bring about the gospel, that make one a Christian. To these we must hold. Then it talks about things that are non essentials that we can differ on. Unfortunately it is these things that churches split over most! (spiritual gifts, how to baptize etc)
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