A DISCUSSION THAT LED
TO AN HONEST CHANGE OF VIEW
  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. RECENTLY A DISCUSSION LED TO ONE MAKING A CHANGE IN HIS VIEW OF SOME RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE.

    2. A SERIES OF STATEMENTS WERE MADE REGARDING THE SALVATION OF MAN THAT WERE SHOWN TO BE IN ERROR BY THE SIMPLE WORD OF GOD.

    3. WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN HONEST ENOUGH TO HAVE MADE A CORRECTIVE CHANGE?

    4. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE STATEMENTS SHOWN TO BE IN ERROR:

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A CHURCH PUTTING OUT A STATEMENT OF IT’S BELIEFS TO CLARIFY IT’S POSITION FROM THAT OF ANOTHER CHURCH GROUP.

      1. THE BIBLE SAYS:

        1. The position of the Church should be only the position of Christ as the true church is His.
        2. "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18).
        3. Christ is "…the head of the body, the church: …" (Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24).
        4. There is but "one body" (Ephesians 4:4).

      2. A position (teaching) something other than that of the Lord is not with God’s authority.

        1. "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching hath both the Father and the Son" (II John 9).
        2. God has by "…His divine power granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue"
          (II Peter 1:3). Thus, there is no need for a further statement.
        3. Christ alone has authority in heaven and earth and that includes the church. (Matthew 28:18) "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

    2. CHURCHES NEED TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY TEACH FROM THE BIBLE.

      1. That which is taught should be already in the Bible as God wanted it and not as man would have it explained.

        1. "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (II Timothy 3:16-17).
        2. Jesus said, "…Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
        3. The Lord said, "If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31).

      2. Taking a passage from the Bible that is used to manifest division stands in conflict with the Lord’s position on "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:3-6).

        1. We are called "unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 1:9).
        2. We are, as the Corinthians were beseeched by Paul in the name of Christ, "…That ye all speak the same things, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Corinthians 1:10).

      3. Paul said to "…obey from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Romans 6:17).
      4. Paul further said: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Romans 16:17).

    3. THIS INDIVIDUAL HAD A LONGING TO BE A PART OF THE LORD’S KINGDOM WHEN IT WOULD BE SET UP AT THE LORD’S COMING.

      1. The church that the Lord established is the kingdom. They are spoken of as the same thing in
        Matthew 16:18-19.

        1. They have the same beginning place in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1; Acts 2).
        2. They have the same keys (Matthew 16:18-19; Acts 2:47)
        3. They have the same admittance requirements (John 3:5; Acts 2:38).
        4. They have the same membership (Colossians 1:2; Colossians 1:13).

      2. All those that are obedient to the Lord are in it. "Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love" (Colossians 1:13). (Read I Pet. 2:9.)
      3. John writing in Revelation 1:9, said he was already in it: "I John your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."
      4. The kingdom over which Christ now reigns will cease at his return. (I Corinthians 15:24-26) "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. THIS MAN WAS HONEST ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE HE WAS IN ERROR ON THESE STATEMENTS.

    2. WHEN THE BIBLE SHOWS YOU TO BE IN ERROR ABOUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE, WILL YOU BE HONEST ENOUGH TO ACCEPT IT.

    3. THE DOOR OF THIS MAN’S HEART HAS BEEN OPENED, HOPEFULLY IT WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR FURTHER ACCEPTANCE OF DIVINE TRUTH.

 

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