UNITY AT ANY COST?
John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."
Ephesians 4:3 "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."
1 Timothy 6:3-5 "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."
Jude 1:3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
Back in 1950 in the book The Case Against Modernism wrote, ?A world-religion is on the way, but it will be human rather than divine, it will be natural rather than supernatural. Its God will be its servant not its sovereign, its Christ will be its leader not its king, its political economy will be a democracy not a theocracy....? In 1951, Frank S Mead dedicated his Handbook of Denominations in the United States to ?Those in the Church who see that the great truths we hold in common are of more importance to God and man than these little fences and barriers that divide us.?
It is important that we endeavor to maintain true Christian unity and to walk in love but not at the cost of the truth. In 2 John, the Holy Spirit stresses the importance of both love and truth. Four times in the first six verses, we see the word love. Five times in these same verses the word truth appears.
2 John 1:4-6 "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. [5] And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. [6] And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."
I. There are two religions in the world (Soteriology ? Study of Salvation)
A. Autosoterism ? Salvation is by works
1. Ancient Egypt ? ?Prepare for the judgments of Osiris by observing the rules of right conduct.?
2. Norsemen ? ?Fight a good fight.?
3. Confucius ? ?Walk in trodden paths; be a good citizen of the Celestial Empire.?
4. Buddha ? ?Walk the Noble Eightfold Path?.
5. Islam ? ?Stand by the Five Pillars of Conduct?
B. Theosoterism ? Salvation is the entire work of God alone
1. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast."
2. Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
3. Acts 15:1-11
II. There is a warning to beware of those who teach false doctrine
A. 2 John 1:7 "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."
B. Charles Haddon Spurgeon - There are no greater foes to sheep than wild dogs. In some regions, sheep were no longer to be found because these fierce creatures utterly devoured the flocks. The church has never had worse enemies than false teachers. Infidels and persecutors do but mild injury to her, but her heretical preachers have been as evening wolves.
C. 2 Peter 2:1-2 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."
III. There is Real Danger in a commingling truth with error.
A. 2 John 1:8-9 "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
B. Nothing makes a man so virtuous as belief of the truth. A lying doctrine will soon beget a lying practice. A man cannot have an erroneous belief without by-and-by having an erroneous life. I believe the one thing naturally begets the other.
C. Galatians 2:21-3:1 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"
D. What issues are non-negotiable? (Key Doctrines)
1. The Verbal Plenary Inspiration of the Word of God
? 2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
2. The Doctrine of the Triune Godhead
a. John 8:24 "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."
b. Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
3. Creation
? Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
4. Sin and the depravity of man
? Romans 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."
5. Heaven and Hell
? Luke 16:22-25 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented."
6. The Virgin Birth
a. Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
b. Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
7. The Vicarious Sacrifice Of Jesus Christ
? Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
8. Salvation by Grace through Faith
? Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
