A few months ago I was going through some of the church archives and I ran across this quote printed on a very old bulletin. The more I thought about the quote, the more I began to wonder where it came from and why we used it.
I will ask you all to now humor me as I give you a very brief history lesson
In my studies I have found that many people believe that this quote came from Augustine around A.D. 400 – But there are others who ascribe it to a later Lutheran theologian named Peter Meiderlin.
The quote really gained notoriety when it became the motto of the restoration movement, in which the ‘Christian Church’, the ‘Church of Christ’, ‘The Disciples of Christ’ and some others grew out of.
It is interesting to note, however, that Barton W. Stone (One of the formers of the restoration movement) was not very receptive to the use of this quote.
QUOTE: Stone is quoted in one of his lectures from 1841 as having said, “Some…plead for the necessity of a few essential doctrines to be embodied, as a bond of union. But who shall determine what these doctrines are?”
***Why did a man like Stone, a true student of the scriptures, have a problem with this creed?
I. It fosters an approach that boils down Bible truths to bare minimum ‘essentials’
a. Take John 3:16 for instance
i. Many people say, “just believe” and you will be saved – and they stand on John 3:16
ii. But we have to remember that saving belief is not just an intellectual assent of the mind
iii. Illustration: “The ‘Saved’ Waitress” There is a couple on television who boast that they have a fool-proof way of getting people saved. They say that whenever they are talking to a waitress they ask her, “There are two types of waitresses, ones that want to go to heaven and ones that don’t, which one are you?” Of course the waitress says she wants to go to heaven and they then reply, “Just repeat these words in a prayer and believe them and you will go to heaven”
iv. No faith. No repentance. No new birth. No sanctification. No holiness. And certainly no obedience.
v. They have boiled salvation down to a ‘repeat after me’ and you’ll be fine – somewhat like an initiation into a club
b. By doing this many have eliminated what Jesus Christ said in the Gospel of John
i. John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”
ii. John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
iii. John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
c. By saying that we are going to adapt to only the bare minimum of scriptural truths eliminates the ability of Christ to be both Savior and Lord
i. Many people boast Christ as their Savior, but few are willing to call Him Lord
1. This is because we feel like we need to be the masters of our own destiny
2. We often refuse God’s will for our lives because it requires us to relinquish control to Him
ii. But we need Christ as Lord as much as we need Him as Savior – We need Him as much in our daily walk as we needed Him on that cross
d. But still some will say, “It is all about the bare minimum”
Transitional Statement: “Not only does this quote boil down the Bible to bare essentials, but…”
II. It makes a distinction in Bible teachings that results in a ‘pick and choose’ attitude
a. To use the phrase, “In non essentials, liberty” is to say that there are things in the Bible that are non-essential – But the entire Bible is essential!
i. Creation is essential
1. Since the ‘scopes trial’ of the 1930’s where the origin of man and the book of Genesis were questioned in criminal court many pastors have conceded that Genesis may not be accurate – and many teach now that creation and evolution go hand in hand
2. But the truth is without creation there would be no need for the cross
3. Without the first man and first woman there would be no first sin. Without the first sin there would be no fall of man. Without the fall of man there would be no need for man’s redemption. With no need for redemption there would be no need for the cross
ii. The Old Testament is essential
1. Many Christians dismiss the Old Testament truths because of the many fantastic stories that it boasts
2. They seem to believe that the Bible starts in Matthew, but Matthew even begins his book by referencing the Characters of the OT showing a genealogy of Christ back to Abraham
3. The Old Testament foretells Christ and we would not have a true understanding of Him and His place as Lord without it
iii. The entire New Testament is essential
1. Christians are notorious for reading one word or passage and developing a doctrine around it because it fits their view
2. The entire NT, not just the parts we like
3. Quote: “The black letters are just as much the Word of God as the red letters”
b. This was the apostle’s view of what was essential:
i. II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
ii. ALL SCRIPTURE IS ESSENTIAL
c. Are there non-essentials within the church? Of course
i. Example: What you eat
1. Romans 14:2-4 “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”
ii. But because we are given the liberty of choice in some areas does not give us the liberty to choose what is sin and what is not sin and what in the Bible is true and what is not
1. The entire Bible is TRUE and the entire Bible is ESSENTIAL
2. What God says is sin is sin – no matter what we think
a. QUOTE: Someone once said, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it” – But that’s not right, “God said it and that settles it, whether you believe it or not!”
iii. QUOTE: Here is a quote I recently heard on how essential the whole Bible is: “The only part of the Bible you really believe is the part you obey”
1. So we really have no right to choose what portion of scripture we are going to believe.
2. Because according to God it is ALL PROFITABLE
Transitional Statement:“ There is one part of this quote that hits the nail on the head, however”
III. In all things love
a. You can believe the entire Bible and live a strict Christian life: But without love it will profit you nothing
i. I Corinthians 13:1-3 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
b. Love is the Biblical priority for every Christian
i. Love first for God
ii. Then love for your neighbor as much as you love yourself
c. The biggest need in our world today is for God’s people to show His love
i. QUOTE: “There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.” —Mother Teresa
d. But what does God’s love look like?
i. I Corinthians 13:4-8a “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
CONCLUSION: God’s love is the most powerful force in the world and we would not know of it if it were not for His inspired Word
The point I am trying to proclaim today is that God’s Word is essential regardless of mottos, quotes or traditions
QUOTE: “The Bible alone is the only religion in which Christians can unite. Not on the opinions formed by man of the truths and facts stated in the Bible, but upon the facts themselves” Barton W. Stone
REMEMBER: The danger in picking and choosing what is essential from God’s Word is that eventually everything becomes non-essential
In many churches Jesus Christ is no longer essential – He has become A way, A truth, A life…not THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE
But Christ is essential to salvation and here’s why: Because we all have an appointment to keep.
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
And if you face God alone in your sins, you will be guilty and receive the eternal punishment of Hell
But that does not have to be your fate… Because the Word of God gives us the truth of salvation – that if you believe the Gospel or the good news of Jesus Christ (not just with your mind but with your heart) and repent and place your trust in Him alone for salvation, you will be saved.
There is no other way but through Jesus – He is the only one with the power to pay for your sins, wash you clean and present you perfect before God
I urge you, if you are here today and you do not have the trust that Jesus has washed paid for your sin, you can receive Him today – and then be confident that He will be there in life and in death as your Friend, your Savior and your Lord
