Saved By Mercy

Dear Heavenly Father,

I was just thinking about what Jesus Christ means to me! Words are inadequate to express what my heart longs to say. There are only so many words in the English language with which to express our feelings. I could repeat the phrases, “Thank You, Lord” or “I love you, Jesus” all day, but to me, words are not as intimate and lovely as when I simply lift up my soul in silent communion, just Jesus and me. It is during those moments I sense His arms around me and I rest in His embrace. The fragrance of His Presence is totally soothing. Jesus is the final answer to my greatest needs; the abiding satisfaction of my deepest longings; the complete dispelling of my darkest fears and the rich fulfillment of my highest aspirations! What does Jesus Christ mean to me? To put it simply, “He is my life… For me to live is Christ”. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me so much that you gave your life as a ransom for me. Thank you for calling me out of the darkness and into your marvelous light. Thank you for the privilege of each new day and for your Grace that covers me. In Jesus name, I pray, amen.

     This is the true story of an old Christian woman whose age began to tell on her memory. In her earlier years, she had once known much of the Bible by heart.  But as the years passed by, eventually, only one precious little bit of scripture had stayed with her. “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to Keep That which I have committed Unto Him, against that day.”

As time went by, she grew weaker and part of that verse had slipped its hold. She would quietly repeat to herself, “…….That which I have committed unto Him.” Then it happened and my worst fear became a reality. As she lay there sick and dying, hovering on the borderline between this life and the life hereafter. I looked down at this beautiful, little old Lady, my Granny.

She was always there when I needed her. As I stood there, remembering the lives we had shared together, she reached up and with the last bit of remaining strength that she could find, she took my hand. I noticed she was trying to speak so I bent down to listen. She was repeating to herself the one single part of the text which had never left her. “Him, Him, Him.” She had lost the whole Bible except for that one word and , yet, in that one word she had kept it.

My sweet Granny is no longer with us, she has gone away. But the memories that I have of her undying love for me will never go away. I can still hear her saying to me, “My little Timmy, God loves you and I love you, and when it’s time for me to go and God calls me home, it will only be for a little while and someday, I promise, we will be together again. Together in Christ!.”

Granny, I don’t know if you can hear me or not but if you can, I’d like to say something to you. “I still love you so much and after all these many years, I still think about you everyday and I miss you none the less.

     Oh Granny, I can’t wait until that wonderful day when we will finally be together again, forever, In Christ. Because, now I realize, “that which you had committed unto Him against that day, was ME !

Thank you for giving me the greatest love I’ve ever known and most of all, your prayers.

Love

ps. I will always be your little Timmy, even there.

    

Let me begin by saying I can not take credit in any way for this study, but felt it so important, I had to repost it here for all the world to see.

Tim Hicks

 

Below, in BOLD type, is the modern seeker friendly churches view..

Followed by the TRUTH of God’s Word on the subject of “Is Doctrine Important to God.

 

As believers we are often guilty of quibbling over foolish questions and arguments which can only engender strife rather than godly edifying which is by faith (see 1 Timothy 1:4; 6:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9; Philippians 2:14). Our desire should always be to build up and edify our fellow believers in the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:26; 8:1; etc.).

 

On the other hand, Modern “seeker friendly” churches seem to imply the following attitude: “It doesn’t matter so much what you believe as long as you ‘love’ one another.” The following quotation is taken from the same issue (Worldwide Impact, a Campus Crusade for Christ publication, May 1972)

We are to put aside the peripheral issues (that is, doctrinal issues) that divide us …. Men are reminded that the real issue is Jesus Christ, and that we are to love one another even if we do not agree theologically or philosophically (or doctrinally). I encourage you to apply this principle of LOVE and acceptance with all of your Christian friends, and help make Christ the real issue [emphasis and parentheses are mine].

This philosophy could perhaps be restated as follows: “It is sinful to divide the body of Christ on earth by separating ourselves from any Christian over any doctrinal or ecclesiastical issue. The mark of true orthodoxy is love, not doctrine. Therefore, if we truly love one another, we will not allow doctrines or ordinances to divide us…To win the world for Christ, we must bury our differences and proclaim the essential core of the gospel in a positive way.”

 

Really?

Are we sure about that?

All the above statements sound good and may even invoke a warm and fuzzy feeling BUT…. 

Let us now  test this philosophy by the Word of God (see 1 Thess. 5:21): This study MUST be done with your Bible open to the following scriptures.  Very Important.

What place did the Lord give to teaching (doctrine) in the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:19-20? What exactly was to be the content of their teaching? Were they to be teaching only “essential” doctrines?

 

Why was the early church unified and healthy (Acts 2:42)? Did they consider doctrine important? Remember, we must never have unity at the expense of truth.

 

Did the Apostle Paul carry on a ministry of total indoctrination (Acts 20:26-31) or did he seek to avoid “offensive” doctrines?

 

Consider this statement: “We are to put aside the PERIPHERAL ISSUES that divide us.” Does the Bible contain any peripheral issues? Are there any nonessential doctrines in God’s Word? Is there any part of God’s Word that should not be boldly proclaimed (Acts 20:27)? We are to conform our lives to how much of God’s Word (Matthew 4:4)? Do we have the right to judge which parts of the Bible are important and which parts are not? According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 how much of God’s Word is important and profitable for the believer?

 

The Thessalonian believers were confused concerning the removal (rapture) of the church and the coming day of wrath—see 1 Thess. 4:13; 5:1-2; 2 Thess. 2:1-5. If these are not important matters, then why did the Lord direct Paul to write these letters? If these are merely “peripheral issues,” then why did Paul take the time to teach the Thessalonian believers concerning these doctrines (see 2 Thess. 2:3-5 and note especially verse 5)? What was Paul’s desire for these believers? Did he want them to be ignorant concerning these matters (see 1 Thess. 4:13)?

 

Was the Lord Jesus tolerant towards the Sadducees who differed from Him doctrinally concerning the resurrection (see Matt. 22:23-33 and note verse 29)? What was it that astonished the multitude (Matt. 22:33; cf. Matt. 7:28-29)?

 

What is the characteristic of a true disciple (John 8:31-32)? When believers harmonize together according to truth, what effect will this have upon the world (John 13:35; 17:23)?

 

How do we manifest and demonstrate our love for the Lord Jesus (John 14:21-24; 15:9-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:2-3 etc.)? How can a pastor demonstrate that he truly loves the Master (John 21:15-17; 1 Pet. 5:2; Acts 20:28)?

 

Is God concerned about doctrinal purity (Tit. 2:7; 1 Tim. 1:3)? Should we be concerned when men deviate from sound doctrine (1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 Tim. 2:16-18)?  How are we told to “convict the gainsayers” (Tit. 1:9)? Why should we reprove certain men sharply (Tit. 1:13)? What should be the measure of our speaking (Tit. 2:1)? What does Christ think of false doctrine in the church (Revelation 2:14-16)?

 

1. 10.

Why did Christ give certain gifted men to the local church (Eph. 4:11-12)?  According to Ephesians 4:11-16 how is true Christian unity (Eph. 4:1-6) achieved and enjoyed? What is the great danger of neglecting doctrine (Eph. 4:14)? What is the relationship between truth and love (Eph. 4:15)? Consider carefully the unity of believers as described by Christ in John 17:22. Is there any doctrinal disagreement between God the Father and God the Son?

 

1. 11.

If we truly love our fellow believers will we warn them about false doctrine and false teachers (Acts 20:29-31; Phil. 3:2; Col. 1:28; and see the example of Christ–Matt- 7:15-20; 16:6-12; 24:4-5; Luke 12:1,15)? If we truly love someone, will we exercise proper discipline (Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19; 2 Thess. 3:5-6,14-15)?

 

1. 12.

According to the example of our Lord Jesus, if we truly love someone, will we tell them what they need to hear even if it offends and hurts them (Mark 10:21)? Can love and hate co-exist at the same time (Hebrews 1:9)? Was the Apostle Paul manifesting love when he wrote Galatians 1:8-9? What does love rejoice in (1 Cor. 13:6)? How should our love abound (Phil. 1:9-10)?

 

1. 13.

If we really love people is it possible to reprove and rebuke them (2 Tim. 4:2)? Why do people turn to false teachers (2 Tim. 4:3)? When you reject the truth, what’s left (2 Tim. 4:4)?

 

1. 14.

Did John, the Apostle of Love, minimize the importance of truth and doctrine (2 John verses 1-9)? How did John love Gaius (3 John 1)? What was John’s greatest joy (3 John verses 3 and 4)? For what should we earnestly contend (Jude 3)? How are we to love (1 John 3:18)?

 

15. Read Revelation 22:18-19 and compare Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32 and Proverbs 30:6. IS DOCTRINE IMPORTANT?

[I am greatly indebted to Dr. John C. Whitcomb for some of the material used in this paper](this, from the author of this study)

 

CONCLUSION

Doctrine is extremely important. Biblical love never minimizes the importance of Bible doctrine. If we truly love a person then we will desire that person to be totally indoctrinated in the truth of God from Genesis to Revelation, including every jot and tittle of God’s precious Revelation. True unity can never come at the expense of truth. In fact, true unity is only realized and enjoyed as believers harmonize together and function according to truth (Ephesians 4:11-16). The only basis for the enjoyment of true Christian unity (Ephesians 4:1-6) is a COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF AND OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD. The ones who are hindering the cause of Christian unity are those who refuse to stand faithfully and obediently upon the written Word of God. When doctrine becomes the issue, truth must prevail!

At this point you should be able to Biblically evaluate the position as illustrated and presented at the beginning of this paper. “Prove all things (test by the Word of God), hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

 

God will Bless Every Believer who Studies and learns His Word for themselves and who will NOT compromise the Doctrines found therein.