DOES DOCTRINE REALLY MATTER?
by Shawn Brasseaux
Many in Christendom argue, “Doctrine divides, so we need to forget doctrine and just unite around the ‘love of Jesus.’ They say, Jesus prayed for harmony among all His people and doctrine just hinders fellowship.”
What would be the Bible believer’s answer to such comments?
As you read through the various Articles and Study Series I've posted in this website, you will note that the topic of my writing always concerns Christ and our living relationship with Him. I thought some may want to know who I am and my point of view.
Every Christian is the product of their life experiences and God's intervention in their lives. I'm just like you if you too are a believer who has received the regenerating "Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." We thus are recipients of God the Father's grace, love and His literal life, received in the person His Son, Jesus Christ, as "the Spirit of life" (Rom 8:2a, cf., 2Cor 3:17, 1John 4:13). Christ literally indwells our spirit (cf., John 3:6, 1Cor 6:17, Rom 8:16) as our new and eternal life (Col 3:4, Gal 2:20). See more.
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In the light of Bible prophecy, we as grace-age believers naturally wonder how long the present course of things will continue before God ultimately intervenes in human affairs. There are the two ‘time indicators,’ and the challenge below to consider. 1. The Gentile and the Jew. In this Biblical age the Gentile is on the top, so to speak, while the Jew is on the bottom. In the O.T., especially in the book of Deuteronomy, the nation of Israel was warned that if they disobeyed the Lord they would be scattered among the nations and be few in numbers; they would be the tail and not the head. Acts 28 records the announcement of this sad plight, and the greatest LO-AMMI time-period began for Israel. (Lo-ammi means ‘Israel is NOT MY PEOPLE and I am not their God,’ Hosea 1:9). As result of Paul’s Acts 28:28 declaration, the Gentiles have had about 2,000 years of opportunity since the setting aside of Israel. “Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.” Acts 28:28 (KJV) Likewise in time past, Israel was also on the scene for close to the same amount of time. Before Abraham the nations (Gentiles) had close to 2,000 years of opportunity before getting set aside. So according to the 6,000 years of human history teaching, man's day is close to its end, and the Sabbatical year, called the Millennium, may be just around the corner. The other time indicator is what the Prophetic teachers call it: 2. The Prophetic Clock. The Prophetic Clock stopped running when Israel was set aside in Acts 28:28. Since that time all prophecy with regard to Israel and the nations has also STOPPED, even though a secular nation called Israel has been established in the Holy Land. The clock is still stopped, but it seems the world stage is being set and the end times are very close. As we anticipate the development of the end-times we naturally wonder what our response should now be. I find that response in it this third topic: 3. The Challenge. We are to make the best possible use of time. In Eph. 5:16 and Col. 4:5 we are told to REDEEM THE TIME, and WALK IN WISDOM TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT. Even though Eph. 3:9 “fellowship of the mystery” should be our first concern, yet our wise and well-timed remarks can be made to the unsaved about the essential truths of John 3:16 offering of eternal life if we pray for such occasions. There are yet hungry soul’s waiting to be saved by God’s grace. Let us pray for their salvation and let us speak when the situation allows.
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