"ISSUES OF DISTINCTION"
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
- As much as we might want to be religiously like those around us,
there are certain "issues" that necessarily differentiate one from
others
- I call these "Issues Of Distinction"
- I choose the word "distinction" because it means...
- The act of distinguishing; differentiation
- The condition or fact of being dissimilar or distinct;
difference
- A distinguishing factor, attribute, or characteristic
- Therefore "issues of distinction" are those which distinguish one
from others in some way
- Such "Issues Of Distinction" relate to matters of truth and error
- For those who love truth, that which is error holds no attraction
- Remember what the wise man said about truth - Pr 23:23
- Jesus declared the value of truth in Jn 8:31-32
- John wrote highly of those who "walk in truth" - 3Jn 3-4
- Devotion to the truth, then, will necessarily distinguish one
from those who may subscribe to error
- In this introductory lesson, I would like to...
- Identify several important "Issues Of Distinction" (there are
certainly others)
- Illustrate how they necessarily distinguish one from others
[For example, one "issue of distinction" is...]
- THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
- SOME QUESTION OR DENY THE EXISTENCE OF GOD...
- Such as ATHEISTS
- Or AGNOSTICS
- OTHERS BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD...
- This includes those of all major religions, including:
- Buddhists, Hindus
- Jews, Moslems
- Christians
- The reasons for such belief may be varied, including:
- Evidences in nature
- Fulfilled prophecies in the Scriptures
- Evidences for the resurrection of Jesus Christ
[As much as we may (and should) love or respect individuals who do not
believe in a Supreme Being, this issue creates a fundamental difference
between people. Another "issue of distinction" is... ]
- THE IDENTITY OF GOD
- MANY BELIEVE IN A MULTITUDE OF GODS...
- Such as BUDDHISTS
- And HINDUS
- OTHERS BELIEVE THE GOD OF ABRAHAM IS THE ONE TRUE GOD...
- On this side of the "issue" are:
- Jews and Moslems
- Christians
- The reason why people believe in the God of Abraham may vary:
- Jews believe because of Moses and the Prophets
- Christians believe because of Moses, the Prophets, and
Jesus Christ
- Moslems believe because of all these plus Mohammed, their
final prophet
[Again, we should respect and love those who are Hindus and Buddhists,
but this is an "issue of distinction" which distinguishes us. A third
issue is...]
- THE IDENTITY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
- MANY BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS SIMPLY A GOOD MAN, PERHAPS A PROPHET,
BUT NO MORE..
- Many JEWS hold a view of Jesus that He was a good man, but not
the Messiah
- MOSLEMS believe that He was a prophet, but not the Son of God
- OTHERS BELIEVE JESUS TO BE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD...
- On this side of the "issue", are all professing Christians
- Together with Peter, they freely confess: "You are the
Christ, the Son of the living God." - cf. Mt 16:13-16
- Their reasons would include such things as:
- Fulfilled Messianic prophecies
- Evidences for His resurrection from the dead
[Now, it would be wonderful if all who accepted the true identity of
Jesus were united (this was Jesus' prayer - Jn 17:20-21). But
unfortunately there are "issues of distinction" which differentiate
even those who believe in Jesus...]
- THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES
- MANY DISPUTE THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES...
- E.g., ROMAN CATHOLICS, GREEK ORTHODOX, etc., who accept in
addition to the Bible:
- Traditions of the church
- Papal or ecclesiastical decrees
- E.g., MORMONS, JEHOVAH WITNESSES, SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS,
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS, PENTECOSTALS, etc., who believe in the
need for:
- Latter-day prophets
- Modern-day revelations
- OTHERS BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES TO BE AN ALL-SUFFICIENT GUIDE...
- On this side of the issue would be most mainstream Protestant
churches
- Reasons are based upon the claim of the Scriptures themselves:
- To be sufficient for making the man of God complete - cf.
2Ti 3:16-17
- To have been revealed one time, for all time - cf. Jude 3
[Where there are different standards of authority, people will not be
able to agree. This make the issue of the all-sufficiency of the
Scriptures an "issue of distinction". Yet another issue is...]
- THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM
- MANY DENY BAPTISM HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION...
- This includes many MAINSTREAM PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS
- Who teach that baptism is simply a confession of faith and not
necessary to salvation
- OTHERS BELIEVE THE BIBLE TEACHES BAPTISM TO BE NECESSARY...
- Necessary for salvation - Mk 16:16
- Necessary for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38
- Necessary for becoming children of God through faith - Ga 3:26-27
- IF THIS LATTER CONVICTION BE TRUE...
- Then those who teach otherwise are not proclaiming the gospel
Jesus and His apostles proclaimed, which is God's power unto
salvation - Mk 16:15-16; Ro 1:16
- Paul warned about those teaching a perverted gospel - Ga 1:8-9
[Finally, another issue that differentiates people is...]
- THE NATURE OF THE LORD'S CHURCH
- SOME DENOMINATIONALIZE THE CHURCH...
- I fear this is the case with many CHURCHES OF CHRIST, and
especially THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
- By changing the nature of cooperation among local churches,
they create a de facto denomination
- OTHERS BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES TO REVEAL A LIMITED FORM OF CHURCH
COOPERATION...
- Local churches may cooperate, but in ways that:
- Follow the New Testament pattern for church cooperation
- Allow local churches to maintain their local autonomy and
independence
- E.g., congregations may support preachers, missionaries, needy
Christians or churches
- But the New Testament pattern reveals this was done directly,
with no intermediate or overseeing church
CONCLUSION
- Love for one's fellow man...
- Makes one want to accept everyone as they are
- And to let nothing come between us
- But love for God and truth must be stronger...
- It must take precedent over love for our fellow man
- It must prompt one to let whatever is truly an "issue of
distinction" differentiate one from those who believe otherwise
- Of course, it is very important...
- That we do not artificially put up barriers
- To diligently study matters to determine whether they merit such
importance as to differentiate ourselves from others
- To present our conviction on such matters in the proper spirit:
- Speaking the truth in love - Ep 4:15
- Without quarreling, in gentleness, with patience and humility
- 2Ti 2:24-25
In the rest of this series I hope to do just that, as we examine each
"issue of distinction" surveyed in this lesson in greater detail...