"ISSUES OF DISTINCTION"

Introduction

INTRODUCTION
  1. As much as we might want to be religiously like those around us, there are certain "issues" that necessarily differentiate one from others
    1. I call these "Issues Of Distinction"
    2. I choose the word "distinction" because it means...
      1. The act of distinguishing; differentiation
      2. The condition or fact of being dissimilar or distinct; difference
      3. A distinguishing factor, attribute, or characteristic
    3. Therefore "issues of distinction" are those which distinguish one from others in some way
  2. Such "Issues Of Distinction" relate to matters of truth and error
    1. For those who love truth, that which is error holds no attraction
      1. Remember what the wise man said about truth - Pr 23:23
      2. Jesus declared the value of truth in Jn 8:31-32
      3. John wrote highly of those who "walk in truth" - 3Jn 3-4
    2. Devotion to the truth, then, will necessarily distinguish one from those who may subscribe to error
  3. In this introductory lesson, I would like to...
    1. Identify several important "Issues Of Distinction" (there are certainly others)
    2. Illustrate how they necessarily distinguish one from others

[For example, one "issue of distinction" is...]

  1. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
    1. SOME QUESTION OR DENY THE EXISTENCE OF GOD...
      1. Such as ATHEISTS
      2. Or AGNOSTICS
    2. OTHERS BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD...
      1. This includes those of all major religions, including:
        1. Buddhists, Hindus
        2. Jews, Moslems
        3. Christians
      2. The reasons for such belief may be varied, including:
        1. Evidences in nature
        2. Fulfilled prophecies in the Scriptures
        3. 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... ]

  2. THE IDENTITY OF GOD
    1. MANY BELIEVE IN A MULTITUDE OF GODS...
      1. Such as BUDDHISTS
      2. And HINDUS
    2. OTHERS BELIEVE THE GOD OF ABRAHAM IS THE ONE TRUE GOD...
      1. On this side of the "issue" are:
        1. Jews and Moslems
        2. Christians
      2. The reason why people believe in the God of Abraham may vary:
        1. Jews believe because of Moses and the Prophets
        2. Christians believe because of Moses, the Prophets, and Jesus Christ
        3. 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...]

  3. THE IDENTITY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
    1. MANY BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS SIMPLY A GOOD MAN, PERHAPS A PROPHET, BUT NO MORE..
      1. Many JEWS hold a view of Jesus that He was a good man, but not the Messiah
      2. MOSLEMS believe that He was a prophet, but not the Son of God
    2. OTHERS BELIEVE JESUS TO BE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD...
      1. On this side of the "issue", are all professing Christians
      2. Together with Peter, they freely confess: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." - cf. Mt 16:13-16
      3. Their reasons would include such things as:
        1. Fulfilled Messianic prophecies
        2. 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...]

  4. THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES
    1. MANY DISPUTE THE ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES...
      1. E.g., ROMAN CATHOLICS, GREEK ORTHODOX, etc., who accept in addition to the Bible:
        1. Traditions of the church
        2. Papal or ecclesiastical decrees
      2. E.g., MORMONS, JEHOVAH WITNESSES, SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS, PENTECOSTALS, etc., who believe in the need for:
        1. Latter-day prophets
        2. Modern-day revelations
    2. OTHERS BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES TO BE AN ALL-SUFFICIENT GUIDE...
      1. On this side of the issue would be most mainstream Protestant churches
      2. Reasons are based upon the claim of the Scriptures themselves:
        1. To be sufficient for making the man of God complete - cf. 2Ti 3:16-17
        2. 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...]

  5. THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM
    1. MANY DENY BAPTISM HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION...
      1. This includes many MAINSTREAM PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS
      2. Who teach that baptism is simply a confession of faith and not necessary to salvation
    2. OTHERS BELIEVE THE BIBLE TEACHES BAPTISM TO BE NECESSARY...
      1. Necessary for salvation - Mk 16:16
      2. Necessary for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38
      3. Necessary for becoming children of God through faith - Ga 3:26-27
    3. IF THIS LATTER CONVICTION BE TRUE...
      1. 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
      2. Paul warned about those teaching a perverted gospel - Ga 1:8-9

      [Finally, another issue that differentiates people is...]

  6. THE NATURE OF THE LORD'S CHURCH
    1. SOME DENOMINATIONALIZE THE CHURCH...
      1. I fear this is the case with many CHURCHES OF CHRIST, and especially THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH OF CHRIST
      2. By changing the nature of cooperation among local churches, they create a de facto denomination
    2. OTHERS BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES TO REVEAL A LIMITED FORM OF CHURCH COOPERATION...
      1. Local churches may cooperate, but in ways that:
        1. Follow the New Testament pattern for church cooperation
        2. Allow local churches to maintain their local autonomy and independence
      2. E.g., congregations may support preachers, missionaries, needy Christians or churches
      3. But the New Testament pattern reveals this was done directly, with no intermediate or overseeing church
CONCLUSION
  1. Love for one's fellow man...
    1. Makes one want to accept everyone as they are
    2. And to let nothing come between us
  2. But love for God and truth must be stronger...
    1. It must take precedent over love for our fellow man
    2. It must prompt one to let whatever is truly an "issue of distinction" differentiate one from those who believe otherwise
  3. Of course, it is very important...
    1. That we do not artificially put up barriers
    2. To diligently study matters to determine whether they merit such importance as to differentiate ourselves from others
    3. To present our conviction on such matters in the proper spirit:
      1. Speaking the truth in love - Ep 4:15
      2. 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...