Recently I had a phone conversation with a childhood friend.
As we had not seen each other, nor talked, for quite some time we first exchanged health updates; and since he is wrestling with some very serious and life threatening issues, I asked about his eternal security (future destination and plans).
He laughed and said he planned to go to heaven. So I asked if he’d made his reservation. He said he had. So I asked who he had made them with.
And, this led us to a conversation about church, church doctrine, and hypocrisy within the church. It turned out that my friend had departed the church many years ago over these very issues. Yet his anger was still apparent to this day.
As I thought about the multitude of doctrines that have divided the church (baptism, spiritual gifts, communion, music and on and on) it occurred to me that the author of the many divisions within the church could certainly not be God, since our God is a God of unity (Eph 4:3-6; 1 Cor 1:10; 1 Peter 3:8; Romans 12:4,5 and many more verses in both the old and new testaments)
And since Jesus himself pointed out, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”
It stands to reason that the one who promotes division then is the enemy of God. The author of lies and deceit.
In Galations chapter 5, we see that the flesh (human nature/ Satan) is at war with the Spirit (God’s nature) And the flesh is inclined to division, dissension, factions, and dischord.
All of this to say these divisions are a tactic to distract from God’s plan of salvation. Thus, the Christian today (regardless of denomination) must keep his eyes on Jesus, the author and foundation of our faith. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith - not by works, so that no man might boast.”
And God’s plan for salvation is spelled out clearly in Romaans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. you will be saved.’”
Do not be distracted. Focus on God’s plan for your life... Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.”
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