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NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Subject: wjhat are the qualifications being |
Bible Note: Dear WOS, Regarding your Reformation comments: If churches had trouble straying during the time of the Apostles -- and we certainly have ample Scriptural evidence of that! -- is it any wonder that churches would have this problem after the Apostles were gone? You are correct about division. As one of my professors recently said, "Sound doctrine always divides. It breaks our heart, but sound doctrine always divides." In fact, we are told to EXPECT division. (The Greek word translated heresy actually means division!) See the following Scriptures: "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed." (2 Peter 2:1-2) "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4) "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves." (Acts 20:29-30) "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." (Matthew 24:11) These passages reminded me of several other quotes: "To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men...." --A. W. Tozer "I am not permitted to let my love be so merciful as to tolerate and endure false doctrine. When faith and doctrine are concerned and endangered, neither love nor patience are in order ... when these are concerned, neither toleration nor mercy are in order, but only anger, dispute, and destruction -- to be sure, only with the Word of God as our weapon." --Martin Luther "A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's Truth was attacked and yet would remain silent." --John Calvin "Divisions and separations are most objectionable in religion. They weaken the cause of true Christianity ... But before we blame people for them, we must be careful that we lay the blame where it is deserved. False doctrine and heresy are even worse than schism. If people separate themselves from teaching that is positively false and unscriptural, they ought to be praised rather than reproved. In such cases separation is a virtue and not a sin." --J.C. Ryle You wrote, "So did Luther in demanding reform admit that Christ failed in leading His Church or that the true Church wasn't in existence?" To state such a things would be apostasy. God's work accomplishes exactly what He intends! It is perfect, sufficient, efficacious, and completely as He planned it. The problem here is with the eroneous assumption that the Church of God is an institution. It is not. Please note that the Church (capital C) is a work of God (see Ephesians 1 through 3). It is the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27). Although invisible to our eyes, you are a member of it and I am a member of it, as are many others who participate in and out of the forum. Christ purchased us with His blood, and upon regeneration we become part of His body. We must not confuse this with that which is visible and of this world. Most of us are members of churches. These are the institutions. There are many of them. They have buildings, members (some saved and some not; i.e., wheat and tares), organization, structure, schedules, etc. I'll write again about your other comments. Thank you for being so patient with me! Terribly long winded, aren't I? In Him, Doc |