The church is currently facing many serious and divisive issues. Issues such as the authority of women, mechanical instruments and other changes to the New Testament pattern of worship, fellowship with denominations, morality (homosexuality, marriage/divorce/remarriage, abortion, etc.), and many others are causing quite a stir within the church in modern times. While it is certainly important to understand each of these issues in an individual and in-depth way, perhaps it is even more critical to realize where these issues lead as a whole. The Bible is very clearly where such departures from God’s word will lead. Simply put, the various issues, concerns, and disputes that are currently seen in the Lord’s body have one ultimate and unfortunate
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Paul is crystal clear regarding the consequences of apostasy in Galatians 1:6-9. Those in Galatia had turned away from the gospel of Christ (v. 6) and perverted it (v. 7). Paul emphatically stated than anyone, whether man or angel, who preached a different gospel would “be accursed”. This curse is referring to God’s judgment against the unrighteous and their ultimate, eternal punishment in hell (Matthew 25:46). Paul restates this idea again in Galatians 5:4, when he states that those who had perverted the gospel had “fallen from grace”. Seeing that those who succumb to un-Scriptural teaching regarding the “current issues” are turning away from the gospel and perverting it (just as those in Galatia did), they will experience the same consequences: (1) they will be placed under God’s curse and (2) they will fall from God’s grace that brings salvation (Titus 2:11). In light of these serious consequences, it is no wonder that Paul admonished Timothy to “take heed to [himself] and to the doctrine” (1 Timothy …show more content…
As the omnipotent and eternal Creator of the universe, God’s authority is absolute, and His word is the truth (John 17:17). The Bible is God’s inspired word (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), and to reject it is to reject God (1 Thessalonians 4:8). Also, it is not to be undermined. In order to “prove” their point regarding these current issues, individuals will often undermine Biblical authority by taking passages out of context, using faulty hermeneutical principles, and/or blatantly rejecting Biblical teachings that do not fit their theological bias. Once one begins down this path, there is no limit to how far it can be taken. If there is no respect for God’s authority and the authority of His word, then apostasy is both certain and swift. The consequences and “side-effects” of apostasy are serious and grave. In light of how prevalent the current issues are in the church today, it is easy to become discouraged at the future of the Lord’s church. However, we must remember that God has “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3), including the solution the ever-growing problem of current issues. The church today needs to take seriously Paul’s charge to
Paul is crystal clear regarding the consequences of apostasy in Galatians 1:6-9. Those in Galatia had turned away from the gospel of Christ (v. 6) and perverted it (v. 7). Paul emphatically stated than anyone, whether man or angel, who preached a different gospel would “be accursed”. This curse is referring to God’s judgment against the unrighteous and their ultimate, eternal punishment in hell (Matthew 25:46). Paul restates this idea again in Galatians 5:4, when he states that those who had perverted the gospel had “fallen from grace”. Seeing that those who succumb to un-Scriptural teaching regarding the “current issues” are turning away from the gospel and perverting it (just as those in Galatia did), they will experience the same consequences: (1) they will be placed under God’s curse and (2) they will fall from God’s grace that brings salvation (Titus 2:11). In light of these serious consequences, it is no wonder that Paul admonished Timothy to “take heed to [himself] and to the doctrine” (1 Timothy …show more content…
As the omnipotent and eternal Creator of the universe, God’s authority is absolute, and His word is the truth (John 17:17). The Bible is God’s inspired word (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), and to reject it is to reject God (1 Thessalonians 4:8). Also, it is not to be undermined. In order to “prove” their point regarding these current issues, individuals will often undermine Biblical authority by taking passages out of context, using faulty hermeneutical principles, and/or blatantly rejecting Biblical teachings that do not fit their theological bias. Once one begins down this path, there is no limit to how far it can be taken. If there is no respect for God’s authority and the authority of His word, then apostasy is both certain and swift. The consequences and “side-effects” of apostasy are serious and grave. In light of how prevalent the current issues are in the church today, it is easy to become discouraged at the future of the Lord’s church. However, we must remember that God has “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3), including the solution the ever-growing problem of current issues. The church today needs to take seriously Paul’s charge to