FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
I. There is "Church" or "Congregational" Doctrine abounding in the World. That is the kind of doctrine often proven by such proof as "That is what so-and-so said", or "That is what we have always believed". And then there is the negative side "That just doesn't sound right to me", or "I know there are other views of that". This kind of Doctrine varies from Church to Church, and sometimes from group to group or even individual to individual within a Church. Such doctrine may be absolutely orthodox and correct, or it may be slightly off or even totally heretical. [Religious Groups that deviate far enough from the Word that they become Cults, usually end up adding to Holy Scripture what they call "Tradition" or else producing their own "Translations" and brainwashing their people to avoid confrontation from the true Word of God. II. Then there is "Bible Doctrine" based upon Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation [Shared by all orthodox Christians], it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. This is "Bible Doctrine", that which is proven by Holy Scripture. Unless we know what we believe From examination of the Scriptures, and believe what we know from the Scriptures, we will not have the assurance of Faith necessary to live holy before God. Bible Doctrine is eternal and cannot be changed without bringing a curse upon the one changing it. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9 This kind of doctrine is found by those that "Study to show themselves approved unto God, workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" II Tim. 2:15 III. We can avoid a lot of confusion and conflict by adopting the "Exclusion Principle" that says; Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. I Corinthians 2:12-16 with II Timothy 2:15 already quoted above. IV. The great bulk of the conflict and disagreement among equally qualified Bible students is in the area of Bible Prophecy. The progressive nature of God's Revelation to man may be divided into two categories, 1.That which is past at any given time and2. That which is future at any given time. This brings in another principle, that of PROPHECY - FACT - INTERPRETATION. This means that everything prophesied that has already been fulfilled and interpreted in the Bible itself we can know fully and aught to know by diligently studying, in order to be secure in our faith and to be able to tell others about the hope that is in us. I Peter 3:15. But … those things that are recognized as Future Prophecy require humility and very much less dogmatism. Yet this is where the great bulk of dogmatism shows itself even though history has proven it to be the most difficult area to "rightly divide". This is self evident because, Interpreting a Prophecy before the event occurs is simply to give another prophecy! Only after the prophesied event comes to pass can we say with absolute certainty "Thus Saith The Lord". The Religious leaders of Jesus' day missed their Messiah because He did not come exactly as their "Plan of the ages charts" said He should. This does not mean that we ignore prophecy. God forbid! We should certainly be discerning the times in which we live, looking for that Blessed Hope. But with humility and grace towards those who have a different "Scriptural" understanding of just how all this is going to work out. Are there totally fanciful interpretations out there? Of course. Are there interpretations that disagree with mine, but obviously are based upon a reasonable searching of the Holy Scriptures? Of course. But it is each of our duty to be like the people of Berea who "were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" Acts 17:11. V. There are, on rare occasions some fulfilled doctrines that equally qualified people will disagree on. They are very rare, and honest disagreement must not be made the grounds for separation among the serious Saints of God. More often however, disputes arise from "Ignorance of the Scripture" on one or more sides. That was the problem with the Sadducees in Matthew 22:29 when they challenged Jesus on the Resurrection of the dead and where he replied Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. VI. I want to close with just a few Foundational Principles that we need to know very well. If you are in Christ, then all of these and many more apply to you, and you are blessed beyond measure. If you do not 1. We are Saved by Grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 Pastor Hayden
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