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Approaches can be corrected once the Word of God is spoken before a heart that wishes to receive it 
What is "heresy"? 
Hi LBS (Royston Ong)
Disagreements not in doctrines, but approaches, therefore no heresy?
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Hi LBS, I can see that you are agreeing with many of us who follow the Evangelical stand. "That’s why I raise the concern that the presence of these disagreements isn’t something that mainstream Christianity should be proud of. This is not the sort of diversity that we should be celebrating. Neither should we have the attitude of "never mind" let’s ignore the differences and love each other. Love each other by all means but not at the expense of truth, I hope." I agree that we should not be proud of this division, and am trying to share why their stand is not founded upon Christ's death, resurrection and ascension. I agree that on this ground, we cannot say never mind, hence I am making so much noise about it, and am afraid I might be making too much noise. I know that some are beginning to get annoyed with me, but I know that I am doing this out of Christ's love for them, that they should not compromise the Word of God. "Focusing on the issue of faith and works as you had: You wrote: "The other side is not entirely wrong regarding the issue of faith with works. It is just their approach towards it" "We believe it is by faith alone? Are you saying that there is a group that also says by faith alone but preach otherwise, overzealously emphasizing works so that the salvation message get distorted? If that is so, then the wrong gospel gets preached, and how can the hearers be saved? Isn’t this approach condemnable, since it leads the preachers to believe they preach the right gospel when they are not. This messing around with people’s eternal destiny is evil, isn’t it? Gal 1:9 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."" Totally agree with you. Right now, those who are talking about "working out our salvation with fear and trembling" is currently arguing with me and a few others. All three delegates arguing for "working out our salvation with fear and trembling" come from Pentacostal/Charismatic background. "Remember there is another group of people who believes that works count, if Christ is not Lord of your life, then you are not saved. I can’t say "Well, brother, but they are not entirely wrong regarding this, you know". They are like unsaved Israel that Paul prayed for and said "have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge" Rom 10:1,2. If we believe in faith alone, these people who says it is faith + works are certainly not preaching the same gospel message as us." Precisely, but I am getting quite tired in expounding to people whom Christ parallels them to "offer pearls to swines". If you notice just about 4-5 postings down, there is this extremely long threading. That is the one where 3 others differ from our opinion. "As you pointed out, the Bible says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling",shouldn’t believers be doing this and teach others likewise? But if we preach this, doesn’t it give people the idea that faith alone doesn’t saves, that faith alone isn’t enough?" Ok, this understanding needs to be viewed by reading Phil 2:12-18 in light with Philippians as its entire letter. This seems to show you that the phrase used here seems like faith alone does not save, but this working out our salvation is only achievable when we start to know that God is at work in us , both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). This evidently means that we can never be able to do it on our own, but with the knowledge that God is already at work in us, hence we can work out our salvation, knowing that we are not doing it by our own human might, but that God is the one who originates it, hence it is still faith in Christ Jesus alone. Got it? Recommended text: Watchman Nee's "A Balanced Christian Life" God bless you abundantly, royston |
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