Whether it's eternal security or some other basic truth of scripture how come no two Christians will agree with the Bible? I mean there are Christians out there that dont even believe that belief is good enough for salvation when the Bible clearly says "believe in Christ and you will be saved" in multiple spots. I mean its extremely difficult to get the truth out of scripture because everyone will interpret a particular verse differently. Why isn't there just one huge believe all belief that one can pick and say "Okay I believe that. Yay! I am saved now!"? Why all the divisions in the church and among Christians? What is the truth about scripture?
neostarwcc,
1. Hermeneutics is the basic reason.
For example, Eternal Security is held by both parties whether Calvinist or Armenians.
2. However, one believes in Unconditional Eternal Security which is seen as Once Saved Always Saved which is based on God’s complete sovereignty not man’s choice.
3. The opposing side is called Conditional Eternal Security which is man’s free will cooperation relationship with God concerning true agape love which does not coerce.
Hermeneutics makes the difference which concerns interpretation.
4. There are plain statements, context and reconciling the scriptures and paradox passages.
5. Believing was a requirement in every age of stewardship’s and covenants.
Saved by grace through faith believing.
However, in the Old Testament we’re types and shadows of the death, burial, and resurrection.
6. The antediluvians had a conscience but no written law. So they knew murder was wrong when Cain killed Abel because of their conscious and what was contained in the written law (Mosaic) later was a law unto themselves Romans 2:12a.
7. The Mosaic law had to be doers of the law to be justified Romans 2:12b. This is justification of works such as in James 2:17-26 which is a fruit or proof that you have believed. This is different than Justification by grace as in Romans 4:8.
When Jesus came he lived under the Mosaic law and they had to believe in Christ and that he would save them from their sins because he was the reality of what the law and prophets said about him Luke 1:77.
8. Today, we are under the New Covenant of the Cross and resurrection of Christ. Paul’s gospel was based on this 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and he brought it out more clear to the Gentiles in his gentile ministry Ephesians 2:14-15; 3:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
9. So the overall context was believing in each age of what their revelation was of redemption which was different in each age.
10. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:10 to speak the same thing so they would have no divisions among them.
11. The context was about saying they were of Paul, Apollo, of Cephas and of Christ v12. Was Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
12. The point was that the gospel was what was important which was Christ crucified 17-18 not Water Baptism, whether you believe in baptismal regeneration or water baptism for a good conscience 1 Peter 3:8 and Christ had not sent him to water baptize verse 17.
13. Other reasons for schisms as shown in Revelation 2-3 in John’s day.
Paul had his trouble with new converts in his church in his day and the more the apostles died off the more false preachers and teachers etc. would enter in to play.
14. After John died the early church fathers came into existence and this is where different interpretations of the Bible.
15. The Dark Ages and the 1500’s was more legalism and it took the age of evangelism preachers in the 16-17 centuries to wipe out hermeneutical views of their predecessors which started with Luther though Luther wasn’t perfect in all his interpretations. After all he believed the book of James shouldn’t be in the canon of the New Testament because he thought it was works based to attain salvation which he was fighting.
16. We need to do our best to be as apologetic, honest and understanding by rightly diving the word with sound biblical hermeneutics and and being like the Bereans to see whether what a preacher or teacher or whoever claims to have truth of the word, and comparing scriptures, precept upon precept etc.
17. I am sorry I went a little long so if you have any questions let me know.
We are not perfect in our knowledge but we are to be perfect in love. Jerry kelso