II Peter 1: 10: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"
I have met with so many people in the past few years who feel that if everyone does not agree totally with them, then they are lost and on their way to hell. That is the reason for this message as I hope to show that that way of thinking is just not in accord with the Holy Word of our God.
While I am a firm believer in Ephesians 4:5: "One Lord, one faith, one baptism," I am also a firm believer in I Corinthians 13:12: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
Now while you may know some parts that I do not know and I may know some parts that you do not know, this does not mean that either one of us is lost and on our way to hell.
They make up the parts of the Church of the Living God, which is made up of many parts, even as our bodies are. As all parts of our body does not have the same requirements, (know all the same things), this does not mean that all parts do not belong to that one body and it is the same way with the great Church of the Living God.
I am going to use this great country that we call the United States of America to show what I mean by this and show what I believe the Word of God is speaking about.
None can deny St. John 10: 16: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one fold, and one shepherd."
Notice He said, "Other SHEEP I have which does not belong to the same group as you do, yet, they are MY Sheep. So, if He calls them His Sheep, I cannot say otherwise.
Also I do not believe that the Bible contradicts Itself so then there has to be something that the people are missing who say that. Let us see if we can find what it is.
As I said, I am going to use the United States to show of what I am speaking. This great country has a set of federal laws to which everyone living in this country is subject to and to which is a penalty attached if we disobey. Yet within this great country are fifty States and none of those States have all the same laws as does this country, but each State has a set of laws that come within the bounds of those federal laws.
This country has some laws to which every State is bound to and if any State tries to disallow that law, they deal with them. One of these is the right of everyone to receive an education and if any State tries to deny that right to anyone, the Federal Government will deal with them.
Each State has several laws the state is free to use as it feels best for their people. An example of one is the speed law. The U. S. Government says that each State may determine the speed law for their State. This law is not the same in all States. The State of Wyoming gives us the right, by our law to drive 75 miles per hour on the Interstate Highway. In the State just north of us, Montana, the law is that you may drive any speed you like if you drive safely. Those people can drive 100 miles per hour if they want to do so and the Federal Government will not bother them since they are in the State of Montana but if those same people try that in the State of Wyoming that same Federal Government assumes authority.
While both States are a part of this United States, they do not have the same speed law, but the U. S. Government recognizes both laws and will enforce the law of either State. The Federal Government will not enforce the laws of Wyoming on the people who live in Montana unless those people come to the State of Wyoming.
Our God, just as the United States, has some laws (His Word) which He requires that every person obey or pay the price for not doing so. God has other Words that He does not require of all people at this time.
Again, I do realize the Scripture quoted above about other Sheep and do know that He said He must bring them into one fold that they can have one Shepherd. I do believe that this will happen in time. I am going to accept those who are not in MY fold as Children of our God and hope that you will do the same until we all come to that one Fold.
I think that the thing that will bring us all to that one fold will be trouble. Have you ever noticed how that when this Country gets in trouble with some foreign Power, the people lay aside their differences? People say, "I am from Wyoming." "I am from Colorado" etc . . . . All come together as one body to meet that challenge? I have noticed this several times, and when this Church comes to the point where they see the trouble, they too, will put aside their "I am this, or I am that." They will come together as one body of believers. This will be a great day in the history of the Church of the Living God.
I believe that if we live by the Word taught in our Church, God will accept us as His if that teaching is not against those Laws that He said every person must obey.
I would love for you to remember this: We can only believe those things that our God has allowed us to see.
Romans 10: 14: "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
Let me say this. God does not send everyone to do the same thing.
Read I Corinthians 1:17: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
So while Christ may have sent me to pray for the sick, this does not mean that He sent everyone to do that. He has sent some to be . . . Ephesians 4:11: "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"
I trust that you can see that our Lord did not and does not require of us that we all do the same things. He has given to every man according to Matthew 25:15 "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." See. He gave to each according to his several abilities, not to each the same things.
Sometimes we become so sure that we are right till we cut off the One Thing that is right and that is Christ. Remember this: those religious leaders in Jesus' time who were supposed to be the real Children of God were so sure they were right. And yet, they believed so strongly our Lord Jesus was wrong, that they delivered Him up to death. But He was right.
I could give many examples from the Word of our God showing this to be the case but you can read them in the Word of God. Look at the days of Moses, Jeremiah and other Biblical characters.
Let us not be heady and high-minded, but fear knowing Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
Let us never discount any Brothers or Sisters who is trying to serve our God, but try to encourage them.
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