Sirona,
This sums up what I have come to believe quite well:
We must start with the Law of Love, then add to that those other things (all summed up in that law, but fully expounded on elsewhere) as follows:
Putting faith in God (YHWH), his Son, Jesus Christ, his Son's ransom sacrifice's power to redeem us, and his inspired word the Holy Bible - Hebrews 10:12, 26; 11:6; 11:1-40; John 3:16-21; Romans chapters 4, 5 & 6; Romans 10: 9-17; Acts 4:12; 10:43; Matthew 26:28; Mark 3:28-30; James 4:17; 5:15; 1 John 4:9-14;Luke 13:23,24; 1 Timothy 4:10.
Real faith compels us to works, service to God - James 2:26; Acts 26:20; Hebrews 10: 23-25.
Practicing the fruitages of the Holy Spirit, doing our utmost to avoid sin -Galatians 5:19-25;1 Corinthians 6: 9,10; Matthew 12:31.
Prayer - Matthew 5:44, 6:9, 26:41; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16; Romans 12:21; Phillipians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:7.
If one starts out studying the New Testament with the express intent of examining each statement as to wheter it is a Law/Rule that MUST be obeyed for salvation, versus a principle/suggestion.admonition, etc, versus chronology, prophesy, etc, one finds that the ?core beliefs? are those necessary for each individuals salvation, while most of Scripture is for other purposes, and should be treatted accordingly.
The WTC, starting with Rutherford, became Apostate when they began (as all man-made religions eventually do) on the path towards making their interpretations of principle, suggestion, admonition, chronology, prophesy, etc into LAW, and equating these man made laws and traditions with GOD?s laws. THIS is APOSTACY.
I choose to believe that all Scripture as inspired of God. To me,
belief that the Bible is God?s word is central to my conclusions::
1)- If it is wholly not God?s word, why read it, for other than entertainment and curiousity? You surely won?t gain salvation by it, if you believe so. But what if it IS God?s word? You?ve ignored his guidebook, and have no one to blame but yourself.
2)- If it is not wholly God?s word, even if you believe parts of it are inspired, your choice of what is and is not inspired puts you, and everyone who believes such, in the unenviable position of having to uniquely discern what parts to believe. The logical conclusion of this path leads to infinite possible combinations, so what is the point of the Bible, then? To confuse us? That just doesn?t make sense.
3)- If it IS wholly God?s word, then we are blessed to have it, and believe it, and learn from it. This of course, takes faith.
While it is impossible to prove any of the above viewpoints, each of us must pick one as the foundation of our research, and hence, what we place our faith in. If Jesus? words were true, that we should build on Rock, rather than Sand, then my choice will always be the above number 3. Belief that the entire Bible is the inspired word of God is the Framework within which I do do my research, and always will be.
I see far too many flaws with looking to outside sources to shed light on God?s word.
How far the Jehovah's Witnesses have come from this view! God judges the heart (
Hebrews 4:12
), not whether one thinks the "right thoughts" in doctrinal matters of belief.
In the end, God will judge each of us as individuals (Phillipians 2:12-18), not as part of a ?religion?, ?group?, ?organization?, etc. Far too many hide behind the mask of their religion?s beliefs, letting THEM decide what is right and wrong, what is necessary for salvation, etc. It takes personal study, research, and the ensuing Love, Faith, and other Fruitages, along with the aforementioned Scriptural practices, to gain salvation.
That is why, IMO, Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 7:13,14: ?You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.
That frames my beliefs quite well.
