There is agreement that to be a true Christian, we MUST believe that Jesus is who he claimed to be and that is he is "God with us". The fact of the resurrection is part and parcel with who Jesus is and what he came to do. The differences that I see within some Christian denominations, that is the MOST critical to our salvation, is the argument about the efficacy of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
Some claim that Jesus came to die for us to erase the debt of "original sin" and to "open the gates of Heaven", but that it is up to us to live sinless lives so that we earn his grace or participate in this grace. They say God's grace is "infused" rather than "imputed". They say the grace of God that brings salvation must be merited by cooperating with his grace by our deeds and works of "love" and that, if we sin and die before we confess our sins and do penance for them, we will not go to be with God in heaven - regardless of our faith in Christ. This, to me defies what Scripture says about the gift of eternal life by grace through faith. And this is the primary splitting-off point with which I will NOT, CAN NOT agree to disagree.
I believe our very salvation rests upon our agreement with God that he saves us by his grace through faith in the sacrifice Christ made for us so that we may be made the "righteousness of God in Christ" (II Corinthians 5:21). If we believe we MUST add our righteousness to his righteousness in order to be saved, we are saying that Christ died in vain, that his death on the cross and rising from the dead was not sufficient to redeem us. I earnestly believe this is a critical point of doctrine and I do not see how it can, or should, ever be glossed over for the sake of "peace".
Preach it, sister!!!
Galatians 2:15-16 15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:19-21 19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Galatians 3:1-6 1) O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
Galatians 3:10-14 10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"— 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
I also appreciated the verse, "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:3). I think this is especially pertinent to the discussion we are having here regarding grace and the role of works in our salvation. How foolish to think that what God began in us by his Spirit (by his grace) through faith is somehow perfected by our own efforts (works). It IS foolish! There is NOTHING we can do to earn more of God's love, mercy and grace. We can certainly - and should - live lives that bring him glory, win others to him and demonstrate our love and gratitude for his unspeakable gift, but he loves us just the same. That is so heartwarming and endears him even more to me!