It's not enough to recognize the Trinitarian God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. You must believe The Gospel of Grace to be a Christian. If a church adds a "but", "maybe", or "and" it ceases to be The Gospel and they are preaching a different gospel.
For the sake of clarity I'm referring to Faith Alone in the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (ICor.15:1-4).
I would like you to read this post and think about these questions and get back to me with what you believe about "sowing discord among brethren" and 'unity among believers'. I will do the same and I BET our results will match within one or two words.
Great question, I'm interested in your thoughts.
I believe "sowing discord among brethren" would be trying to cause believers of The Gospel of Grace to believe it's insufficient. On these forums it's pretty easy to spot.
"unity of believers" is by the indwelling Holy Spirit that makes us members of the Body of Christ. It's also pretty easy to spot on these forums. For example, I can argue at great length with our Reformed Brothers and Sisters about a wide variety of things, but we both hold to The Gospel and are standing on the side of the Cross that is empty because "it is finished". We are not constantly working to be saved, or to keep our salvation.
Are RC's our brethren?
They preach a different Gospel. They seem to be stuck in the Judaic model that existed prior to the Resurrection and they vehemently reject the sufficiency of The Gospel of Grace that Jesus Christ revealed to Paul when He converted him. So I guess the long answer is RC's are not our brethren now, I pray that changes.
If this is not believed, then what else is there to unite us inThe Church the Body of Christ?
The gospel? The name of Jesus?
"For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Cor. 11:4)..."For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves in to the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be acording to their works." (2 Cor. 11:13-15)
A gospel that teaches works as part of salvation is another gospel in this age, and their works of righteousness will be their END, not their saving.
I agree with you, too, on just what "sowing discord among brethren" means. Giving the Gospel of the grace of God, and explaing the dispensation of the Grace of God, is NOT sowing discord, although there are LOTS of people who think it is. To not say the truth, is to let a lie continue, unchallenged by God's Word.
My continuing prayer is that the eyes of those who WANT to see are opened. But I do not believe we are just to pray. We are told to put on the whole armour of God and to STAND. In Spirit and Truth. And that we do, every day.
Thank you so much for your input. I knew we would be in agreement on this. It's just good to see! BTW, you know when you're reading along in Scripture and suddenly a verse, or just a word is just THERE, staring you in the face? That just happened to me with ".ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
As opposed to "NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his MERCY he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by HIS GRACE, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:5-7).