Faith and Love

Please go to this link and read David Wilkerson's cover letter about faith and love and then proceed to read this month's newsletter entitled An Eclipse of Faith.

One thing I want to mention is that I've learned that Christians belonging to a certain denomination tend to read only the writings of those of their own particular denomination. Man is the one who has created denominations because of differences in certain aspects of their beliefs. However, regardless of your denomination affiliation, if you believe with your heart, soul, and mind that Jesus Christ is God's only Son who was born of a virgin named Mary, who died on a cross to save us from our sins and was resurrected the third day and now lives forevermore and that He is THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN, then you are a Christian.

When we let anything else get in the way of loving one another, we are wrong. There are beliefs that one denomination has that another one thinks is wrong and that is fine, but don't let that get in the way of your growth. There can be some things we could learn regardless of what we may disagree with. Let the Holy Spirit teach and guide you as you read others' writings and keep your Bible close by to double check what the writer is saying. God and His Word is the final authority. I have been in many different churches of different denominations and though I may disagree with certain things, I have learned I cannot disregard the people. Let the Holy Spirit help you to discern their fruit. For God tells us we will know them by their fruit. If a person's character is clearly Godly fruit and that person makes the occasional mistake, then don't let this turn you away from that person. However, if the person has claimed Christianity yet you do not see a change from the old man to the new, then there is cause for doubt about his claim. Let us pray for them.

Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Do not think that your denomination has the only key. There are faults in all of us. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and let Him lead the way.

I would have to say that I've read many books by authors who I've learned wonderful things from, although I could not always agree with everything they've said. Once I said that I chose to study the Bible myself and let God teach me rather than anyone else. Although this is a noble attempt, I have also come to realize that God works through people.

1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Please remember that our earthly membership to a church denomination is NOT what gets us to Heaven. So please do not make a big issue out of this. Love one another.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.