No Denominations In Heaven!

Recently I was pondering on passages such as John 17 and Ephesians 4 in which the Scriptures state that part of God's ultimate intent for the church is that all those who are saved be in perfect unity. I believe one day we will see this fulfilled here on the earth. What it will take to bring such a thing about, God only knows. But one thing I believe God has shown me is this: There are no denominations in heaven!

And if we are seriously praying "thy kingdom come, thy will be done," then we can expect that God's will shall be fulfilled in regard to the church here on earth, and that anything that resists God's will shall surely fade away.

So, if there are no denominations in heaven, then why should there be any here on earth?

Just some thoughts...

So, if there are no denominations in heaven, then why should there be any here on earth?

There shouldn’t be, but there shouldn’t be a whole lot of other things also.

I won’t start a list.

good quote on the persecution thing.

There are essentials and then non essentials and some even argue about those. There are also Churches that need reform. Paul would say let every man be convinced in his own mind concerning non essentials. Like a weak brother over food sacrificed to idols, or a woman wearing a head covering though it mattered just not imperatively. He would also say for everyone to be pressing on counting all things loss, but then even with that he said let the mature have this mind and if anyone thinks otherwise God will show him, and so wouldn't keep driving them to contention. It is hard "sigh", and I think it will just really have to be the Lord who does the building up, for I don't think its going to be by genius, WE NEED AN AWAKENING!

I would though however Corey be careful about that "Catholic" comment.

davidt,
Corey mentioned the Catholics because Wurmbrand does mention them in his books.

He mentions being in prison with them.

They were there.

God bless.

that part of God's ultimate intent for the church is that all those who are saved be in perfect unity.

I think it's his intention for us today.

[color=000099]
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all [b]with one accord[/b] in one place.

Jas 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
...
Jas 4:7 [b]Submit yourselves therefore to God[/b]. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[/color]

If two people are completely submitted to God's Spirit what disagreement (of any importance) can exist between them?

Where disunity exists, one or both parties are out of synch with God.

PassingThru

And you ought to careful if you think there aren't true brethren that were, and perhaps even now are, members of the Roman Catholic Church...

I agree. I know trustworthy Catholics and untrustworthy Protestants - Which one is bearing the fruits?

While a lot of Catholics are deceived into worshipping Mary, a lot of Protestants deliberately choose to worship Mammon.

Out of the two, I prefer the chances of the Catholic before the Judgement Seat of Christ.

PassingThru

Actually, 'trustworthy Catholics' and 'untrustworthy Protestants' are both lost.

They will both perish for all eternity.

Nothing in scripture tells us to worship Mary. It is a blasphemy against our God and Creator.

And there is in scripture against the worship of mammon and any false god.

You can't serve God and mammon.

Concerning 'chances'.

The only chance any of us have to our credit, if you want to put it that way, is the blood of the Lamb.

God bless.

Enid

Nothing in scripture tells us to worship Mary. It is a blasphemy against our God and Creator.

And there is in scripture against the worship of mammon and any false god.

The point I wanted to make was we often overlook the deliberate idolatry amongst Protestants when criticizing the well meaning idolatry of Catholics.

The only chance any of us have to our credit, if you want to put it that way, is the blood of the Lamb.

I think it is possible for a Catholic to accept the blood of the Lamb be saved, even if they do erroneously pray to Mary. If it weren't so, our own unconscious sins would disqualify us from from heaven as well, not to mention the more conscious ones.

When we rely on our finances or put our faith in some other human structure in an area of our life, aren't we doing the much the same thing? Sin is sin.

I used the word 'chances' because I was thinking of this verse, even though it isn't really appropriate since I think it is talking about various degrees of punishment in hell :-

[color=000099]Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, [b]It shall be more tolerable[/b] for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.[/color]

Only God knows where the cutoff line is and where each person really stands.

PassingThru

... Wurmbrand witnessed Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox priests who were martyred for refusing to deny Christ even after horrendous physical and mental torture and horrific spiritual abuse.

Evangelicals don't have the corner on Jesus.

I'm not trying to push anything, but I thought I would just post this scripture that came to mind.

1Cr 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and [b]though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.[/b]

Whether Protestants are idolatorus or not, does not mean that Catholics are not lost, because they are.

Anyone who fears God and has any honesty or integrity will know that Catholics are lost.

It is not up to us who goes to heaven, but we need to weigh everthing with scripture to see how it measures up.

Catholic practices violate scripture, therefore, they forefeit an eternity with God.

Concerning Sodom and Gomorrah, God rained hell on them, Gen 19v24.

And they had no Bible, churches etc.

There is a book by Leonard Ravenhill called Sodom had no Bible.

So, if they perished, and they only had Lot, then we have no excuse, none.

Catholics are lost. But with God, all things are possible. They can repent and know God given salvation.

God bless.

Krispy,
Your job here is certainly not done!

As it is there are too few with backbone like yourself.

They are so compromising, man pleasing and spineless...oops, should I say that? Not nice is it?

But then, truth isn't nice.

God bless.

Hello...!

I've always felt that most denominations were created as the result of a certain group of individuals who feel that their own particular doctrinal belief(s) deserved exclusive status enough to seperate them from all other believers (and doctrinal beliefs).

Could you imagine what would happen if all local churches allowed individual believers to hold their own interpretation of beliefs that are not clearly stated by the Word of God? Instead, we have a multitude of churches divided by even the most obscure set of beliefs.

There are some things that are completely clear from the Word of God (included in Hebrews 6:1-3). There are a lot more things that are not so clear.

My wife and I were having a Bible study the other night, and the issue of "remarriage" came up. In the course of our discussion, I told her that I am not certain what to believe. Thus, I cannot take any firm position. Yes, I believe what the Bible says in Matthew 5, Matthew 19 and I Corinthians 7 -- but the ultimate outcome is NOT completely clear. My wife was immediately astonished at my statement. She asked whether or not the Bible contains an answer about EVERYTHING in life? I told her, "[i]Yes AND no[/i]." The problem, I told her, lay in the fact that our understanding, knowledge and maturity often changes our perspective about a particular doctrine. After about 2 hours of discussion, searching and reading the same passages over and over again, my wife changed her "position" on the issue. She said that she read Matthew 19:9 over and over again until it changed her opinion in the matter. However, the first 20 times reading the verse, she held a completely different opinion!

I have friends from many different denominations. While we don't always agree on the "small things" -- we agree on that which is completely clear in the Word. If we all did the same, perhaps denominations would crumble. Who knows, perhaps all Churches would turn into what our prayer is for the Revival Conference?

:-)

They are so compromising, man pleasing and spineless...oops, should I say that? Not nice is it?

But then, truth isn't nice.

I didn't expect my views on some under the RCC banner obtaining salvation to be pleasing to the majority on this forum, but they are currently my genuine views. What's so "compromising, man pleasing and spineless" about that?

PassingThru

You do not understand Catholicism.

I know their doctrine is in grave error and for that reason I haven't had any need to study it in any depth. I'm not endorsing RCC teachings & practices.

The main point I'm trying to get across, is that there is a good possibility that some people under the RCC banner will still found acceptable to the Lord.

No one really know where the heart of each Catholic really stands with the Lord, or how effective the RCC doctrine has been in polluting the heart of each individual.

PassingThru