Different doctrine but true Christians..is it possible?

How is that some Christians who pray and study the Bible diligently have opposing views when it come to certain doctrines. Most of the time, they can also provide scripture to prove the reason they believe something. It really boggles my mind cause i have met so many sincere Christians with opposing views but I know there is one truth. Also, is it o.k to be wrong about something you believe in the Bible as long as you are not teaching it (false teachers). What do you think?

We can also see this to be true for many other reasons, a persons family background and what they were brought up to believe often times is a factor of how they see truth. We have so many oppositions with sincerity because many people read the Word with denominational blinders on and so don't see what someone else may see. I believe its dangerous to try and put God in a neat theological box but prefer to speak and discuss things with people with an open mind because there is a great chance I don't know it all :). We see also with the Pharisees that one of their traits is Majoring in Minors we need to avoid this and look at the big Picture which is Jesus Christ. We see that Christ Jesus never asked the disples What is your thought on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or what are your thoughts on the Holy Trinity BUT Who do you say I am? This is the key as Approved already pointed out Christ Jesus is the Truth. I believe we must be diligent studiers and Followers of Christ and through His cleansing blood be Holy as He is Holy. When the end comes notice the rebuke of Christ of those rejected is I don't know you.

Do you know Christ? and more importantly Does Christ know you?

Greg, I listened to the video you posted but I hear nothing there that refers to the subject you indicated. This video is worthwhile to listen to, though. I especially was challenged what he said at the 14:00 minute to 16:30. Yohannan shares some profound concepts. He deals with nothingness vs largeness. Listen and be challenged.

Very good question. kwamenat, as you already know, the vast majority of believers that visit this site believe that the doctrine of eternal punishment is clearly taught in Scripture and from what I have seen you do not believe that doctrine to be true.

We all know that there are certain essential beliefs that delineate between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of cults such as JWs, Mormons, etc. Some of these essentials are the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, His substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

My question to believers who believe in eternal punishment is, is that doctrine also one of those essentials, or can we accept someone as a brother who flat out denies it after having it clearly explained from Scripture?

I have always understood that belief in an eternal hell is essential to true Christianity. But it seems that not everyone here agrees with that sentiment. I would sincerely like to know why some of us believe that eternal punishment is not an essential of the Faith once delivered to the saints.

My question to believers who believe in eternal punishment is, is that doctrine also one of those essentials, or can we accept someone as a brother who flat out denies it after having it clearly explained from Scripture?

Brother Oracio, I don't know why you are bringing this up again. But since you ask, you may have to go back and read the thread. If you will honestly admit, scripture has been shown to prove or disprove this doctrine. Just like how you think is clear to you so it is for me. Not sure about you but i am constantly in the Word (not to boast) and if this doctrine was obvious as you claim i will not have posted the question about hell fire. But then again i expect you to say it is clear because that is where you stand. Please, read my original question in this thread and lets stick to that.

I appreciate the other feedbacks and the link to Brother K.P Sermons (Ive actually been listening to his sermons for a while now).

And this is why there are difference of Doctrine :) We all read things through lenses we have either been taught or grew up with. What we find the problem with these lenses is close mindedness and division. I can read a scripture and see one thing and you can read the same scripture and see it differently. This is why Jesus says Blessed are the Poor in Spirit (Humble, Teachable!) When we become unteachable we come to very dangerous ground. When I talk with someone about a doctrine or what I believe my main goal is to see the point of the other person and learn something from it. I may not agree but hey I learned something new and have better understanding of where the person is coming from.

Totally agree with you brother. I really enjoy this forum cause it challenges me to dig more into the Word. We may not agree but we learn something new like you said.

GOOD QUESTION! One day I was very perplexed about that very question. I was praying in a big "wasteland" kind of area behind our house. I was walking through the area. It was a dry time of the year. I was sincerely asking God: "why is it that I can go to SO MANY different churches from very differing theological backgrounds who each believe that their theological teaching is the most crystal clear and purest form of Christian doctrine possible, and still in each of those churches I find lives that have been completely transformed by the power of the gospel?" I was pouring out my heart to Him in sincere desperation to know the truth ... pointing out the fact that almost all of the different "theological branches" have people who consider others with differing views totally lost and also each of the different groups has its share of hypocrites.

As I was walking along, crying out to God, I came to a place where some rather clear water was flowing in an area that should have been dry. It was as though there were an underground fountain or stream.

At that moment, the Lord spoke to my heart letting me know that in each of those different groups there are people who have found THE SOURCE ... THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE ... even though it was delivered to them in different types of packages.

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

When it is all said and done ... we either did evil or good while we were on earth, and God who knows the thoughts and intents of ALL hearts will judge accordingly.

We either wholeheartedly obey God or we don't. There is only One who knows the heart.

"Since Satan comes as a serpent in the persons of false teachers, and by them labours to put a cheat on us and cozen us with error for truth; to defend us against this design, it is necessary that we be girt with truth in our understanding—that we have an estab­lished judgment in the truths of Christ..."

Why do we need an established judgment? One reason is because there are...

"those who labour to unsettle the judgements of others—to ungird this belt[of truth] about the Christian loins. They come with the devil’s question in their mouths, ‘Yea, hath God said?’ are you sure this is a truth? do not your ministers deceive you? labouring slyly to breed suspicions and jeal­ousies in the hearts of Christians towards the truths they have received..."

"Question. But some may say, How is it possible that ordinary professors should attain to this estab­lished judgement in the truth, when we see many of great parts and eminency much unsettled in their judgments?

Answer First. We must distinguish between per­sons. Of persons, there are many eminent for parts, whose parts want piety to establish them, and no wonder to see wanton wits unfixed in the truths of God. None sooner topple over into error than such as have not an honest heart to a nimble head. The richest soil without culture is most tainted with such weeds. They have been men of unsanctified parts that have been the leaders in the way of error, though the more simple and weak that are led by them. They are knowing men, which first disgorge and vomit error from their from their corrupt hearts, and ignorant ones that lick it up. And therefore despair not of an established judgement, so long as thou desirest to have an honest upright heart, and conscientiously usest the means. The promise is on thy side: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,’ and ‘a good understanding have they that do his command­ments,’ Ps. 111:10.

Answer Second. We must distinguish between truths. Some are fundamental, others are superstruc­tory. Now, though many eminent for piety as well as parts, are in the dark concerning some of the super­structory and more circumstantial—because myster­iously laid down in the word—yet there is a sweet harmony among the godly in fundamentals; and in those, poor souls, thou mayest come by a faithful use of means to be established. As for our bodies, God hath so provided, that things necessary to preserve their life are more common, and to be had at a cheap­er rate, than things for delicacy and state. So also for our souls. If bread were as hard to come by as sweetmeats, or if water were as scarce as wine, the greatest part of men must needs famish. So if truths necessary to salvation were as hard to be understood and cleared from the Scriptures as some others, many poor weak-parted Christians would certainly perish without a miracle to help them. But the saving truths of the gospel lie plain, and run clear to all, but those who roil[5] the stream with their own corrupt minds."

-excerpted from The Christian in Complete Armor by W. Gurnall