Many of us have attempted to separate our understanding of the Word of God into two categories. In the first category are the very most important teachings such as Salvation, the Scriptures, and Evangelism. The second category includes everything the Bible clearly teaches that we did not put into the first category. This enables us to say that the first category represents “salvation issues” while the second category does not.
This writer has been reflecting on this dichotomy over the last several months and has concluded that it is really a false human invention. If God uses the word “all” in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, who are we to say that one thing in the Word of God is more important than another thing? Who are we to say that some things are “salvation issues” and some are not? It is all equally God’s truth. It is a form of apostasy to categorize it into various levels of importance.
Some people add a third category – namely application of Biblical principles. Those who do this typically make obedience to these things optional. In the opinion of this writer, obedience to the application of Scripture cannot be optional. We may not all agree on how to apply a specific Scriptural principle but once an application is agreed upon in the local setting, it must be required. A truth that is not practiced is not received truth. We would say that the evangelicals who speak truth but do not practice it, do not really believe that truth.
It seems to this writer that those who make these artificial categories are paving the way for disobedience to God’s principles. The actual practice of a principle is the certification of belief. No works (fruit) no faith.
Written by: Paul Emerson