In Part One, we presented “The Survey”, and the reason for this is to show that brethren quite naturally disagree on things. (I disagree with myself sometimes.) In my studies, I have come to the opinion, that not all ‘disagreements’ or ‘differences’ demand that we ‘draw our spiritual swords and comince to do battle’ leaving behind a ‘spiritual killing field’.  
   Yes, in the powerful letter of Jude, the langauage there is to “contend” for the faith… which brings to my mind the picture of a soldier engaged in battle. There wer and are still those who are bent on destroying the church by false teaching and dividing the body of Christ.
   In the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Michael Green, who wrote the Commentary on 2nd Peter and Jude points out that these two letters are similar in some ways. There was a danger of false teachers…. dangerous false teachers, that evidently used to be Christians, yet had fallen away and were trying to get others to follow after them. It was time to ‘arm’ for ‘battle’… to contend earnestly for the faith. 
   Read what Peter says, 2 Peter 2…..
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2  Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4  ¶For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
5  if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6  if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7  and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless
8  (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
10  This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. ¶Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
11  yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.
12  But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
13  ¶They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.
14  With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!
15  They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.
16  But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17  ¶These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
18  For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.
19  They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
20  If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
21  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
22  Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
Now let’s compare Peter with Jude……
      Jude says…. “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, ¶To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
2  ¶Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
3  ¶Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
4  For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
5  ¶Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
6  And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
7  In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
8  ¶In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
9  But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
10  Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
11  ¶Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
12  ¶These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
13  They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
14  ¶Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones
15  to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
16  These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
17  ¶But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
18  They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”
19  These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
20  ¶But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
21  keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22  ¶Be merciful to those who doubt;
23  save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

   Brethren, consider the ‘challenge for us all’… to know who to ‘draw the sword (Word of God) against and do ‘spiritual battle’ and those who are trying to grow in Christ, who may differ on some things that are not, (for lack of better terms), ‘core issues’ or ‘essentials’ to Christianity and salvation…  
   Brethren, the push for ‘uniformity’ will not result in ‘unity’. We must grow in our understanding of God’s Grace, and how it is applied in areas of differences. Must we divide over every difference of opinion on scriptures? Surely this is not the case.
   The ‘challenge for us all’, is to like Peter and Jude to know the difference between “… those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours.. (2 Peter 1:1), “… those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (Jude 1)… and… Those who, “… mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19  They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
20  If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
22  Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.” (2 Peter 2:18-22).
   There is a difference in these people, and a difference in how Christians should deal with those who have turned their backs on Jesus, like the “dog” or the “pig” mentioned by Peter, AND, a brother or sister in Christ who differs, or questions some things, and wants answers… These are brethren, who may need help, encouragement and time to grow, (Romans 14), and perhaps some correction by a spiritually mature Christian…As Paul says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6:1)
   More later….    

                     
   2 John 9-11 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, 11 because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.” (N.E.T.)
   Where do you draw the line on someone who is a ‘brother or sister covered by grace and one who has fallen from grace and is lost’? Can Christians differ and still have ‘fellowship” each other? These verses have been used to condemn a multitude of ‘differences’ in spite of the fact that these verses refer to something specific within the context. The “teaching” spoken of by John here, is obviously extremely intolerable. He says in verse 7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! (Then he warns the brethren)  8 “Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.” (N.E.T.)  
   This doctrine, this teaching, is so bad, that he forbids Christians from “receiving” or “greeting” this person. Further, this person is given the infamous title of “antichrist” (against Christ).
   What is the teaching? Specifically, it is that Jesus did not come in the flesh (verse 7). This teaching undermines Christianity all together. This person is lost. Grace will not cover this. What does grace cover? Well, that’s a great question. One which we would do well to re-study, along with an over all study of God’s great grace. I recommend going to Jay Guinn’s web site www.oneinjesus.info, and study his indepth consideration of Grace. It is long, indepth, and well worth the time! For now, I will say this… grace covers  more than I previously thought. The divisions and splintering that has plagued the church… maybe they could have been avoided, by understanding God’s grace better. Maybe future issues, and divisions can be avoided, by developing the abilities to have honest, open, unafraid… BIBLE STUDY.
        
   Hopefully, this survey will encourage you to either use this survey or make up your own and just see what the results are. Taking an annonymous – ‘no names allowed’ survey will show that brethren disagree. Which is ok! It’s how we deal with disagreements that make all the difference.
   This may lead to a special series of lessons in a Bible class for more mature Christians who can feel comfortable with open discussion on various subjects. it may lead to some pulpit lessons on things which need addressed. In my opinion, the class room setting is the best, and most productive. However, this can only be done if all agree to the ‘rules’ of the class, including, all may participate BUT ONLY IN A DECENT AND RESPECTFUL WAY. The object of such a class… to discover the truth no matter where it leads. This may be one of the most exciting classes you’ve been in.It may just bring out questions which have long needed to be dicussed. It will take some preparation, and a teacher ‘full of the Spirit’. The class must feel comfortable to be ‘open’ with their opinions, and understandings, and willing to listen to each other. The teacher must be one who doesn’t get frustrated, or upset, and one who enoys interacting in a good discussion, and can admit when he doesn’t know the answer… or has been wrong…  Maybe it will help brethren understand Romans 14 better, and creat a stronger unity, and fellowship on Christ. Put it ‘all on the table’…. everything is open for discussion, any question is welcome… no embarassment, no recremminations.

   This survey came from Jay’s lessons on grace… try it. Ask for no names, just complete honesty on answers given.

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                                              THE SURVEY

I have here a survey. It’s not a test. I’m not going to grade this. I just want to see how much disagreement we have over some pretty basic things.

Mark the correct interpretation of the quoted passages? You may only mark one answer per question, and you must choose one.

1. (2 Cor 13:12)  Greet one another with a holy kiss.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (greet one another warmly) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

2. (Rom 1:27)  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (sex with a temple prostitute is wrong)
    applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

3. (Mat 5:29)  If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (lust is a deadly sin) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

4. (Mat 5:25-26)  “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (resolve personal dispute through
    compromise, but when settlement fails, financial disputes are appropriate for the
    courts) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

5. (Mat 5:22)  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (any name calling that dehumanizes is wrong) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

6. (Mat 5:10-12)  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (persecution should be avoided but if it happens, at least we’ll go to heaven) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
________________________________

7. (Mat 5:39)  But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (do not seek revenge over a point of honor) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

8. (Lev 27:30)  “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (give generously to good works, especially your church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

9. (Exo 20:9-10)  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (Sunday is the Christian Sabbath) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

10. (Num 18:29)  You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (wear our best to church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

11. (1 Cor 14:34-35)  women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (women should do nothing in church that
shames their husbands) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

12. (1 Cor 11:6)  If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (women should wear fashionable hats to church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

13. (1 Cor 11:7)  A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (long hair on men is okay, but no baseball caps in the building) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

14.  (1 Cor 16:1-3)  Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
a. Says what it means; means what it says.
b. No longer applies today at all.
c. Applies today but only the underlying principle (we should give weekly at church) applies.
d. Other: _________________________
_________________________________

Class, the rules are simple:
* No cheating. You can’t ask your husband or wife. You can’t look on your neighbor’s sheet.
* Don’t write your name on it, if you don’t want someone else to see your answers. But do make some identifying mark if you want it back.
* Don’t get too hung up on filling in the blanks. It’s not a test and there are no bonus points for long answers. Keep it very short.
* If you have a question about one of the questions, come up and ask me. I don’t want you to say something to the whole class that might bias their thinking.
* These aren’t meant to be trick questions. Don’t over-think your answers. It’s not a test.

After the papers are collected… just take a week to corelate all the information and develop a lesson on how grace helps hold the body of Christ, even with our differences.. The point of the survey, is to show that brethren can and do differ… yet are saved by grace.

Hear the words and pleading of Paul, who was in prison when he wrote, “I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, (2) with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, (3) making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3) (N.E.T.) Brethren, let us earnestly pray for unity, and in humility and gentleness (dealing with each other), try hard… to re-build unity, and keep it.