Re: Matthew 7


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Posted by Basta on September 27, 2013 at 16:25:19

In Reply to: Re: Matthew 7 posted by Pastor Don on September 27, 2013 at 06:52:40:

Look a little closer at what I'm saying. You are interpreting Matthew 7:13-14 out of its context by applying it to support a doctrine it says nothing about. You may claim the doctrine of the Trinity is simple, but most would say the mystery of the Trinity is beyond human logic. The word I'd use in place of "narrow" is "orthodox."

In context, Matthew 7:13-14 refers to the "narrow" gate as ACTING on what you believe or hear as the Word of God, not just hearing and believing in an orthodox truth. Many are those who hear and profess our faith, but few are those who put the gospel into action. (Or as GK Chesterton put it, "Christianity has not be tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and not tried.")

You are saying the "narrow" gate is believing orthodox doctrine about the nature of the Godhead. Look at the next passage where Jesus says to watch out for false prophets. How will we recognize these people who teach all the right things or "come in sheep's clothing [when] inwardly they are ferocious wolves"--? It's not their doctrines or words that show us they are false, but their fruits--the results of their actions.

In the next passage, Jesus says not everyone who proclaims him "Lord" will enter the Kingdom. Once again, the "narrow" way is not whether a disciple believes orthodox truth about Jesus' divinity; the true disciple must ACT and DO God's will if he wants to enter the Kingdom.

If believing orthodox doctrine is what it takes to enter the narrow gate, why did Jesus conclude the entire discourse by saying. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine AND PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a wise man who built his house on a rock"--? He didn't say, "Everyone who believes the revealed truth about God is like a wise man who built his house on a rock."

This is an important distinction. Matthew 7:13-14 is a warning to people who believe but do not act according to their faith. It says nothing about people who are unbelievers or otherwise outside the fold. The teaching of Matthew 7 is that we should cast out the plank of hypocrisy from our own eye before taking on the mote of unbelief or false doctrine in another's.




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