Fellowship of the Church
What is the Church of God? There is only one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. The unity of the Communion of saints is based on the agreement "concerning the teaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments." Many church bodies today disagree concerning the Administration of the Sacraments. Things range from open and closed communion to the Real Presence (or even the discription of the Real Presence).
The differences concerning the Lord's Supper and Baptism still pale in comparison to the differences concerning the Gospel. Many Christian Church bodies claim some necessity of works (even if only a decision). Other church bodies deny the judgment or threats of God. These while rightly recognizing Christ died once for all deny the Law or Christ's call to repentance.
Thus, the problem becomes a tension between no works yet not openly living a life of sin. St Paul walks this line by telling us to put off the deeds of darkness and yet all have fallen short of the Glory of God and it is not by works we are saved so that no man may boast.
The thing that divides church bodies today is often talked about as the Sacraments. But honestly it is the fact that we don't proclaim the Gospel in its truth and purity. Thank you.
The differences concerning the Lord's Supper and Baptism still pale in comparison to the differences concerning the Gospel. Many Christian Church bodies claim some necessity of works (even if only a decision). Other church bodies deny the judgment or threats of God. These while rightly recognizing Christ died once for all deny the Law or Christ's call to repentance.
Thus, the problem becomes a tension between no works yet not openly living a life of sin. St Paul walks this line by telling us to put off the deeds of darkness and yet all have fallen short of the Glory of God and it is not by works we are saved so that no man may boast.
The thing that divides church bodies today is often talked about as the Sacraments. But honestly it is the fact that we don't proclaim the Gospel in its truth and purity. Thank you.
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