I have heard a well known TV preacher state he believed a person who did not accept the doctrine of the trinity, could not possible be saved. We all know of many preachers and believers who consider the necessity of speaking in tongues, to be saved or filled with the Holy Ghost. Bible doctrines like grace, works, heaven, hell, and such, are often used as a "test" of an individuals faith in God.
Let me clearly state something for the record: IF DOCTRINAL ERROR IS A FACTOR WHICH WILL PREVENT A PERSON FROM BEING SAVED, THAN NO PERSON CAN BE SAVED! (because all of us are WRONG about some of the things we believe, doctrinally speaking)
When a person realizes they are a sinner in the eyes of God, they have QUALIFIED to become a saint of God. Being LOST, is the essential first step for becoming a new creation in-Christ. ALL humans are "lost," but many humans fail to realize this fact.
The bible states that WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL be saved. Once a person realizes they are lost, they will be very prone to CALL upon God for salvation. Such a person may have NO IDEA concerning the doctrine of the trinity, speaking in tongues, or concepts regarding grace and works, etc.
Nowhere does the bible teach a person needs to take a theology test, before they can be saved from their sins. Many believers are WACKO'S, when it comes to bible doctrine. (I am sure I have been given that label by many) There are many precious and Godly bible doctrines which are used as stumbling blocks, to trip up and crush those who are seeking the Light of God.
Salvation works because it is REAL, not because we fully understand it. The gospel of the burial, resurrection, and life of Christ, is the most powerful words in the universe! The blood shed for our sins cleanses our souls, even if our brains are full of gunk and junk. Our IQ, has NOTHING to do with salvation. The dumbest man on earth who is saved, is much wiser than an educated unsaved man holding degrees from the universities of this world.
When someone tells you it is ESSENTIAL to believe in the "&i9*5@4" doctrine to be saved, tell them they are an "*h$61". When a person is born-again, they are a BABE in-Christ. Babies get things backwards, know very little, and generally make a mess. This is fine, except when the BABY is a person who has been saved for many years. If God force fed us the MEAT of the word, we would all throw it up and die! Like it or not, 99% of professing christians have never been weened from the milk diet they attempt to thrive on. God gave me the Holy Spirit to teach me ALL THINGS, and He gave me ETERNITY to figure ALL THINGS out. Doctrine is important, as is the teaching ministry. (as long as these concepts remain at the level God intended for them to reside at)
Many of the Lord's own disciples failed to understand even simple doctrinal concepts, but the Lord did not cast them away. They were saved because of the CROSS, not because of their doctrinal views. My last point is: MANY OF THE LORD'S CHOSEN FEW, COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HE WOULD DIE ON THE CROSS. In other words, they MISUNDERSTOOD the most important thing in the bible, but were SAVED by the death, burial, and reserrection of Christ ANYWAY.
Please, let's quit fighting and splitting hairs, and simply direct sinners to Christ. JESUS, is the TRUTH, the LIFE, and the WAY. Once a person has accepted Christ, the rest will follow and fall into place...
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