All three of the Johannine letters deal with problems with schismatic groups, and in 1 and 2 John one of the characteristics of these groups is that they are heretical. In 1 John 4:1 we read that “many” false prophets have left the church community for the world. In 2 John 4 we read that “some” of the Christians are walking in the truth, while in 2 John 7 we learn that there are “many deceivers.”
The impression is that people in the church are defecting and going “out into the world,” probably to form their own groups based on their own doctrines: Exactly what we saw the Oneness adherents do in the early part of the 20th century just as some did in an earlier period and what you, for all I know, may be preparing to do or done already.
In 1 John 4 the heretics claim to be inspired by the Holy Spirit when they teach what they do about Jesus. This does not mean that they were under direct Spirit-control at the time of their speaking, but that they were claiming that this was what the Spirit had taught them. John says that one can tell the true Spirit of God by the doctrine he teaches.
The Christian church finds its unity not around this or that doctrine, but around Jesus Christ. The one not committed to the real Jesus Christ does not know either the Father or the Son, according to John.
The ancient error and its modern Oneness offshoots misrepresent God and who Jesus Christ really is. So you have a serious matter here since your claims of truth are non-orthodox and based on a flawed usage of scripture and history.
Now pointing out this very scriptural truth does not mean the person who does so falls into some kind of judgment or condemnation.
So VW's conndemnation of orthodox Christians who adhere to sound doctrine while loving and not condemning but blessing repeatedly people who do not adhere to sound doctrine on a personal level qualifies as misguided. It is not surprising, of course, that the Oneness adherents themselves would assert such a thing is all well and good.
Now, in Romans 2:1–4 Paul lays down the principle that judgment passed on others is in some sense “reflexive”; that is, when we pass judgment on others, we condemn ourselves at the same time. For only God knows the truth about us, and only he is able therefore to pass judgment. We are mere creatures, limited with respect to both the truth about others and the truth about ourselves. We, like all others, are sinners (Rom 3:23); that is the ultimate reason we ought not to pass judgment.
Paul is speaking about not condemning persons... exactly what you guys are doing! Paul is not addressing speaking against unorthdox false doctrines.
Personally, I've condemned no one because God loves everyone. In fact, I've blessed you repeatedly and will continue to as per Romans 12:21 and many other New Testament scriptures instruct to.
What I have done is speak against heresy.
You guys are actually sitting in here making up new heresy as if it were perfectly OK.
Notice that Paul’s words against judging seem to stand in conflict with his harsh words in Galatians 1:9, so the larger picture of Jesus’ teaching and life, characterized by love and compassion, by humility and forgiveness, stands in apparent conflict with another dimension of his life: Jesus’ words and actions could be uncompromisingly harsh toward those who opposed him and his ministry.
Paul spoke of “false brothers” (Gal 2:4) and those who oppose the “truth of the gospel” (Gal 2:5, 14), confuse the believers (Gal 1:7), “pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal 1:7), bewitch the saints (Gal 3:1). This strong language shows how serious the matter was for Paul. What was at stake when Paul said this was nothing less than the Gospel of Christ.
It is clear then that Paul is not calling for the condemnation of his opponents because they are opposed to him, but rather because they are enemies of the gospel. That gospel is of divine origin, not of Paul’s invention (Gal 1:11–12). Therefore, those who pervert it subvert God’s redemptive purpose. Preaching a non-orthdox Jesus Christ is to miss the mark.
On those who thus act and teach, the judgment of God is justly pronounced. Thus there is here no real conflict between Paul’s general call for a nonjudgmental spirit and his strong word of judgment here, just as there is no real conflict between Jesus’ teaching on love for one’s opponents and his words of judgment. In both cases, where the work and truth of God is at stake, those who reject it stand under judgment.
As you sit here making up whatever doctrine about who and what God really is feels right to you and then misusing scripture to support it, you have the nerve to judgmental for caring enough about you and the reader to correct you?
Nothing personal fellas. I KNOW God loves each of us but you must be flat out nuts... lol. May God bless each of us with all truth and wisdom from his orthodox storehouse and help each of us to find His perfect will for our lives. I hold nothing against any of you. Peace.
VW,
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 says that we are supposed to judge those who claim to be brothers but who are not living as they should. This passage doesn't give us the right to judge others on matters of doctrine, but it does say that we "do not fail to judge" those who are living in sin. A bad attitude and uncharitability toward brothers and sisters in Christ is a sinful attitude that should be judged. You have the right heart to pass judgment, as well, since you sincerely want those who stand condemned to walk in the light. Your heart clearly does not want to judge in order to condemn, but to restore.