1. Free to Change
2. Freedom and Responsibility
3. My Kind of People
4. "Come Out And Be Separate"
5. Private Intepretation
6. A "Monkey-Wrench" Scripture
7. The Truth That Frees
8. Literary Devices
9. Fear of God
10. A Love Story
11. The Three Trees In Eden
12. Imputed Righteousness
13. Different Essentials For Different People
14. God's Sons In All Ages
15. Looking To Lust
16. Divorce Her!
17. "While Her Husband Is Alive"
18. "They Won't Let Me Preach!"
19. God's Perplexing Prophets
20. Religous Titles
21. Who Sinned?
22. "I'll Join Your Church"
23. The Church As The Route To Heaven
24. One Hundred Years Old
25. Can Our Churches Unite?
26. Can The Cause Of Sickness Be The Cure?
27. When Life Begins
28. Abortion: Law Or Principle?
29. Human Chattel
30. The Hope of Israel
31. The Great Temptation of Jesus
32. The Rich Man And Lazarus
33. My Hermeneutic
34. Is Immersion Proved By Example?
35. Who Gets The Credit?
36. Hook's Points
37. Heresy
38. I Am A Debtor

Other Books at Freedom's Ring

Peter declared, "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34). The same gospel is for all. We will all be judged by the words which Jesus spoke (John 12:48). Using these and many other references, we build a case for uniformity of responsibility before God.

Because we want to be the judge of who is acceptable to God and who is not and we do not seem to know how to handle any variability of accountability, we have been inclined to reinforce the case for uniformity. By taking many factors into consideration, however, God has always dealt with the individuality of people. He has required different essentials from different people.

In introducing this lesson about essentials, let me ask and answer a few questions. Will any one be in heaven who did not believe in God? Yes. Is faith in Jesus absolutely required for one to be saved? No. Is baptism necessary in order for one to inherit eternal life? No. Will only those in the church be eternally redeemed? No. Will the gates of heaven be opened only to those who obeyed the gospel? No.

If these questions with my answers have provoked any interest in you, let me elaborate on some different classifications which God respects.

1. When the flood covered the earth, Noah and seven others of his family were the only ones saved. Right? They were the only ones saved physically. Countless others were saved spiritually. I assume that you agree that those who die in infancy are saved. Although they were not righteous by faith and obedient like Noah, neither were they wicked with continuously evil imaginations like the others. God did not require of infants what he required of adults.

That which has been essential for adults has never been essential for children.

2. Just as infants are mentally incompetent, so others never develop mentally even though they may live many years and grow to physical maturity. Dealing with them as persons who are incapable of proper response to him, God requires nothing of them.

3. Among those who develop mental competency, there is a wide difference in the degree of their intelligence and ability. Jesus recognized that fact in his parable of the talents where servants were given one, two, or five talents of silver to use according to their ability. He did not expect or demand equal response from the servants. In the parable of the soils, those who responded brought forth fruit in percentages of thirty, sixty, and a hundred. The Lord was pleased when each produced according to ability even though there was no uniformity.

Paul lays down a principle which is much broader in its application than to the matter of giving to the poor which he was addressing. To those who were capable of responding, he wrote, "For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not" (2 Cor. 8:12). That which is required of a person never exceeds his or her capability. God does not demand the impossible of anyone. There are different essentials for different people.

4. Just as some persons cannot be held accountable because of their mental deficiency, others are not responsible due to lack of information. If a person has no means of being informed of God's revelation, it becomes impossible for that person to respond to it. Because we have believed that essentials were uniform for all people, it has been concluded generally that the uninformed were without hope; however, that is not true.

It has been essential for those having no written or prophetic revelation to recognize the God of nature so as to glorify him and give thanks to him (Rom. 1:18-21). Paul tells us that "When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them..." (Rom. 2:14f). God has written his basic law upon the heart of every intelligent person for his conscience to deal with. The conscience tells one when he has not given reverence to his Creator and has not dealt morally with his fellowman. The pained conscience and recognition of divine mercy should bring repentance. Paul asks such people, "Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4). It is essential that such an uninformed person repent of his violation of the law written on his heart even though he has no written revelation or inspired prophet to reveal his need to obey either Moses or Christ.

Repentance is a universal requirement, even as Paul told the Athenians: "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent..." (Rom. 17:30). Throughout Bible history, God called upon Gentile individuals, cities, and nations to repent, the most notable instance being Nineveh. Those people were not called upon to keep Mosaic or Christian rituals and were not condemned for lack of obedience to a direct revelation from God. These matters are discussed by Paul in the first two chapters of Romans. Even though he reveals that there have been different essentials for different people, he also declares, "For God shows no partiality" (Rom.2:11). To require of some persons what is impossible for them in their circumstance would not be dealing equally with all. The impartiality with God is not shown in the requiring of the same acts of obedience of everyone but in giving everyone equal opportunity to be saved.

This question rises boldly before us: Why preach the gospel to the pagan if he can be saved without it? If ignorance is bliss, then it is folly to be wise.

No one will be saved by ignorance, but all who are saved will be saved in spite of it!

We will ask a similar question for illustration: In time of an epidemic, why take medicine to the ill for some will survive without it? More will be healed by the use of medicine. Not all of the uninformed will be saved. Many do not cultivate the spirit of faith or seek diligently to show love to God and man in keeping with the law written on the heart. The gospel can induce many more to serve God. The message can stimulate faith and faithfulness by giving assurances based upon the promises of God. The converts will be empowered by the indwelling of the Spirit. They will share and gain strength from the community of believers. They will enjoy the privilege of prayer. The advantages of knowing God's revelation are many.

5. Let us consider a hypothetical case to illustrate how God requires different things from different people. We will think of a family that lives in a community where the message of the gospel has never gone and all outside religious influence has been suppressed. In this situation, as in all circumstances, God deals with each member of that family according to its individuality.

God expects nothing from the two year old girl or her twenty-five year old brother who is mentally incapable. The father in that family scoffs at any idea of a higher power while he lives a profane and immoral life, but God expects that he glorify him and give him thanks (Rom. 1). The wife and mother recognizes the Creator of nature whose name she has never heard and reaches out to him in reverence and thanksgiving while letting love rule her conduct toward all of her fellow creatures. That is all that God will demand of her in her circumstance (Rom. 2).

The circumstance of this family changes, however, when they receive a booklet containing the Gospel of John from an anonymous sender. After reading it through, they declare that it is fiction, thus changing their state from unbelievers to disbelievers. At this point faith becomes essential. They read that booklet through many times and come to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. They desire to know more and to accept his lordship fully, but they are limited in their information. They are accepting all they know, letting it modify the law written on their hearts which guided them previously. God does not demand that which is impossible. Now, they are disciples__ learners, followers.

Since John does not include what we call the Great Commission, this family does not know the need of being baptized. The necessity of the birth of the water and the Spirit is taught in John but, since it is taught in veiled language as a birth, they do not perceive the meaning of it. God does not demand of us beyond what we can understand.

This family knows nothing of any necessary rituals, organized congregational structure, or group activities. Such things are not essential to their justification but may be of value in their lives of sanctification. If it is imperative that they obey every point taught in the scriptures at this time, they are still without hope. And so are all of us! But they are accepted while living according to their limited knowledge even as all of us are who seek to let him be the Lord of our lives. We are justified by faith, not by knowledge. Some knowledge is necessary for us to have faith and to grow spiritually, but no one ever comprehends all factual knowledge. That is not an imperative for any of us. God does not demand the impossible.

This family knows nothing about scriptural instructions for assemblies or the communion. As a family living together they continue to refresh their faith and encourage each other without any sort of religious rituals. By this the purposes of assemblies and communion are accomplished.

As these family members continue as disciples, they receive a copy of the Gospel of Mark from their anonymous benefactor. As they eagerly study it, they learn that God expects them to be baptized. So baptism becomes essential for them. Although they have many questions about the procedure of baptism, they immerse themselves even without knowing the formula "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." They know nothing about being baptized into one body, the reception of the Holy Spirit, or of being in a church. Their remission of sins is not dependent upon such knowledge, but God fulfills his promise of salvation to them.

In time, their unknown friend sends them a copy of the entire New Testament scriptures. As they read, they learn many more directives from God. They find it essential to be free from idols, but they have already turned to believe in the one God. They read about worshipping God which only confirms what they had been doing. The demand for moral living was no shock for they had that law of love written on their hearts already.

As they continue to read the New Testament scriptures, they see that different responses are required of the various members of the family. For instance, the father is exhorted to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, but that did not apply to the young unmarried son. The wife is told to be in subjection to her husband, but the son could not meet that requirement. The directive for elders to feed the flock was not essential for any member of the household. The family could not respond to the exhortation to assemble with a group of fellow-disciples.

Needs in the spiritual life change during development just as they do in physical life. For the life begun at conception, breathing and the eating of food are not necessary, but heartbeat and the blood supply from its mother are vital. Life and development continue over time. At a proper stage, separation from the mother becomes essential, not to initiate life, but to sustain it. Proper function of organs of the body is necessary both before and after birth. A balanced diet is required for continued life, growth, and function. At some point antibiotics or an appendectomy may become vital. The essentials to bring about growth, development, and maturity continue to change.

In like manner, a person does not come into spiritual life fully mature having known and complied with all instructions that will apply to his life. One by one he will learn of the sinful practices in his life and see the necessity of change. One by one he will learn of the obligations laid upon him. As he comprehends the need for baptism, it will become essential. The same is true concerning the importance of a growing list of activities needed for the sanctified life__assembling, prayer, trust, forgiving others, accepting others, teaching others, proper use of resources, patience, singing, and such like. God does not demand all these things of the new-born, but he expects a maturing process by reason of time. Which obligation becomes more important than the others? None give life, but refusal of any newly recognized obligation is a threat to discipleship. All directives do not apply equally because God does not give equal gifts. For instance, all persons cannot sing nor can all teach others.

The illustration of this family could be extended, but its message is clear without being too tedious. Even though our imaginary family is pictured in a unique circumstance, the points illustrated by it are universal in application. God does not require the same response from each person, and he does not demand the impossible.

It is comforting to believe that God knows each of us intimately__our ages, our genders, our circumstances, our mental abilities, our physical abilities, our opportunities, our motives. He understands the things which determine our individual thought patterns. He is fully aware of the mind-altering and personality-changing influence of physical illness, depression, schizophrenia, strokes, child abuse, insufficient diet, torture, etc. Yes, it is comforting to know that God takes all things into consideration in judging our response to him. He will neither demand impossible things of us nor permit us to be tempted beyond that which we are able to withstand. He is eager to save us rather than to destroy us.

In view of all of this, how could we limited and misguided mortals ever be so presumptuous as to judge each other? Even though God has not abdicated his judgment seat, we little creatures have tried to usurp its prerogatives. How tragic it is that we demand conformity of everyone to our own limited understanding of God's requirements while rejecting other sincere disciples for whom Christ died. We who are to be judged___how can we be so arrogant as to judge others?

The One Essential

The questions which we asked in the introduction have deserved the answer that I gave to each. Heaven will be enjoyed by many more people than most of us have been led to believe by our partisan teachers.

In bringing this treatise to an end, there is one more thing which needs to be dealt with. Please bear with my redundancy in dealing with this vital matter. When we speak of essentials, we begin to think of legal requirements and of a supposed code of law given by Christ. The thought of defining and fulfilling all those directives leads us back to the divisive demand for conformity along with its inherent uncertainty and insecurity. Too easily, we revert to our former confidence in salvation through performance of legal works rather than trusting in imputed righteousness appropriated through grace.

We are justified by faith. The barest elementary faith is that of the pagan who sees the God of nature. His faith can be enriched and empowered as he learns more. However, if new evidences are rejected, it becomes disbelief and cannot be accounted for righteousness.

In our response to grace, we want to serve and honor God and to continue in a reconciled relationship with him. His directives in the New Testament scriptures guide us in this. In this manner we live a life of sanctification as long as we do not reject his will. We do good works not in order to be justified, but to grow in sanctification. We do not attain or accomplish righteousness by these works, for our righteousness is imputed__not merited, attained, or accomplished in us. It is Christ's righteousness credited to our account on the basis of our faith. Because of his gift to us, we want to live as closely to him as we can, ever knowing that only his grace makes us acceptable by allowing our shortcomings and transgressions to be born by Christ whose blood continues to cleanse us from all sins.

Faith is the only true essential for salvation. Our justification is a gift based on our faith rather than being a reward for performance of what we may call essentials. We must continue in faith. Many things are essential to the growth and maturing (perfecting, completing) of that faith, but perfect faith is not essential or attainable. Abraham was justified by immature faith before it was made more mature through works of obedience (Rom. 4:1-15; Jas. 2:21f).

Peter prescribed a means of developing our faith by adding the seven virtues (2 Pet. 1:5f). These practical additions will make us effective and fruitful, but he cautions us that we not forget that we were already cleansed from our old sins. Those virtues to be added do not remit sin or merit salvation, but they confirm that we were already called and elected: "Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election..." (v.10).

Yes, we can have perfect, full-grown faith, but it does not come from our ability to obey enough, work enough, or keep enough laws. We will always fall short in our efforts. How then may we have perfect faith? We are urged to lay aside every weight and sin which clings to us so closely. The context indicates that sin to be unbelief. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith..." (Heb. 12:1f).

Jesus perfects our faith! Though we cannot attain to righteousness by conduct, his grace accounts it to us on the basis of our faith. Though we cannot develop perfect faith, his grace credits it to us on the basis of faith also! It is by grace through faith all the way! Praise the Lord!

"Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25). We, like Abraham, trust that he will. But we err when we judge by human concepts of justice defined by law. God is impartial in accepting us through grace. He does not demand as essential that which is impossible for us, and salvation by complete faith, meritorious works, or sufficient law-keeping is impossible.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" (Phil. 4:23). "Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love undying" (Eph. 6:24).