“It is a bad symptom of any man’s state of soul when he begins to put the second things of religion in the first place, and the first in the second, or the things ordained by man above the things ordained by God. There is something sadly wrong when it is more important to us whether others are of our denomination and ceremonies rather than whether they repent of sin, believe on Christ and live holy lives.”
~ J.C. Ryle
Daily Readings From All Four Gospels: For Morning and Evening, [Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 1998], February 25th, Morning.
Man, if only we can get this concept and retain it!
Lord deliver us from our pettiness unto Yourself!
The only problem with this quote is that it does not define for us what is primary and what is secondary. Some “evangelicals” think it is secondary whether or not you believe in justification by faith alone as opposed to the Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic view that we are justified by infused righteousness and living holy and obedient lives. The latter is not a secondary issue but a primary one. The Protestant Reformers all said that we are justified by believing in Jesus Christ and not by our good works, our obedience, or even our contrition and repentance. Sanctification and justification must never be confused since they are two distinct graces of the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, issues like infant versus believer’s baptism and whether or not you believe in sacraments or ordinances is a secondary issue. Whether you sprinkle or dunk in baptism is secondary and not worth dividing the church over.
Sincerely in Christ,
Charlie
@ Charlie. I agree that this quote does not identify minor or major for us. The issue of justification is something that needs to clearly be drawn in order to establish correct doctrine and an accurate belief in the true truth. One thing I will day is that the knowledge of justification is an essential for a person who is regenerate. The scriptures are indicativ