1. Will the majority of people be ultimately saved? (Matthew 7:13-14)
  2. Therefore, should the majority of people be trusted as our guide to heaven?

God's Standard?

  1. What was the solution during Jeremiah's time when people were following their own way? (Jeremiah 6:16)
  2. By what standard will we be judged in the last day? (John 12:48)
  3. Therefore, what standard should we use today (John 6:68; I Peter 4:11)

The Bible is God's Word and Standard for Today

  1. How does God speak to us today? (Hebrews 1:1-2)
  2. How much of the truth was to be revealed to Jesus' apostles and prophets? (John 14:26; 16:13)
  3. How much truth was actually revealed? (I Corinthians 2:16; II Peter 1:2-3; Jude 1:3)
  4. Today, how can we access their knowledge? (Ephesians 3:3-5; II Timothy 3:16-17)
  5. What is our standard today and how do we use it? (II Timothy 2:15; James 1:22-25)
  6. What penalty is associated with wandering away from the standard? (Matthew 7:21-27; Galatians 1:6-9)

God's Standard for the Church and Our Lives

Bible Study

Answers from the Pages of God's Word about:

Exploring the Reasons and Remedies for Religious Division

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Introductory Reflection

  1. What does the word "Christian" mean?
  2. Do you consider yourself a Christian?
  3. What do you believe should be the standard for a Christian's life and the activities of a local church?
  4. Why do you think so many Christians, local churches, and denominations have different morals and beliefs?

Sources of Division and Departure from God's Standard

  1. Does God approve of religious division? (I Corinthians 1:10-13; John 17:20-23)
  2. How did some determine right and wrong during the time of the Old Testament Judges? (Judges 17:6)
  3. What standard did some people use according to the prophet Isaiah? (Isaiah 65:2)
  4. According to Jesus, what faulty basis did the Pharisees use for transgressing God’s command? (Matthew 15:1-3)

Man's Conscience as His Guide?

  1. Are man's conscience and thoughts a suitable standard? (Jeremiah 10:23; Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25)
  2. For example, how did the apostle Paul treat Christians before his conversion? (Acts 26:9-11)
  3. And, did Paul’s past sins violate his conscience at the time of commission? (Acts 23:1)
  4. Why did Paul’s conscience not warn him while he committed horrendous sins? (I Timothy 1:13-16)
  5. Therefore, should any man's conscience, even someone else's sincere conscience be our guide?

Church Traditions as our Pattern?

  1. Do most churches have traditions?
  2. Is it wrong to have traditions?
  3. When does it become wrong for churches to have traditions? (Matthew 15:1-9)
  4. Should church traditions be our supreme standard?

The Opinions of Parents?

  1. Whose teaching was the source of Paul's ignorant, but sinful persecution of the church? (Galatians 1:13-14)
  2. Whose teachings should come first - our parents' or Jesus'? (Luke 14:26-33) Why? (I Peter 1:18-19)
  3. Should our parents’ opinion be our ultimate criterion?

Follow the Religious Majority?

  1. Out of the entire world, how many people were saved from the flood during Noah's day? (I Peter 3:20)