“Righteousness Through Faith, to Be One in Christ” together Are the Complete Gospel Truth
“To Be One in Jesus Christ” (or “to Be One in Christ”) should be listed as fundamental Christian doctrine together with “Righteousness Through Faith”.
“To Be One in Jesus Christ” exceeds “Righteousness Through Faith” in several aspects as listed in the following:
1. It points out that the will of God for us and the only way for us is:
Believing in LORD Jesus Christ’s name to be reborn; following the example of Jesus Christ; living Christ’s life; being one in Jesus Christ to get the eternal life.
However, “Righteousness Through Faith” does not point out the name of Jesus Christ and the final will of God for us.
2. It contains the point that our lives should be like Jesus Christ’s life. That is, it contains the information that through faith, we should live a holy life, do good and do what is just, and lead others to righteousness. “In Jesus Christ” points out that we do good deeds is because of Christ and we depend on Christ to do what is good and righteous. Thus, it avoids the malpractice of “Righteousness Through Deeds” that might lead to the mistake of “justifying oneself”.
However, “Righteousness Through Faith” does not contain such points as doing good, doing what is just and leading others to righteousness. When people misunderstand and misuse it, they turn the grace from God into “cheap grace”, that is: one does not need to repent completely to be saved; one does not need to deny the worldly things to be a saint. In this way, the church goes to another extreme. And also, large amounts of teachings and truth in the Bible are ignored and people go astray from God’s true will for us.
3. “To Be One in Christ” is the true way to eternal life:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ROMANS 6:22-23)
“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 JOHN 5:10-11)
"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life." (ROMANS 2:7)
"And we are in him who is true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (1 JOHN 5:20)
As to “Righteousness Through Faith”, it must be the true faith -- a faith that one holds on to it firmly and always. The true faith must be hold continually for all the time. It must be able to pass the tests -- even painful trial in the fire. For those who don’t understand this truth properly, they won’t be able to understand these following verses in the Bible:
“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (MATTHEW 7:21-23)
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (HEBREWS 10:26-27)
“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. ” (HEBREWS 6:4-8)
“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.” (2 PETER 2:20)
“It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” (2 PETER 2:21)
Therefore, by adding “To Be One in Christ” to “Righteousness Through Faith” as the fundamental Christian doctrine, it will avoid misunderstanding and going astray from God‘s will. It will make the gospel truth complete.
“Righteousness Through Faith” and “To Be One in Christ” should both be listed as fundamental Christian doctrine. Thus, it will contain the complete information and contents of the Gospel in the Bible. It will complete the gospel truth and it is the true words of the eternal life. This complete truth and message is given by Holy Spirit. All praises, thanks, glories be to God!
