191. The Badly Dressed Guest
All Christians believe that the church must be appropriately clothed, and those who are not will be uninvited to heaven’s wedding. (Matthew 22:11-14) “It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Revelation 19:8) How is that possible? Christians must “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.” (Romans 13:14) And those who “were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)
192. Family Love
All Christians understand that love of family, though it is of utmost importance, must be drastically less than love of God. (Matthew 10:37-38; Luke 14:25-26)
193. Counting the Cost
All Christians believe that a person should “count the cost” (Luke 14:28) and “consider whether he is able” (vs 31) to “renounce all that he has” (vs 33) and be a disciple of Christ.
194. Lost Sheep
All Christians believe that it is important to look for a lost sheep. “I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7) “Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.” (vs 10)
195. Compassionate Father
All Christians believe that God is like a compassionate father who saw his wayward prodigal son returning home and, “while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20) and that God the Father rejoices like this father, “for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.” (vs 24)
196. The Unjust Manager
All Christians believe that the best use of worldly wealth is to serve God first and bring others into His kingdom (Luke 16:1-13) as the parable of the unjust steward highlights, “You can't serve both God and Mammon.” (Matthew 6:24 cf. Luke 16:13)
197. The Old Testament
All Christians believe that the Old Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures, are still relevant for Christians under a new covenant. “But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.” (Luke 16:17 cf. Matthew 5:18)
198. Divorce
All Christians believe that as a general rule, divorce is adultery, with few exceptions. (Matthew 5:32; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18)
199. The Rich Man
All Christians believe that the unnamed rich man’s selfish neglect of a named beggar, Lazarus, was at least part of what sent him to hell (Luke 16:19-31) and that those who demand a miracle before they will believe are missing the point, “If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.” (vs 31)
All Christians believe that the unnamed rich man’s selfish neglect of a named beggar, Lazarus, was at least part of what sent him to hell (Luke 16:19-31) and that those who demand a miracle before they will believe are missing the point, “If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.” (vs 31)
200. Occasions of Stumbling
All Christians believe that God considers the least of all people to be very important and that “Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.” (Mark 9:42 cf. Matthew 18:6; Luke 17:1-2)
