There are many different doctrinal interpretations of the Bible; however, some aspects of doctrinal interpretation are more important rather than other aspects of doctrinal interpretations.
Important doctrinal interpretations, such as the Trinity, the deity of Christ, and that salvation is only by placing faith in Jesus alone needs to be understood; however, other interpretations, such as the time of the rapture, the reality of the rapture, and eschatology are not going to affect one’s salvation.
Doctrinal Interpretation Vs. False Teaching
There are many erroneous beliefs in the world today that are completely doctrinally incorrect, which individuals need to reject such as the doctrinal beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Church of The Latter-Day Saints (LDS), the Prosperity Gospel (Joel Osteen), and other like-minded belief systems.
If an individual believes in the doctrinal interpretations of Scripture-based on these false cults, then it does affect one’s salvation. It affects your salvation because Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Church of The Latter-Day Saints (LDS), and the Prosperity Gospel all have erroneous doctrinal interpretations of the Bible, Jesus, the Trinity, and salvation.
In each of these false belief systems, they do not see Jesus as being God nor do they believe placing faith in Jesus is the way to salvation. It is important for individuals to have the correct doctrinal interpretations of these aspects of Christianity in order to be saved due to the aspect that if a person has the wrong doctrinal interpretation of salvation, they would not be saved.
As an example, if a person believed the Mormon way to salvation was correct, they would have the wrong interpretation of salvation. According to Mormons (LDS), works are associated with salvation and that perfect obedience is required for salvation. As stated by CARM founder and writer, Matt Slick, “Mormonism teaches that the Mormon must keep all the commandments all the time to be saved.”
In other words, the Mormon has to be perfect in order to obtain salvation. This doctrinal interpretation of salvation is radically inconsistent with the truth of the Bible. The Bible tells us that salvation is by faith in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
You do not have to work toward salvation through good deeds or by being perfect. Instead of striving after perfection, the Bible teaches us that salvation is by believing that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Thus, doctrinal interpretations, such as the Trinity, Jesus’ divinity, and salvation are crucially important and can impact one’s salvation simply due to the fact that the person may have the wrong view of salvation.
Doctrinal Interpretations: Eschatology
Eschatology is an aspect of Christian doctrine that does not affect an individual’s salvation. There are many facets of eschatology, such as the timing of the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennial Reign of Christ, and the New Heaven and New Earth. Each of these aspects of eschatology does not affect a person’s salvation.
A person can be saved and have a different view of eschatology than another Christian. Within Bible colleges, universities, and seminaries, there can be majorly different doctrines concerning eschatology; however, these doctrines do not affect a person’s salvation. Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology are the two major camps of doctrinal interpretation of eschatology.
There has been much debate and friction between believers due to the intense arguments between dispensationalism and covenant theology. Dispensationalism interprets biblical text literally in which dispensationalists believe the events of eschatology will be literal events.
Eschatological events such as the Rapture, the Millennium, and the New Heaven and New Earth are all seen as literal events. Covenant Theology, also known as Reformed Theology, interprets eschatological texts differently. Rather than seeing the text literally, Covenant Theology teaches eschatological events are allegorical.
There are different views between dispensationalism and Covenant Theology regarding doctrinal interpretation of eschatology; however, these differences do not affect an individual’s salvation. An individual can be a Christian while at the same time being a dispensationalist and in the same way, an individual can still be a Christian if they are a Covenant theologian.
Eschatology is important; however, it does not affect a person’s salvation. Within Covenant Theology, there are many interpretations such as preterism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism. Each of these interpretations is different from the other one yet believing one over the other will not affect your salvation.
Preterism teaches that everything contained in the Book of Revelation was already fulfilled at the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. Amillennialism teaches that there is not a literal 1,000-year reign of Christ and Postmillennialism teaches the Second Coming of Christ will occur after the Millennial.
Premillennialism is normally only held by classic dispensationalists who believe that Jesus’ Second Coming will occur before the 1,000-year reign of Christ. Christians can hold to a wide variety of these different interpretations of eschatology while at the same time remaining true to the Lord.
Doctrinal interpretation of these matters does not affect salvation because all that is required for salvation is placing faith in Jesus (John 14:6). There is much division among the body of believers due to the different beliefs of eschatology; however, these different beliefs will not cause a person to lose their salvation.
There is nothing we can do to earn salvation and there is nothing we can do to lose salvation. Many famous Christians throughout time have been in different camps regarding doctrinal interpretation of eschatology; however, it did not affect their salvation.
R. C. Sproul believed in preterism, John Piper believed in amillennialism, and John Walvoord believed in dispensationalism; however, it did not and does not affect their standing before Christ. There can be frictions and problems that arise between believers; however, it should be our goal as Christians to keep peace between one another.
We should not actively seek out an argument or a dispute among other Christians. Doctrinal interpretations, such as eschatology will not affect our salvation status. The criminal who hung beside Jesus on the cross did not have any understanding of doctrinal interpretation and he was still saved because He placed faith in Christ (Luke 22:39-43).
Why Does This Matter?
Therefore, as believers, we can have different doctrinal interpretations of Scripture when it comes to eschatology because it does not affect our salvation. However, it is vitally important for us to have doctrinally correct views of the Trinity, Jesus’ deity, and salvation in order to have the correct view of how to be saved.
A person cannot believe there are multiple ways to salvation as part of their doctrinal interpretation because the only way to be saved is through Christ. Thus, doctrinal interpretation does affect salvation if the doctrinal interpretation has a faulty view of the Trinity, Jesus’ deity or the importance of placing faith in Jesus for salvation.
Doctrinal aspects, such as eschatology, will not affect salvation because one’s belief in eschatology will not cause an entire breakdown of your salvation. Important aspects need to be understood and interpreted correctly.
This is not to say that eschatology is not important, rather, it just means that one’s belief in eschatology does not affect their salvation. If a person believes in Jesus for salvation, they are forever and eternally saved. Nothing can take away a person’s salvation, including holding a different doctrinal interpretation of eschatology.
For further reading:
Is it Biblical to Argue Over Scripture?
Why Are We Told to Never Argue with a Fool?
Why We Cannot Ignore False Teaching
How Do We Know That We Have a Secure Salvation?
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