Essentials vs. Non-Essentials?

Essentials: Unity; Non-Essentials: Liberty?

(1 Corinthians 11:1) Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (NKJV) (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. (NKJV)

(1 Timothy 3:15) but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (NKJV)

(Ephesians 4:11) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (NKJV)

(Mark 16:16) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (NKJV)

(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)

(2 Corinthians 1:13) For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end (NKJV) (Ephesians 3:4) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), (NKJV) (Ephesians 5:17) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (NKJV)

King Saul Believed in “Non-Essentials” (1 Samuel 15:3) 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" (NKJV) (1 Samuel 15:9) But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. (NKJV) (1 Samuel 15:11) "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. (NKJV)

King Saul Believed in “Non-Essentials” (1 Samuel 15:13) Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD." (NKJV) (1 Samuel 15:23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." (NKJV)

Lot’s Wife Believed in “Non-Essentials” (Genesis 19:17) So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed." (NKJV) (Genesis 19:26) But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (NKJV)

King Uzziah Believed in “Non-Essentials” (Numbers 3:10) "So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death." (NKJV) (2 Chronicles 26:18-19) And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God." Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar. (NKJV)

David and Uzzah Believed in “Non-Essentials” (Deuteronomy 31:25) that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying: (NKJV) (Exodus 25:14) "You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, that the ark may be carried by them. (NKJV)

David and Uzzah Believed in “Non-Essentials” (1 Chronicles 13:7-10) So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets. And when they came to Chidon's threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. (NKJV) (1 Chronicles 15:13) "For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order." (NKJV)

Principles to Remember (Isaiah 55:8-9) "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (NKJV)

Principles to Remember (2 Chronicles 19:7) "Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes." (NKJV) (Romans 2:11) For there is no partiality with God. (NKJV)

(Matthew 7:21-23) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (NKJV)

Obeying All Doctrine Important (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15) And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (NKJV)

Obedience to Doctrine Necessary to Salvation (2 John 1:9-11) Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (NKJV)

(Hebrews 5:9) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (NKJV)

(Acts 17:30) "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (NKJV) (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12) and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (NKJV)