Why Doctrine?
To begin our journey to understand Christianity let us begin
by looking at why doctrine is important. The first step is that we must
understand the simple meaning of the word ‘doctrine’. When people hear the word
doctrine the mental image that often comes to mind is a room of theologians
arguing over the meaning of words and Christian philosophies. This is not the
case at all. It is no accident that the entire Bible is written on a seventh
grade level. God, in His infinite wisdom has made biblical truth something that
the common man can easily understand. Truth is not intended to be a mystery but
something for each person to live by. The word doctrine comes from the Greek
word ‘didache’ {did-akh-ay'} which
means: the act of teaching or instructing.
The word doctrine is used
forty-six times in the New Testament; therefore, we must realize that there is
a great emphasis on our need to understand the teachings of scripture. When
something is important enough to reemphasize, it is often repeated two or three
times in scripture. When Jesus was about to make a point of utmost importance
He would precede the point He was about to make by saying “Truly, truly I say
to you...” This would alert the hearer to pay close attention. Knowing that
doctrine has been emphasized forty-six times should alert us that it is of the
utmost importance. This number is greater when you take into account the other
times teaching the scriptures has been emphasized using different terminology.
The reason why doctrine
is so heavily emphasized is because without understanding the teaching of
scripture, it is not possible to effectively live the Christian life to its
fullest. Doctrine is important because we are being taught how to have the mind
of Christ and how to be victorious in God’s plan for our lives. Let us look at
a few passages that help us understand this principle. Look now at 2 Peter
1:3-4
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
There is a lot of rich
truth to glean from this passage and we will dig into this a bit later, but for
now I want to bring your attention to they key point of knowledge. It is not
knowledge alone, but knowledge of Jesus Christ who has called you. Through this
knowledge we understand the promises and gain the power to escape the
corruption of sin. In Luke 1:77 the Bible states that Jesus will give the
people the knowledge of salvation. Another wonderful verse that explains this
is found in Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 Thus saith
the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the
mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his
riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth
and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which
exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness,
in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith
the LORD.
The true glory given to
man is found in knowing the Lord and understanding His ways. Through knowledge
of the word and understanding of doctrine (the teaching of scriptures) we can
gain the mind of Christ. When we have the mind of Christ, we will have the
discernment to judge what is right and wrong as we are built up in our
relationship with God. Look now at 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
15 But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no
man. 16 For who hath known
the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
No one can instruct God
or have the understanding that can compare to the mind of the Lord; however,
those who have the spiritual foundation found only through the understanding of
the word of God will have the mind of Christ. We are dependent on our God to give
us understanding in all spiritual things. Rather than questioning God’s wisdom,
those who have the mind of Christ will be given understanding in spiritual
matters so that we can rightly judge without falling under judgment. Judgment
is not to be judgmental, but to have the discernment to know what is right. We
will examine what the Bible teaches about judging in detail later.
All of this draws us to
the primary point that we seek the word so that we can walk in fellowship with
our Creator and accomplish His calling in our lives. Through the scriptures we
have the mind of Christ revealed to us so that we can know His will and know
how to live our lives.
Let’s take a moment to
consider the commandments of God and their role in our lives. While God has the
right to require anything of us He chooses, it is also
comforting to know the purpose behind the commandments of God. The word of God
is the revelation of the character and nature of God to mankind. We have
already looked at the passage which states that the Spirit of God reveals to us
the things of God and through this revelation we can know the mind of Christ. The
word of God also states that all scriptures were given to us through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit and that through them we are taught how to live
in God’s perfection and be thoroughly equipped for the work God has called us
to do[1].
Since these things are
so, we should also realize that the scriptures are given to us so that we
conform to Christ and become partakers of His nature and the promises He has
given. The scriptures teach that if we walk in the light of Jesus Christ, we
have forgiveness of sins and that those who walk in darkness by walking in sin
have no such promise[2]. The
promise is not to those who walk contrary to the Spirit because the goodness
belongs to God and we are partakers by abiding in Him. You can’t take it away
from God for it is your abiding relationship that gives you the goodness of the
Lord. Take time out to read John 15. Jesus explains that the promises are given
to those who abide in Him and we only abide in Him by keeping His commandments.
Without that abiding relationship we can do nothing. Anything or anyone who
does not abide in Christ is a withered branch separated from the vine and
useful for nothing but to be cast out and burned[3].
God’s commandments are
intended to conform us to the nature and character of
God so that we have fellowship with our Creator and through Him we find significance,
value, and eternal worth. Everything in God’s divine plan for your life is
designed to conform you to the image of Christ[4]. Part
of that plan is to correct our behavior when we go astray so that we do not
miss the promises. Look at Hebrews 12:5-10
5 And ye have forgotten the
exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,
My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art
rebuked of him: 6 For whom
the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without
chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not
sons. 9 Furthermore we have
had fathers of our flesh which corrected us,
and we gave them reverence: shall we
not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10
For they verily for a few days chastened us
after their own pleasure; but he for our
profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Why does God chastise us?
He does so because He loves us and wants us to conform to His likeness so that
we can become a partaker of His holiness. This is absolutely critical for the
Bible says, “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord”[5]. In
order to walk in fellowship with your God, you must conform to His image by
taking on His nature and His character. Two cannot walk together unless they
agree[6] and
we cannot have a close relationship with our God if we are doing the things
that go against His very nature. You cannot live contrary to God and expect to
walk with God. Consider this warning from 1 Corinthians 10:
21 Ye cannot drink the cup
of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
Jesus also warned that we
cannot serve two masters. We will love one or the other and we will cling to
one while despising the other. No one will admit to despising the Lord;
however, if we despise His word we are in rejection of the Lord. In scripture
God has stated that those who disobey His commandments despise His word[7]. We
love God through His word. The desire of the Lord is for you to inherit all
things, be partakers of His holiness so that you can become partakers of His
promises. The Lord corrects our behavior and like a loving father, He gently instructs,
but He chastens us with increasing severity as we grow more stubborn. Look at
the example God has given us through children. When my children are doing
something wrong, I correct them through instruction. If they hear my
instructions and do it, then they will be happy. If they are determined to do
mischief and become stubborn, the chastisement grows more severe. God deals
with us as a father with His children. He gently corrects us, but His hand
grows heavy as we grow more determined to sin. God is more concerned with your
good than your comfort and correction is a blessing. The passage above teaches
us that the Lord corrects those He loves, but the Bible also teaches that His
chastisement is a blessing[8]. God
corrects with the intent of leading us to His goodness and our focus on teaching
the word to others must be done with the focus of teaching God’s people how to
walk with the Lord. Bible knowledge without application is useless. Beating
others down with scripture has no value. Our focus must be on learning how to
walk with our Lord as we teach others how to walk with Him. Consider the
command of Hebrews 3:13-14
13 But exhort one another
daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the
beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
What value is there in
making people feel ‘positive’ through feel good messages if we are denying them
the greater good of knowing God, walking with God and becoming a partaker of
His own nature? Sin is a deception. It promises to satisfy, but as Proverbs
states, “In the end it bites like a serpent”. To make someone feel good about
something that will destroy them is not love. In fact, it is close to hate.
Just as the Bible says that a father who does not correct his child hates his
son[9], the
teacher or preacher who does not exhort the congregation to keep the word of
God and expose the deceitfulness of sin also hates his congregation. If I am
more concerned with being liked and praised for teaching only what is
agreeable, I am self-centered and not caring for others. If you love others,
you will work to build up their confidence in the Lord and exhort through
biblical instruction so that they will become partakers of Christ.
As a youth I attended
church with a couple that were very friendly and were considered loving by the
church. I also went to school with their daughters. For several years I did not
realize that they were the parents of my classmates. These girls were extremely
immoral, used very foul language, took drugs, and were known for wild partying
and alcohol abuse. The kids did not attend church and their parents exercised
no control over them. One day someone ask them why they never corrected their
children’s behavior and one of them answered, “I am afraid that they will not
like me”. Is this love? Is allowing someone to go down a path that we know will
destroy them love? To benefit yourself at the harm of
another is indeed a form of hatred. Many pastors and teachers fall into this
same trap. They are more concerned with being liked than giving godly counsel
that will save others from going down the wrong path. The word corrects and
without this instruction it is not possible to live a Christ-centered life.
We are built up in Christ
through knowledge and keeping His word so that we are shaped into His likeness.
The Bible calls us the stones that build up the
19 Now therefore ye are no
more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the
Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit.
You are part of the work
of God and the Lord is shaping you to fit tightly in the building of God and be
founded upon Jesus Christ. This is why the Bible warns us to identify those who
cause divisions in the church by not holding to the doctrine of scripture[11]. Any
who refuse to be shaped by the word of God and conform to Christ cannot have
unity in the church God is building. It is God’s desire to bring you into His
work and be a part of the building of God. You cannot be a part of God without
being united with Christ. You cannot be united with Him without conforming to
His character and becoming partakers of His divine nature. As you conform to
the image of Christ, you will grow closer to Him and will walk in fellowship
with Him. Only when you allow God to shape you into His holy image can you have
true unity and be tightly knit together with other believers. We will discuss
unity in greater detail later. Do not let your heart grow hard through the
deceitfulness of sin, but be tenderhearted and submit yourself to the Lord. If
you truly desire to know and love God, the secret of having fellowship with Him
is found in John 14:
23 Jesus answered and said
unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and
my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with
him. 24 He
that loveth me not keepeth
not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which
sent me.
Your love of God is dependent
upon knowing and keeping the word of God. If you want to abide in Christ, abide
in His word. As you learn the word and keep it, your mind will be transformed
and your life will begin to conform to His image. As you conform to the image
of Christ, you will walk in close fellowship with your God and truly taste the
goodness of the Lord. The doctrines of scripture and the commandments of the
Lord are designed to give you understanding so that you can have intimacy with
God.
Doctrine is important because the teaching of scripture is
necessary to establish us on the foundation of our Rock, Jesus Christ. The
Bible explains this beautifully in Proverbs
2:1-6, 9
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So
that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply
thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest
after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for
understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest
for her as for hid treasures; 5
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his
mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
…
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Do you want to understand righteousness, God’s judgment and every good path? The Lord gives wisdom and out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. It all begins with receiving the word. What you treasure is what you will seek. I hope that as we move through these topics you will see the value of the word and the benefits of knowing God. If you get a glimpse of the love of God and experience His goodness, it will change your life and you will also see the value of the wisdom and fellowship with God. This is why doctrine is all about and what it is so important in your life.
Eddie Snipes
Exchanged Life Outreach
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