BIBLICAL DOCTRINE (RBET 16TH JAN.2019)

Sadly, too many Christians know very little about the Bible and Christian doctrine.  They often know more about sports than about God’s Word. But as we begin this year 2019, we will cover Christian doctrine from the Bible, not the theories of philosophy, psychology, opinions, or false religions (politic)

God desires to feed us to His Word, and we become spiritually malnourished when we do not graze in the pastures of His Word.  We become imbalanced, anemic, confused, easily led astray, prone to doubt and backsliding. False doctrine divides; truth unites.

As soulwinners, we must be good students (Disciples) I Cor. 8:2.  This is a school from which nobody ever finally graduates, for there is always so much more to learn. But some Christians have not learned enough to be teachers, though they have been saved more than long enough. (Heb. 5:12-14).  

1. Doctrine both mean teaching, instruction, education, and explanation.  Doctrine means “instruction and understanding”.  Prov 4:1-4

2. A doctrine is a statement about a specific truth.  It is a statement, not a command or a question, Jesus taught these specific truth in His doctrine

3. Follow the Apostles’ doctrine One of the main characteristics of early New Testament Christians was that they followed “the Apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:41-42).

4. Doctrine Must Be True and Sound. Must be God doctrine, Acts 13:12 calls it “the doctrine of the Lord.”; “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me”  (John 7:16).  

Paul placed a very high value on doctrine which is true and must be sound (I Tim. 1:3, 10, 4:6, 13, 16, 5:17, 6:1, 3; 2 Tim. 1:3, 3:10, 16, 4:2-3; Titus 1:9, 2:1, 7, 10).  We must ignore any so-called Christian who believes or teaches anything other than “the doctrine of Christ” 2 John 9-10

5. Sound Doctrine is an Anchor Against the Danger of False Doctrine. You can’t fight something with nothing.  We need true doctrine to fight and be defended against false doctrine.  False doctrine is not only useless; it is dangerous. Eph. 4:14; Heb. 13:9; 2 Pet. 2:1                 Jesus warned of “the doctrine of Balaam” and “the doctrine of the Nicolaitans” (Rev. 2:14-14. Cf. vs. 24); “the doctrines of men”   (Matt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7; Col. 2:22) and “the doctrines of demons” (I Tim. 4:1).  

6. All Christians Should Know What They Believe. A new Christian naturally hungers to be taught, (I Pet. 2:2; Rom. 1:13, 11:25; I Cor. 1:8; I Thess. 4:14. Cf. 2 Pet. 3:8).  Willful ignorance is sin (2 Pet. 3:5).  There are no acceptable excuses, such as “I’m too busy, I’m not a great intellectual, It’s not that important, etc.”  Every Christian can and should have a strategic grasp of the Bible and basic Christian doctrine. 

7. God Gave Us Minds and Expects Us to Use Them. (Matt. 22:37; Rom. 12:1-2).  It is ingratitude, laziness and selfishness to use our minds in such a way that we neglect learning what God really wants us to know.  He also gives Christians “the mind of Christ”, the indwelling Holy Spirit so that we can spiritually learn (I Cor. 2:15-16).  It is dangerous mysticism that tells us to turn our minds off and go by our feelings (I Cor. 14:14-15).

 Doctrine without practice is dry, stale and useless, producing only pride. Practice without a valid doctrinal foundation can be legalistic or mystical.   (John 7:17).