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BIBLE DOCTRINES
INTRODUCTION TO BIBLE DOCTRINES
2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16,17.
Doctrine, to the church, is what a foundation is to a building. It
is the article of faith on which
a believer’s faith is anchored. A building with a weak foundation
will collapse under intense unfavourable weather and environmental
conditions while a building with solid foundation will weather
through storms (Matthew 7:24-27). A believer’s
steadfastness and stability in the Lord is dependent on a firm grasp
of the Truth revealed in the Bible (Ephesians 4:13,14). Whereas,
lack of knowledge leads to backsliding and destruction (Hosea 4:6).
In a world
of error and deceit engineered by Satan and his hosts (John 8:44) a
believer needs to be well grounded in the truth in order to
frontally attack every lie of Satan if he is to remain in faith
(Matthew 4:3,4).
The early believers understood perfectly the need to be grounded
in the doctrines. Both old and young engaged in spiritual activities
that built up their Christian character and convictions. They
studied the doctrines, prayed and celebrated the Lord’s Supper
(Acts 2:41-47). It should be observed that the
study of the doctrines took a place of pre-eminence in their
ministry. These Spirit-directed activities of the early saints led
to the phenomenal growth of the early Church. Apart from this, it
brought about boldness, steadfastness, and growth (Daniel
11:32; Acts 4:19,20), to the extent that the whole of
Jerusalem was filled with Christ’s doctrine (Act 5:28).
Paul understood the centrality of Bible doctrines to Christian
maturity, hence he counselled the Ephesian Christians that spiritual
gifts were endowed to them in order to teach doctrines that will
bring about Christian perfection (Ephesians 4:11-14). His
counselling to Timothy his son in the Lord was: “Take heed unto the
doctrine, continue in them: for in doing this thou shall both save
thyself and them that hear thee” (I Timothy 4:16). Paul’s counsel to
Titus who was left in Crete to set things that are wanting in order
was that he should hold “fast the faithful word as he hath been
taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to
convince the gainsayers” (Titus 1:9).
As believers, workers, preachers, missionaries, and leaders like
Paul, Timothy and Titus, our steadfastness to the end is dependent
on the understanding of the doctrines (I Timothy 4:16). Also, the
salvation of our congregation depends on their understanding of the
doctrines. A thorough understanding of the doctrines then is
indispensable to all members of the church. The strength or weakness
of the church depends to a large extent on the members' attitude to
the doctrines (I Peter 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:15; Colossians,
3:16; John 5:39; Deuteronomy 4:4-9).
The doctrines which the church stands upon are not mere dogmas or
the opinions of men. They are inspired by God (II Timothy
3:15:16).
The Bible clearly teaches on Repentance, Restitution, Marriage, New
Heaven and Hell among others. These Bible doctrines explicitly
reveal treasures that a Christian cannot do without. The reason and
hope of our Faith are embedded in these doctrines (I Peter 3:15).
Every believer today in the church, old or young, needs to benefit
from the doctrines. This can only come about through indepth study,
prayerfully imbibing its teachings and practising them (2 Timothy
2:15).
Neglect of doctrines and the pursuit of superficiality has done
incalculable damage to the church in our generation. Emphasis on
activities with the attendant neglect of personal Bible study has
ruined many lives. This ruinous effect manifests in superficial
Christian living, rampant backsliding, lukewarmness, worldliness and
entertainment of false teaching (Hosea 4:6).
We are in perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-5) and
to be able to hold our heads above the water we must earnestly
contend for the Faith. Believers are on the battlefield and we must
do violence with Satan and his hosts before we can have entrance
into heaven (Matthew 11:12). Our chief weapon of
warfare is the truth which is embedded in the doctrines. Knowing the
truth will make us free from the lies of Satan and guarantee us true
freedom (John 8:32).
In order to counteract Satan’s strategies we need to dig deep into
the doctrines.
The mission of the church as light to the world (Matthew 5:16) is
only achievable with a grasp of the foundational truth. A church
that is ignorant cannot teach the world as the blind cannot lead the
blind. Yet, the mission of the church is clearly to evangelise and
teach the world (Matthew 28:19,20). This
responsibility falls on individual believers within the fold today.
It is the aggregate that makes the whole and without a well informed
congregation, the church would be unable to fulfil this goal.
Knowledge of the basic foundational truth greatly helped the early
church to fulfil its mission. They were able to establish new
converts, confront the errors of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and
endure the persecution of those who opposed them.
The time has come to accomplish Christ’s mission to the world. But
the battle for truth can only be fought by the enlightened believer.
As individual members of the church, we ought to arise today and
fill the gap left by the saints of old.
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Deeper
Christian Life Ministry, Italy
