Leaders, of many churches all over the world are engaged in breath-taking task of amalgamating the Christian world together into one body, overthrowing all the denominational and sectarian barriers in order to unite their forces against the pagan world which rises against them, armed with the weapons of communism, agnosticism, materialism, Darwinism and atheism. Undoubtedly, the motive is good. Jesus Christ Himself laboured to keep His disciples together and prayed to the Father even for the subsequent generations of disciples, saying, "Neither" pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (Jn.17: 20-21).
But the method adopted by Christ to unite them and their followers, both the Jews and the Gentiles together was by baptizing them into one body by the Holy Ghost (I Cor.12: 13) and giving them 'one hope' and 'one faith' (One doctrine) (Eph 4:4). Unity brought about by human methods will end in friendship and not in fellowship; a social gathering and not a spiritual group; a dead organization and not a living organism; a monument and not a movement. Such organized social bodies without the experience of genuine conversion, the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and sound doctrines of Christ and of the apostles, will not stand the diabolic forces fighting the true Church since the very outset.
The main subject we are interested in is whether it is our duty to safeguard the teachings (or doctrines) of Christ and of the apostles, or whether we should throw them overboard to facilitate, without much difficulty, our effort of bringing our Christian friends together into one body. Before we delve into this subject, it is worth-while to note that many other terms are used in the Bible to convey the meaning of (or in the place of) the word DOCTRINE. Here are some of them. ‘Thy WORD is TRUTH (Jn. 17:17). ‘WORD of TRUTH’ (II Cor. 6:7; II Tim 2:15), ‘TRUTH of the GOSPEL’ (Gal. 2:14), ‘FAITH of the GOSPEL’ (Phil. 1:27, Jude 3, Eph. 4:13) and ‘COMMANDMENT’ (I Tim. 6:14) and so on.
Now, let us see what the Word of God has to say about DOCTRINES. Jesus said, ‘MY DOCTRINE is not mine but his that sent me’ (Jn. 7:16). It is therefore the doctrine of the Father, which was delivered to Christ, who in turn revealed them to the apostles personally. ‘For I have given unto them the WORDS which thou gavest me; and they have received them’ (Jn. 17:8). Later on the Holy Ghost continued to teach the deeper truths (both the fundamental and progressive doctrines) to apostles. St. Paul was confident that he received the doctrines directly from Christ through revelation, and that he neither received it of man, neither was he taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12). Nevertheless to make sure that his teachings were correct, so that his labour may not be in vain, he went up to the apostles after 14 years. (Gal. 2:1,2). He believed that the true Church of God must be built on sound teachings of Christ. Writing to the Ephesians, he says, 'Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation (doctrines as good as a strong foundation) of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone (Eph. 2:19, 20.) Confirming this Jesus Himself said, that any one who does not build his personal life (or a church) upon His word (Doctrines of Christ) is like 'a foolish man which built his house upon the sand' (Matt. 7:26). Early Christians ‘continued steadfastly in the APOSTLES' DOCTRINE and fellowship'. (Acts 2:42) They contended for the FAITH (doctrines or teachings) which was once for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). St Paul exhorted Titus to speak, the things which become sound DOCTRINE (Tit. 2:1). And he continued to say, ‘In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: IN DOCTRINE shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity...(Tit. 2:7). He also advised Timothy along the same line, saying ‘Till I come give attendance to DOCTRINE; again ‘Take heed unto thyself and unto THE DOCTRINE; continue in them; for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee’ (I Tim. 4:16). St. Peter says ‘ If any man speak, let him speak as the ORACLES of God (I Pet. 4:11). St. John, an apostle of love, was very strict regarding doctrines. He says, ‘Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the DOCTRINE of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the DOCTRINE of Christ hath both the Father and the son. If therefore, any come unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house neither bid him Godspeed. For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds’ (II Jn. 9-11).
Why were the apostles so strict about the doctrines they taught? The reasons are quite obvious. Let us see a few of them. (1) The doctrines of Christ are sound and wholesome, pure and edifying, bringing godliness into our spiritual lives. Those who deny the sound doctrines are judged proud, foolish and contentious. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to WHOLESOME WORDS even THE WORDS OF OUR Lord JESUS CHRIST, and to THE DOCTRINE which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings...(I Tim. 6:3,4); (2) Sound doctrines are the adornment of the inner man. Saints should be clothed with the doctrines of Christ, ‘not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn THE DOCTRINES OF GOD our Saviour in all things' (Tit 2:10). (3) Sound doctrines nourish the soul with WORD OF FAITH (I Tim. 4:6). It is the 'strong meat (which) belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Heb. 5:14). (4) Sound doctrines help the Church to possess the ‘UNITY OF THE FAITH’ whereby they not only acquire the knowledge of the Son of God, but also, through their acquired knowledge, 'grow up into Him in all things' 'unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ’, discarding the spiritual infant stage where they were ‘tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine' (Eph. 4:13,16). (5) Sound doctrines bring deliverance to those who are enslaved by the devil through the ignorance that is in them. St. Paul says that the servants of Christ must teach sound doctrines so that such captives 'may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captives by 'him at his will.' (II Tim. 2:26). Jesus also said, 'Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'(Jn. 8:32). (6) Sound doctrines expose the false doctrines, called the 'doctrines of the devil, or the 'commandments of men' (I Tim. 4:1; Matt. 15:9). If the saints do not contend for the truth or sound doctrines, the Church will be ‘carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the 'sleight of men; and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.' (Eph. 4:14). (7) The Word of God predicts that in the last days (as we see it getting fulfilled today) many will not endure sound teachings. Here is St. Paul's own prediction and the charge he gave to Timothy, the servant of God: “I CHARGE thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, PREACH the WORD: be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT with all longsuffering and DOCTRINE. For the time will come when they will not endure SOUND DOCTRINE: but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from THE TRUTH and shall be turned unto fables' (II Tim. 4:1-4). (8) Finally, if the Church is not built on the foundation (doctrines) of the apostles and prophets she will be swept away by the winds and storms of the devil (false doctrines) in the hour of trial and will not be found entirely sanctified at His coming.
Thus we understand that Christ's doctrines are divine techniques by which every individual believer can be brought to perfection and the body of Christ, the Church, can be built. As without the technique of 'know-how’ an achievement in any field of art or science is not possible, even so, without spiritual techniques the Church of God cannot be built and made ready for the coming of the Lord. So Christ raises up apostles and prophets in the Church of God to teach and to preach the whole counsel of God; and we have to contend for this faith (truth) (Jude 3).
Amen
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