What is Doctrine?

October 22, 2006

Introduction

In our Wednesday evening study, we came across this verse: (Rom 16:17 NKJV) “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” After class, I was asked about doctrine. What is doctrine? One definition from the Greek lexicon is teaching. In fact compare two other versions:

(Rom 16:17 NASB) Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

(Rom 16:17 NIV) I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

What is the doctrine? Is it a body of beliefs? (Acts 2:42 NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

How important is doctrine? Very important! The word doctrine occurs 38 times in the New King James Version. Only seven times in the New International Version, and fourteen times in the New American Standard. As we have already pointed out, these versions often substitute the word “teaching” for doctrine. So how is it used?

Body

I. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.

(Mat 15:9 NKJV) And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

A. The very sobering challenge in what Jesus said is “in vain they worship Me.”

1. “Vain” is empty, or worthless.

2. We don’t want to worship God in a way that He will not accept.

B. What are the commandments of men?

1. For the Jews they were many.

(Mat 15:3-6 NKJV) He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? {4} "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' {5} "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"; {6} 'then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

2. They condemned Jesus, based on their teachings, not the word of God.

(Mat 12:10-14 NKJV) And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"; that they might accuse Him. {11} Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? {12} "Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." {13} Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. {14} Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

a. They thought they were upholding God’s teaching concerning the Sabbath.

b. The question is, do we teach things that we think are in scripture, but are not?

c. Many in our brotherhood do. A simple example. Many say, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. No where does the Bible use the expression God the Son.

(1 Tim 2:5 NKJV) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

d. There are other cases too numerous to mention here. Can we have classrooms, kitchens in our church buildings, multiple communion cups, and the list goes on and on, but we won’t get in to all of these this morning.

II. What does doctrine consist of:

A. Notice Jesus statement:

(Mat 15:9 NKJV) And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

1. We should be teaching as doctrine the commandments of God.

(2 John 1:6-10 NKJV) This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. {7} For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. {8} Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. {9} 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. {10} If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

2. What is the greatest commandment?

(Mark 12:28-31 NKJV) Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?" {29} Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. {30} 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. {31} "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

a. Have we majored on teaching these two great commandments?

B. What do Churches of Christ use as doctrine? – Two thoughts.

1. We speak where the Bible speaks, and keep silent where the Bible is silent.

2. The other is that we base our teaching on commands, examples, and necessary inferences.

a. Of these three, which ones are we sure of? -- commands!

b. Can examples get us in trouble? – yes because we are inconsistent.

1) We use (Acts 20:7 NKJV) "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight."

2) We do not assemble daily. (Acts 5:42 NKJV) "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

c. The point: Placing examples on a level with commands puts us on shaking ground if we call examples “doctrine.”

What is an example of sound doctrine?

(Heb 6:1-3 NKJV) "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, {2} of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. {3} And this we will do if God permits."

1. So here is a list of some basic teaching:

a. Repentance.

b. Faith toward God

c. Baptism

d. Laying on of hands

e. Resurrection of the dead

f. Eternal judgment

III. What is most important?

(Col 3:12-15 NKJV) "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. {14} But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. {15} And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."

Conclusion

I think Paul summed it up very well for Timothy:

(1 Tim 4:13 NKJV) "Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."

A. To reading – read the word of God, and know it.

B. To exhortation: to comfort, intreat, implore

C. To doctrine: To know the commands and teaching of the word of God.

Are you right with God?

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