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Monday, April 7,
2008
Doctrine
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not
laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and
of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we
do, if God permit. (KJV)
Hebrews 6:1-3 So then let us once for all
quit the elementary teaching about Christ and continue progressing toward
maturity; let us stop relaying a foundation of repentance from works that
mean only death,<a> and of faith in God, (2) of teaching about
ceremonial washings<b> and the laying on of hands, the resurrection of
the dead and final<c> judgment. (3) And we will progress, if God
permits. (Williams NT)
Thayer’s definition for doctrine:
1322
didache-
1) teaching
a) what is taught
b) doctrine,
teaching, concerning something
2) the act of teaching, instruction
We have all grown up and heard different
versions of Christianity, whether through things we saw on TV or heard on
the radio as well as any denomination we were brought up in and told to be
truth. Some of us may have been given sound doctrine early on and given a
foundation to work with; while others like myself were thrown a curve ball
right from the start being indoctrinated into a belief that although it has
a huge following in this country is very far removed from the truth. I was
brought up in a doctrine that claimed of all things, that in order to pray
to God it had to be done through a woman named Mary, which as I found out
later was the mother of all lies and totally contrary to sound doctrine and
what the word of God clearly tells us concerning who the one mediator
between God and man is, Christ Jesus. The only way for one to grow and
mature in the Lord and get past these dead works is to know the doctrine of
Christ, the one doctrine which God acknowledges as truth which will set you
free and allow you to progress in your walk and mature. Many are still
holding to the basic principles that Christ taught during His ministry
because they haven’t discerned the spiritual meaning or implications of His
doctrine. This is what the writer of Hebrews was bringing across to the
people and why he writes what he did in the end of chapter 5.
Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye
ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the
first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of
milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is
unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong
meat 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. (KJV)
There are a lot of people that you will
see hanging around certain fellowships and organizations that claim they
know God and have known Him for a long time, and they base their salvation
more on seniority because of having spent so much time in a church they
consider themselves mature Christians. The truth be known though, many of
these self proclaimed teachers actually need to be reeducated themselves because rather than coming to
an understanding of the mystery of the gospel which is only found in
Christ, they have held and continue to hold to the outward rituals not
understanding the spiritual implications of those things the Lord spoke of.
The Lord spoke in parables, describing and using examples of things in this
realm to explain the things that were to take place in the spiritual realm,
the one we should now be operating and maturing in. Many still hold to the
old way of thinking; and rather than letting go of the old they still hang
on and are not truly able to partake of the new. The doctrine of Christ
differs greatly from what man has and is continuing to teach and preach,
because for one to operate in the realm of the Spirit they have to die to
this one, which is where many draw the line and no longer continue moving
forward. Do you know for yourself what is sound doctrine; what the
spiritual meaning and implications of the word of God truly is for
yourself; and how you need to be learning to walk more in the Spirit on a
daily basis, relying more on the spiritual senses and less on your physical
ones? Are you truly growing and maturing in the things of God on a daily
basis, or has your walk been stagnant and you have been settling for the
‘whatever will be, will be’ mindset? There is strong spiritual meat
available to those that are truly seeking it; and there is a doctrine that
will truly bring life to those that are willing not only to be hearers of
the word of God but doers also. So are you hanging around some back alley
organization like youngsters waiting for something to happen, or are you
looking for an escape from the dead end doctrines you thought would bring
life but have only led to another dead end?
2 John 1:7-11 For many deceivers are
entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that
we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full
reward. (9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath
both the Father and the Son. (10) If there come any unto you, and bring not
this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
(11) For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (KJV)
Ever wonder why it is a spirit of
antichrist and not antijesus? It is Christ in you the only hope of glory
that we should be looking for as our answer and no longer looking to the
outward to find the truth. While there are so many doctrines and teachings
that surround us on a daily basis the Bible is quite clear to point out
that it is only the doctrine of Christ that God gives credence to and
acknowledges to be His. So if someone comes to you like we see in verse 10
with any other doctrine, don’t allow it into your spiritual house or
temple, but rather cast it aside. We are to no longer know no man after the
flesh but after the Spirit; so no matter who this person claims to be or
even if it is someone we are close to or familiar with, we need to see them
from the eyes of the Lord and know if it is a spirit of antichrist
approaching us in the form of mankind claiming to be speaking and teaching
on behalf of God. This Church is what separates the men from the boys,
those that have the eyes of their understanding enlightened because they
are looking at the teaching and doctrine to see if it lines up with the
word of God. If it is not the doctrine of Christ then they do not welcome
it into their house as well as those that wish to preach it; which
sometimes can end up to be those that have been near and dear to you
physically, but are not edifying to you spiritually. Another hint that lets
you know if it is the doctrine of Christ is what Paul said himself, that if
he seeks to please man then he cannot be the servant of Christ, but is
nothing more than an ear tickling people pleaser.
So where are you looking for truth and
what is your source to find it; will you continue looking to man and his
numerous ways and doctrines, or will seek it from the source Himself, Jesus
Christ, the only way of escape from this present evil world by His truth
which will set one free and bring life to our spirit man which will make
one complete and whole in Him?
In conclusion today, how do you judge a
situation or a person; by the outward or the inward? While many make their
determination based on the phrase ‘he is a nice guy’, be reminded the devil
comes at people with a slick nice guy approach bringing a doctrine that is
too good to be true which in the end is not based on the truth, but a
fabrication of it. The devil has been playing this nice guy approach from
the beginning which will be the end for those that give ear to it and fall
for a cheap imitation and not the real deal, Christ in you the only hope of
glory. Besides, remember where nice guys (people pleasers) finish?
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