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BIBLE DOCTRINES
Introduction
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 unfavorable 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 counseled
the Ephesians' Christians that spiritual gifts were endowed to them in
order to teach doctrines that will bring about Christian perfection
(Ephesians 4:11-14). His counseling 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
(2
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 in-depth study, prayerfully imbibing its
teachings and practicing them
(2 Timothy2:15). 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 evangelize 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 fulfill this goal. Knowledge
of the basic foundational truth greatly helped the early church to
fulfill its mission. They were able to establish new converts, confront
the errors of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and endure the persecution of
their opposers.
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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