By Paul Woods

“My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”  (Deuteronomy 32:2-4, KJV.)

God was faithful in the beginning to establish doctrine (instruction) for the children of Israel, setting forth guidelines that would enable them to live godly lives.  Had they heeded God’s doctrines and commandments they could have saved themselves a heap of trouble and averted the judgment of God.

How important is doctrine for us today?

Have you ever had to stop and rethink your position on a particular doctrine? Perhaps you are one who has or had the idea that “if the doctrine was good enough for my parents, it is good enough for me.” Or, you might be one who tends to grasp onto whatever doctrine is popular at the time.  The Word tells us not to be carried about with every wind of doctrine, but especially for the elders to labor in the Word and in doctrine.  The Apostle Paul reminds us that all Scripture is profitable for doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16).

Some people go to church, listen to the preacher, and quote whatever he may have said (with their own interpretation) to be gospel, without searching the Word for themselves to see if the doctrine be true.

I trust you are not one of the above-mentioned, but one who proves all doctrine by God’s Word

Today, we live in a world where almost any doctrine is taught; Jesus termed that as “traditions of men.”  Doctrines are oftentimes formed by people adhering to what the founder of a particular denomination teaches.  Many times the founder of a denomination is exalted to equal, or even above, status with Jesus Christ.  Any time this happens there is a serious flaw and the doctrine becomes faulty.  Why? Because Jesus Christ, and He alone, is the Head of the Church!

“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste.’” (Isaiah 28:16).  Ephesians 2:20 says “… Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”

Ephesians 1:22; 2:20; 4:13,15 and Ephesians 5:23-27 all tell us that Jesus alone is the Head of the Church.  The writer of the book of Hebrews declared that Jesus Christ is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession (Hebrews 3:1).  If we really believe this, we will not put man’s commentaries and denominational interpretations above God’s Holy Word.

Jesus said in John 14:26 that when the Holy Spirit was sent, He would be our teacher. Now do you suppose this Teacher is going to teach each one of us a different doctrine?  No!  Because the Word and the Spirit agree (I John 5:7-8).

In today’s world, we have such a vast amount of varied doctrines that it becomes confusing when trying to sort out what is of “sound doctrine” and what is not, according to the principles of God’s Holy Word.  If you have access to the Internet you can literally waste precious hours and days of time searching for “doctrine” when we have God’s written Word and the infilling of His Spirit available to lead us to life eternal. The people in Jesus’ time were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught with authority.  That authority is for us today.  Oh, that we would have an ear to listen to what Jesus is saying to us through His Word.  If we do His will we will know of the doctrine (John 7:17).

Probably one of the most difficult things to do is to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts concerning the things we have been taught and then make the necessary changes in our thinking according to God’s Holy Word.  Some of the doctrinal changes God may require of you may not be comfortable.  Why? Because it may be a religious teaching you were raised with and believed all your life, or it may be a doctrine that would alter your lifestyle or the lifestyle of someone dear to you.  This has happened to this writer more than once.  On a particular occasion forty-three years ago (58 years ago at this reprinting), the Spirit of God was dealing with me about keeping the Sabbath day holy.  I was not raised to do so.  Matter-of-fact, growing up as a child, we didn’t even keep Sunday very “holy,” even though we were very diligent to be in church every time the doors were open.  There came the time I had to choose between “sound doctrine” and the doctrines and commandments of men. To this day, I’ve never regretted the decision to follow the unction of the Holy Spirit and be in obedience to the principle of God’s Holy Word.

Did I have to make some major changes? Yes! Am I sorry I did! No! Why not? Because God has blessed me abundantly for following the precepts of His Word and not the traditions of men.

If you are struggling with a doctrinal issue, receive the challenge to submit to the principles of God’s Holy Word.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, thanked God that they had obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine delivered to them (6:17). We find in Scripture that in the early church new believers were committed to certain defined standards and conduct based on principles and the believer’s relationship to Christ. The “sound doctrine” referred to in the epistles is for us today. The assumption that Christianity has no pattern of teaching (doctrine) that regulates thought and practice is foreign to Paul’s concept of the faith.

Do not be deceived into thinking that doctrine is legalism. A legalist substitutes outward acts or words for proper inner attitudes that come from being born of God. Such a person “honors God with his lips, but his heart is far from Him” (Matthew 15:8).

In this day of grace we, as Christians, remain under the instruction, discipline, and duty of obeying Christ’s doctrines.

May we embrace the admonition given to Titus by Paul, by “showing ourselves a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, … That others may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:7,10).

How important is doctrine to you?

(Paul and his wife, Sherry, now reside in Texas.)