Basic
Christian Doctrine 1
1.
Doctrine is
Important.
This is the first of 50 studies
on Basic Christian Doctrine. Each study
will include 10 summary statements, explanations of the terms and topics covered,
and the main Scripture verses to study.
The Bible is our textbook, and it places a high value on doctrine. For example, God often says, “I want you to
know” (I Cor. 11:3; Col. 2:1). God gave
us the Bible so that we might know certain important things (I John 5:13). Sadly, too many Christians know very little
about the Bible and Christian doctrine.
They often know more about sports than about God’s Word. This series will study the basics for
beginners, but also give teaching for those who are more advanced. It will cover Christian doctrine from the
Bible, not the theories of philosophy, psychology, opinions, or false
religions.
2.
“Doctrine”
Means Teaching.
In the Greek New Testament,
there are 2 words for doctrine: DIDACHE and DIDASKALIA. Both mean teaching, instruction, education,
and explanation. Pro. 4:1-2 equates
doctrine with “instruction and understanding”.
A doctrine is a statement about a specific truth. It is a statement, not a command or a
question. “Doctrinal” means “having to do
with doctrine”. Jesus taught doctrine
(Matt. 7:28, 22:33; Mk. 1:22, 4:2, 11:18, 12:38; Luke 4:32, etc.). One of the main characteristics of early New
Testament Christians was that they followed “the Apostles’ doctrine” (Acts
2:42).
3.
Doctrine Must Be True and Sound.
God says, “I
give you good doctrine” (Pro. 4:2).
Acts 13:12 calls it “the doctrine of the Lord.” True doctrine must come from God, not from mere men. Even the Lord Jesus said, “My doctrine if
not Mine, but His who sent Me” (John
7:16). Paul placed a very high value on
doctrine which is true and must be sound (I Tim. 1:3, 10, 4:6, 13, 16, 5:17,
6:1, 3; 2 Tim. 1:3, 3:10, 16, 4:2-3; Titus 1:9, 2:1, 7, 10). 2 John 9-10 says that we are to ignore any
so-called Christian who believes or teaches anything other than “the doctrine
of Christ” (the doctrine from and about
Christ).
4.
Sound
Doctrine is an Anchor Against the Danger of False Doctrine.
You can’t fight something with
nothing. We need true doctrine to fight
and be defended against false doctrine.
False doctrine is not only useless; it is dangerous. Eph. 4:14 warns us against the winds if
false doctrine. Heb. 13:9, “Do not be
carried about with various and strange doctrines.” Jesus warned of “the doctrine of Balaam” and “the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans” (Rev. 2:14-14. Cf. vs. 24), “the doctrines of men” (Matt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7; Col. 2:22) and “the
doctrines of demons” (I Tim. 4:1).
Truth sets us free (John 8:32).
God urges us to note those who cause divisions contrary to “the doctrine
which you learned” (Rom. 16:17).
5.
There is No
Substitute for the Good Knowledge of Bible Doctrine.
God desires
to feed us to His Word, and we become spiritually malnourished when we do not
graze in the pastures of His Word. We
become imbalanced, anemic, confused, easily led astray, prone to doubt and
backsliding. Some Christians do not
recognize the hunger pangs they are suffering because they are not studying the
Bible. Doctrine alone does not produce
spiritual maturity, but there is no maturity without it. It is erroneous to say “I just want Christ,
not doctrine.” Christology is the
doctrine of Christ. Nor is it true that
“Doctrine divides”. False doctrine
divides; truth unites.
6.
A Disciple is
a Student.
The New Testament regularly uses
the word MATHETES to describe the followers of Jesus. The word means “disciple, student, learner.” To be a good student, one must be
teachable. He must admit that he does
not know certain things (cf. I Cor. 8:2).
This is a school from which nobody ever finally graduates, for there is
always so much more to learn. God then
wants us to learn enough so that we can teach others, who in turn will teach
others (2 Tim. 2:2). We are to be able
to teach out children, new converts, and answer the objections of unbelievers. But some Christians have not learned enough
to be teachers, though they have been saved more than long enough. They need to be students again (Heb. 5:12). A student should strive to become a
teacher.
7.
All Christians Should Know What They Believe.
A new
Christian naturally hungers to be taught, like a new baby hungers and thirsts
for milk (I Pet. 2:2). Too many Christians outgrow this and think
they know enough. All Christians should
know Bible doctrine, not just the preachers and theologians. Ignorance is no virtue. God often says, “I do not want you to be
ignorant” (Rom. 1:13, 11:25; I Cor.
1:8; I Thess. 4:14. Cf. 2 Pet. 3:8).
Willful ignorance is sin (2 Pet. 3:5).
There are no acceptable excuses, such as “I’m too busy, I’m not a great
intellectual, It’s not that important, etc.”
Every Christian can and should have a strategic grasp of the Bible and
basic Christian doctrine.
8.
God Gave Us Minds and Expects Us to Use Them.
A mind is a
terrible thing to waste. God created us
with minds as well as bodies, and commands us to use both to His glory (cf.
Rom. 12:1-2). The first and greatest of
all God’s commandments is: “You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all
your mind” (Matt. 22:37). It is ingratitude, laziness and selfishness
to use our minds in such a way that we neglect learning what God really wants
us to know. He also gives Christians
“the mind of Christ”, the indwelling Holy Spirit so that we can spiritually
learn (I Cor. 2:16. Cf. Eph. 1:18). It
is dangerous mysticism that tells us to turn our minds off and go by our
feelings (cf. I Cor. 14:15).
9.
God Gave Us Teachers to Teach Us the Bible.
Jesus Himself
was a teacher, a rabbi, a theologian.
God has given many lesser teachers as gifts to His Church, to teach and
instruct them (e.g., Eph. 4:11). The
word for teachers is DIDASKALOS, related to the word for doctrine. A teacher teaches doctrine; he is a doctor
of doctrine. We are to learn from those
teachers which God has given to us, and ignore “false teachers” who teach
contrary to the Bible (2 Pet. 2:1). The
teachers are not as important as what they teach. God gave us a Book of words to learn and teach, not a book of
pictures to look at. Teachers are to
teach Bible.
10.
Doctrine Must Precede Practice.
Both are
important, but must be in the proper order.
They also must not be separated.
Doctrine without practice is dry, stale and useless, producing only
pride. Practice without a valid
doctrinal foundation can be legalistic or mystical. The more we know, the better we can live to God. The indicative statements precede the
imperative commands. We must be willing
to learn and obey (John 7:17). And the
more good Bible doctrine we know, the more our faith grows and the better we
can love and worship our God.
RECOMMENDED READING: R.C. Sproul, ESSENTIAL TRUTHS OF THE
CHRISTIAN FAITH; J.I. Packer, CONCISE THEOLOGY; Louis Berkhof, SYSTEMATIC
THEOLOGY; James Montgomery Boice, FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHRISTAIN FAITH; Charles
Hodge, SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY; Millard Erickson, CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.