Do you feel helpless when you see the deterioration of the fabric of society?
Do you cringe when you see the collectivist ideologies of the left swallowing up the rights of the individual?
Do you want to change the world for the better but see no way to make even a small change, much less a big change?
There really is something you can do. It is just a matter of choosing to do it. It is a matter of choosing to do what the Bible says to do.
First let’s look at Jeremiah 4:3. It says, ‘For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.’
‘Fallow ground’ is ground that is fertile, but not in use at the moment. It may be ground that has been allowed to ‘rest’ for a year. Or it might be ground that has not been used in a long time. The people in this verse are sowing among thorns instead of breaking up fallow ground. I see a sort of parallel here where Christians are attacking the world’s problems through political and social avenues. Of course this is thorny ground. The people with whom the Christian is trying to work are not thinking in the same way that Christians are supposed to think. Non-Christians look at things from a Humanist viewpoint. It is all about how mankind can change the world for the better. The power of God to help is never really considered for any reason except for some sort of last ditch effort. There might be a little lip service given to God, but there is no real faith in His power to help. The world does not know Psalm 46:1 which says, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’
For the Christian, fallow ground is in the saved heart. When someone is saved, the ground in their heart becomes ground in which the knowledge of the Lord can grow. It doesn’t happen by some sort of mystic knowledge transfer. It comes through study and meditation specifically directed at the verses written in the Bible. THAT is the fallow ground we are to plow and plant. The absolute best way a Christian can change the world for the better is to begin a change in his or her own heart. Good preaching in church is a good plow. It is a way to begin plowing the fallow ground of the saved heart. However, to really plow the ground requires the believer to engage in independent Bible study. The preacher just whets the appetite for the world of God.
In the 2 Kings there is an account of the people of God turning to help from the heathen nations around them. They didn’t look to God for help. In seeking help from Egypt, they tried to solve the problem of the world with the help of men. You could say they plowed on thorny ground instead of breaking up fertile ground. People do that sometimes because while their mouth speaks kindly of God, their hearts are far from Him.
That bring us to Hosea 10:12 which says, ‘Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.’
How does someone sow in righteousness? He repents of sin and turns from it. Often even real followers of Christ would rather remain in their sin than repent and turn from it. When they need help it is easier to turn to the world than it is to repent and turn to God. That is why we see Christians turning to a social gospel to change the world. They would rather look to lost people in high places for help than to look to the God of their salvation. Truly their sins have separated them from God. Now look around you and see where a social gospel has gotten us. It has spawned the resurrection of every pagan god in the name of tolerance. It has spawned a society where the traditional family is an oddity rather than the norm. There is practically nothing to vile to be acceptable in society today.
2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us, ‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?’ This is often interpreted to mean in marriage, but it means in everything. When we join with the lost people in attempting to bring about radical change we will not make any change in the world. Unfortunately, the world will change us for the worse.
A matter of importance in ‘sowing to ourselves in righteousness’ is giving. You may hear people saying the Lord only wants your money, but in truth He wants your heart. He wants you to give Him your heart. Why do you think the widow was able to give her income to the Lord? It was because she had already given Him what He wanted. She had already given Christ her heart. Christ wants your heart. He wants you to pledge unconditional allegiance to Him. And He wants you to plow and cross plow the fallow ground in your own heart.
When someone gives their heart to the Lord, they begin to study and seek the Lord’s righteousness. That Christian wants to learn more about the Lord and how to please Him. The Lord is righteous, and they want to know more about that righteousness.
What does the true seeker of Christ’s righteousness get in return? He gets mercy. He gets mercy. Forget justice. Mercy is much better.
When is the right time to begin to seek the Lord’s righteousness? Now is the time. Right now. ‘: The end of that verse says, ‘for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.’
Seek the Lord’s righteousness and He will pour righteousness on you. You can’t get any better than the Lord’s righteousness.
In reading about the Lord’s righteousness, there was one verse in particular that stuck in my mind. Proverbs 12:10 tells us, ‘A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.’
I see several very interesting things in this verse.
A righteous man takes care of his animals. It is the right thing to do to care for animals
The nicest thing a cruel person can do is still cruel.
And this is the part I really like. God is definitely righteous. God cares for the beasts of creation. If God cares for the beasts, how much more will He care for His own children? When I find myself in an uncertain place, I always try to remember that God is righteous. He even cares for the beasts of the field. He cares for me and you and you and you.
Look at what God says about those who don’t care for their own family. ‘1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.’
Christians are of God’s very own house. Certainly He will care for His own children.
God is righteous.
God will care for those of His own house.
When you are worried about the outcome of a specific situation, always remember that God is Righteous. God will do what is right because that is what He ALWAYS does. He always does what is right.
The Lord is righteous. He becomes our righteousness when we are saved. It is by His righteousness and grace that we may enter the Kingdom of Heaven. To sow in righteousness is to seek the Lord, to understand Him more fully, to trust Him more, to do the things He says to do more consistently, to yield to Him with our whole hearts.
The more you seek the Lord’s righteousness, the more you know and do the things Christ says to do, the better your relationship with Him will be. You will be better able to pray boldly and expect God to answer your prayers.
A mighty man of the Old Testament was the Prophet Elijah. Elijah was taken to heaven without dying. His student Elisha saw this event. We are told in 2 Kings 2:12, ‘And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.’
Matthew Henry’s comment on that verse says, ‘Elijah was to Israel, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God.’
(http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=12&c=2 ) (A good and easy way to get a quick interpretation of a Bible passage is to check and see what Matthey Henry has to say about it. http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc )
More powerful than the armies of the nations were the prayers of Elijah. Elisha, the student of Elijah, asked God for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. If the Elijah’s counsel, reproofs, and prayers were better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, then how much more so the prayers, counsel, and reproof of Elisha?
This does apply to each of us here and now. God is still righteous. God’s Word is still true. It still applies to us today as a individual Christians
Remember James 5:16 which says, ‘Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’
If you want your prayers to ‘avail much’ then, ‘Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Are Christians Right When they say I Need to Be Saved
Why Do Christians Believe I Need to ‘Get Saved” or ‘Be Born Again’?
Barbara Henderson
The non-Christian says:
Christians refer to themselves as ‘born again’ or ‘saved’.
Christians are always nagging other people to get saved or be born again.
Why do Christians seem so determined to convert others to their way of thinking?
The Christian says:
Without Jesus Christ, you are going to a place called hell.
I don’t want that to happen to you.
How can I help you see the truth?
What can I say or do to explain all this to you?
The Christian thinks about how to approach the subject, how to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an acceptable manner. The Christian finally decides that the place to start explaining the need for salvation to the lost begins ‘In the beginning……..
What happened in the beginning? Where did all creation begin? What happened?
Something most people can understand when viewing things around them is that design proves a designer. Something made proves a maker. Whether it be so simple as how a room is arranged, a thinking person realizes that someone put the things in a specific order. If the couch is sitting in a corner someone put it there. If a picture is hanging on the wall, someone hung it there. It is a no-brainer.
The same person who knows that the objects around them were made by and placed in a specific place by someone may not understand or acknowledge that the earth is a created object specifically hung in a particular place in space. Yet, there Earth is, sitting in space between Venus and Mars. It was carefully placed at just the right distance from the sun. It was set in orbit. The seasons come and go. There is air to breath, water to drink, and food to eat. It was a very well thought out design. Plant life, sea life, animal life was created on the earth with the materials necessary for their survival. Then a man and a woman were created. The plan was properly carried out.
God was there when it all happened. God gave us His eye witness account of creation. He said, ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.’
God created mankind with free will. He did not want slaves in heaven. People had to have a choice. And the choice came in the form of temptation by God’s adversary the devil, formerly known as Lucifer. Adam and Eve fell for the lie Satan told to them. By their sin, death entered into the world. (By the way, the next time something bad happens – blame sin or blame the devil. But, don’t blame God. He set things up to be perfect. He is around to pick up the pieces of shattered lives. God is the helper. Satan is the destroyer.)
Those rejecting Christ do not see themselves as sinners. To them a ‘sinner’ is someone who is a terrible criminal, or someone who is cruel and abusive to everyone. Comparing themselves to others, they see themselves as ‘much better’ than most of those around them. Honestly, that may be true. However, sin is not measured by others.
Sin is measure like this.
Are you perfect? Absolutely perfect and blameless in everything every nana-second of your entire life?
The question, ‘Are you perfect’, should be asked of yourself at night when you are all alone in a dark room. Of course you are not alone exactly, because the Truth is with you. ‘Am I perfect?’ is the question. You can lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to the Truth and get away with it. Any semi-honest person will admit, ‘I am not perfect’. That is where the problem enters in.
Your sins, your imperfection, separate you from God. Thankfully, God is merciful. He does not want you to die in your sins, leaving you separated from Him for eternity. But, what can be done? He can’t let imperfect people into heaven, or heaven would no longer be perfect. Yet, He loves you personally. You are His creation. God does love you. God wants to help you. God has a plan to restore to you fellowship with Him. No, you will not become a ‘god’. But, you can be reconciled to God. You can be redeemed from sin. Your ransom has been paid in full. All you have to do is walk through the Door (Jesus Christ) into freedom and eternal life.
Let’s look at it like this.
God IS perfect.
And,
You are NOT perfect.
It doesn’t matter how many really good excuses you have for your failures and shortcomings. Excuses won’t get you into heaven. Only Jesus Christ can get you into heaven.
The human being living without Jesus Christ is separated from God by the great gulf of sin. In a very simplified way, I suppose you could say the ‘gulf of sin’ is the dividing chasm between perfect and imperfect. No human being has the ability to change something imperfect into perfect.
Those living in sin, in separation from God, are like those living in a dark concrete box without any means of escape. They will never be able to get out of the box without help. In the box in which they live, there is one door that leads to freedom. (There are also a lot of shallow doors that lead nowhere – false religions.) The door to reconciliation with the Almighty God who created you in the first place, was made at an unimaginable cost to the Perfect God of creation. He laid down His own life to make that door, that way, of escape.
Remember,
God is perfect.
You are not perfect.
You can be reconciled to the Perfect God through the Perfect Sacrifice which is Jesus Christ.
‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.’ (Acts 16:31a)
Jesus offers you:
Salvation
‘by grace’
‘through faith’
‘not of works’
(Ephesians 2:8)
The offer is made by the grace of God – not because anyone deserves the offer.
You accept this offer by faith.
You don’t have to do anything except believe the Truth.
People often condemn God for making only one way into heaven. They are not considering the cost of making even one way into heaven. They also do not consider that the way provided by Jesus Christ has the capacity to receive everyone who accepts the offer.
The offer of salvation is open ONLY during the days of your life. ‘And it is appointed to man once to die, but after this the judgment.’ (Hebrews 9:27)
Don’t face the judgment without Jesus Christ.
A beloved Hymn is ‘Just as I am’ (without one plea)
You don’t have to understand it all - in fact you will never understand it all. You do have to understand that God is perfect – you are not perfect – but God will take you right now. (Yes, changes will come in your life as you understand more about who Jesus is and what He expects of you.) Listen to this song. God wants you just the way you are right now.
Just as I am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9oSB3elWY4
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Barbara Henderson
The non-Christian says:
Christians refer to themselves as ‘born again’ or ‘saved’.
Christians are always nagging other people to get saved or be born again.
Why do Christians seem so determined to convert others to their way of thinking?
The Christian says:
Without Jesus Christ, you are going to a place called hell.
I don’t want that to happen to you.
How can I help you see the truth?
What can I say or do to explain all this to you?
The Christian thinks about how to approach the subject, how to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an acceptable manner. The Christian finally decides that the place to start explaining the need for salvation to the lost begins ‘In the beginning……..
What happened in the beginning? Where did all creation begin? What happened?
Something most people can understand when viewing things around them is that design proves a designer. Something made proves a maker. Whether it be so simple as how a room is arranged, a thinking person realizes that someone put the things in a specific order. If the couch is sitting in a corner someone put it there. If a picture is hanging on the wall, someone hung it there. It is a no-brainer.
The same person who knows that the objects around them were made by and placed in a specific place by someone may not understand or acknowledge that the earth is a created object specifically hung in a particular place in space. Yet, there Earth is, sitting in space between Venus and Mars. It was carefully placed at just the right distance from the sun. It was set in orbit. The seasons come and go. There is air to breath, water to drink, and food to eat. It was a very well thought out design. Plant life, sea life, animal life was created on the earth with the materials necessary for their survival. Then a man and a woman were created. The plan was properly carried out.
God was there when it all happened. God gave us His eye witness account of creation. He said, ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.’
God created mankind with free will. He did not want slaves in heaven. People had to have a choice. And the choice came in the form of temptation by God’s adversary the devil, formerly known as Lucifer. Adam and Eve fell for the lie Satan told to them. By their sin, death entered into the world. (By the way, the next time something bad happens – blame sin or blame the devil. But, don’t blame God. He set things up to be perfect. He is around to pick up the pieces of shattered lives. God is the helper. Satan is the destroyer.)
Those rejecting Christ do not see themselves as sinners. To them a ‘sinner’ is someone who is a terrible criminal, or someone who is cruel and abusive to everyone. Comparing themselves to others, they see themselves as ‘much better’ than most of those around them. Honestly, that may be true. However, sin is not measured by others.
Sin is measure like this.
Are you perfect? Absolutely perfect and blameless in everything every nana-second of your entire life?
The question, ‘Are you perfect’, should be asked of yourself at night when you are all alone in a dark room. Of course you are not alone exactly, because the Truth is with you. ‘Am I perfect?’ is the question. You can lie to yourself, but you cannot lie to the Truth and get away with it. Any semi-honest person will admit, ‘I am not perfect’. That is where the problem enters in.
Your sins, your imperfection, separate you from God. Thankfully, God is merciful. He does not want you to die in your sins, leaving you separated from Him for eternity. But, what can be done? He can’t let imperfect people into heaven, or heaven would no longer be perfect. Yet, He loves you personally. You are His creation. God does love you. God wants to help you. God has a plan to restore to you fellowship with Him. No, you will not become a ‘god’. But, you can be reconciled to God. You can be redeemed from sin. Your ransom has been paid in full. All you have to do is walk through the Door (Jesus Christ) into freedom and eternal life.
Let’s look at it like this.
God IS perfect.
And,
You are NOT perfect.
It doesn’t matter how many really good excuses you have for your failures and shortcomings. Excuses won’t get you into heaven. Only Jesus Christ can get you into heaven.
The human being living without Jesus Christ is separated from God by the great gulf of sin. In a very simplified way, I suppose you could say the ‘gulf of sin’ is the dividing chasm between perfect and imperfect. No human being has the ability to change something imperfect into perfect.
Those living in sin, in separation from God, are like those living in a dark concrete box without any means of escape. They will never be able to get out of the box without help. In the box in which they live, there is one door that leads to freedom. (There are also a lot of shallow doors that lead nowhere – false religions.) The door to reconciliation with the Almighty God who created you in the first place, was made at an unimaginable cost to the Perfect God of creation. He laid down His own life to make that door, that way, of escape.
Remember,
God is perfect.
You are not perfect.
You can be reconciled to the Perfect God through the Perfect Sacrifice which is Jesus Christ.
‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.’ (Acts 16:31a)
Jesus offers you:
Salvation
‘by grace’
‘through faith’
‘not of works’
(Ephesians 2:8)
The offer is made by the grace of God – not because anyone deserves the offer.
You accept this offer by faith.
You don’t have to do anything except believe the Truth.
People often condemn God for making only one way into heaven. They are not considering the cost of making even one way into heaven. They also do not consider that the way provided by Jesus Christ has the capacity to receive everyone who accepts the offer.
The offer of salvation is open ONLY during the days of your life. ‘And it is appointed to man once to die, but after this the judgment.’ (Hebrews 9:27)
Don’t face the judgment without Jesus Christ.
A beloved Hymn is ‘Just as I am’ (without one plea)
You don’t have to understand it all - in fact you will never understand it all. You do have to understand that God is perfect – you are not perfect – but God will take you right now. (Yes, changes will come in your life as you understand more about who Jesus is and what He expects of you.) Listen to this song. God wants you just the way you are right now.
Just as I am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9oSB3elWY4
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Doctrine is Important to Christians - but Most Don't Know What it Is!
Can You Define the Word ‘Doctrine’?
In the Bible we find many recorded words of God. Actually, the entire Bible is the written Word of God. Some of it is recorded history. Some of the Bible is direct quotes from God Himself. He makes some very definite statements on how people should act. It is settled for true Christians that God has the authority and the power to make the rules. What seems in question for some Christians is, ‘Did God REALLY mean what he said? Are His rules still relevant, and are they for everyone in every situation?’
There is proof aplenty that many who claim to be followers of the God of the Bible do not do the things God says to do. They claim to accept Jesus, but they disannul the DOCTRINE of Christ in order to follow their own doctrine. They in fact, reject the doctrine of God as revealed to us in the Bible in favor of cunningly devised fables. Actually, some people turn from the doctrine of Christ in order to follow their own selfish lusts and ideas. There is often nothing ‘cunningly devised’ in the fables they follow. My dad says they get their theology from the seat of their pants.
Cunningly devised fables can be identified in worship services that put the traditions of men above the doctrine of God. ‘Tradition’ did not die for sinners on Calvary. Traditions that work for our good are traditions that make worship of Christ and following His teachings easier. Traditions are wicked when the tradition itself begins to substitute for true worship. Keep in mind that if there was salvation available in following the ‘traditions of men’, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.
Cunningly devised fables may be seen in rituals. There are ritual religions outside and inside Christianity. People believe that through certain repetitions and rituals they will be able to obtain something they want, cause someone to do something they want done, and even gain eternal life. You can also gain wealth and health through ritual sacrificial giving according to some purveyors of cunningly devised fables. That means watch out for the wealth and health preachers. Remember, that if there was salvation in rituals, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.
Cunningly devised fables may be seen in vain repetitions and babbling. People will chant a mantra as though often repeated words somehow gain the power, or call upon some unknown power to grant their request. It may work even better if the mantra is chanted while the chantor is sitting in some uncomfortable position. Again, if vain babbling and chants could gain salvation for the lost soul, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.
A rampant cunningly devised fable in the church today is the myth that church growth is proof of a spiritual church. A growth oriented church, believing that church growth proves their relationship with God is good, will often set aside doctrine in favor of ‘doing what it takes' to get the number of church members to grow.’ Such churches are willing to destroy families in order to establish a mega church. Everyone in the church is supposed to be involved in every church function, or their salvation is suspect. A family cannot survive as a strong family under such circumstances. And, it is very likely that many of the members brought in this way, will not actually be true believers.
In order for His children to avoid being deceived by a cunningly devised fable, God gave us DOCTRINE.
This doctrine is based on the truth, as given to us by our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, infallible Creator and God. This Doctrine is written down for us in the Bible. It is not a tradition that was handed down by word of mouth for a thousand years and then written down.. It was written down directly from the mouth of God through the hand of the writer. Knowing and living the Doctrine of the Bible gives us the prescription to avoid being deceived by the great abundance of cunningly devised fables.
According to biblegateway.com the term ‘doctrine’ is used in the Bible fifty (50) times. Due to the limits of space, I won’t be able to include all fifty here. However, I will use some of them.
Proverbs 4:2
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Remember that the doctrine given us by God is infallible. It is correct, truthful, and good. To forsake it is foolish; yet many do.
Isaiah 28:9
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
God will give understanding to the willing. Often Christians are like adults who try to live as though they were still teenagers. They never grow up, and they are very unpleasant people. They are also useless to those around them. There is nothing lovely or cute about idolizing the foolish actions of rebellious teenagers. The same goes for Christians. There is nothing cute or appealing in a Christian refusing to learn the things of the Bible, preferring instead to remain ignorant and easily beguiled. Remember Eve. She was beguiled and look what happened because of her actions.
Jeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Beware of vain doctrines. Only those teachings that are completely within the boundaries of the teachings of the Bible are good. Vain doctrine places man, or a particular man, or a particular humanist ideology as the solution to the world’s problems. Jesus Christ is left somewhere out in left field.
Matthew 7:28
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
The doctrine of Jesus Christ is astonishing. It stays in the mind of the hearer.
Mark 1:22
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
The Triune God of the Bible is the authority behind the doctrine of the Bible. It is powerful and astonishing when told in humility by believers.
Mark 1:27
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
The mighty power of the doctrine of the Bible has not been seen in any earthly teaching, theology, ideology, sorcery, or anything else outside the Bible.
Mark 11:18
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
The doctrine of the Bible brings about fear in those who reject it. They will seek in vain to destroy it. They know that if the doctrine of the Bible is true, then all other beliefs, or belief systems, or deeply held beliefs, are false. The Bible is not compatible with any other doctrine. When you see someone trying to be reconciled with other doctrines, then they are following fables.
Luke 4:32
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ has power.
John 18:19
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ causes curiosity when people hear it.
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ inspires great loyalty in those who believe.
Acts 5:28
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ cannot be stopped by the edicts of men. The Christian will be like the Psalmist who tried, but could not keep his mouth shut. (Psalm 39:1-3)
Acts 17:19
And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
The doctrine of the Lord arouses curiosity. It is something new and wonderful to those who have not heard. They want to hear more.
1 Timothy 1:3
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
Christians are charged to teach no other doctrine. That really kicks things like all the eastern mystic teachings out of the church. Things outside the gospel have no place in the church, no matter how much they will ‘help people lose weight’, ‘chill out’, ‘get in touch with themselves’, and so on. They certainly have no place being taught to the youth of the church, except as things that are outside the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Churches should be teaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ alone. By the way, when I was in school in Anchorage, Alaska, we were to taught to sit and stand straight, breath through our nose, and keep our shoulders back. No one had ever heard of yoga; it was just commonly accepted as good health practice. And it was not taught in church.
1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Christians are to continue in the doctrine that is taught in the Bible. This keeps the believer out of trouble and converts those who hear what the Christian says. (That is not out of all the troublesome trials of life, but out of the stupid mistakes made by those who step outside the doctrine of the Bible.)
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Preach the doctrine of Jesus Christ with patience, continually, and with sound theology.
Titus 1:9
Holding 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.
It takes a solid knowledge of the doctrine of Jesus Christ in order to convince non-believers. Nowhere does the Bible teach that we are to look for things we have in common with non-believers. We are to teach them and tell the truth according to the Bible.
2 John 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
When someone comes to you with a different doctrine than what was preached by Jesus Christ, you are not supposed to let him into your house, nor bid him God speed.
Nowhere does the doctrine of the Bible teach that we are to band together with unbelievers in order to bring about good. This means any mega church that is trying to be inclusive and work together with all faiths is not following the teachings of the Bible.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
The doctrine of Balaam was ‘anything for money’, even treachery toward one’s own people. Today the ‘anything for money’ doctrine is seen in politicians, businessmen, and Christians all the way up to the clergy.
Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
This is the doctrine that believes that ‘once saved one could still engage in sin because they are no longer under the law’. Naturally Christ hates such false doctrine.
There is no question that Biblical ‘doctrine’ is important. Doctrine is the message of the Bible. How foolish that some people who profess Christ as their savior don’t even know what it is. Many church members have no idea what their church teaches as doctrine. This is the fault of the church leaders. It is their duty to instruct their flock in the doctrine of the New Testament Church. It is the duty of the pastor to oversee those he allows to teach in the church that God has given him. It is the duty of the pastor to spot error in its infancy and squash it before it has time to grow.
It is also the duty of every Christian and church member to check the things the pastor/preacher teaches against the Bible itself. We have the Bible readily available. We have no excuse to put up with preachers spewing false doctrines from the pulpit.
Doctrine, doctrine, doctrine….. Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone. His teachings are the foundations of the faith. This is the doctrine by which we are to live. The doctrine of the Bible does not change. The doctrine of the Bible provides stability in an unstable world. The doctrine of the Bible is the key to wisdom and understanding.
There are those who seek to destroy the doctrine of the Bible, in which case the world would be left worshipping one of Satan’s many lies. All religions and belief systems outside the doctrine of the Bible are false religions. They are based on lies. Satan is the father of lies. Therefore, any doctrine outside the doctrine of the Bible is really Satan worship. In that case, is there any way the importance of the doctrine of the bible can be overstated? The answer is, ‘No! The importance of the doctrine of the Bible cannot be overstated.’ That is why Satan is trying so hard to do just that.
Christian, are you willing to follow the instructions in Jude 1:3 which says, ‘Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
If you answered, ‘Yes! I am willing to earnestly contend for the faith.’ you need to realize something very important. No matter how willing you may be, you cannot earnestly contend for the faith if you do not know the doctrine on which the faith is built. Without knowing the doctrine of the faith you profess, then you will be like Eve. You will be beguiled and led into tragic error. Zeal, but not according to knowledge, is a tragedy waiting to happen. For your soul to prosper you must know doctrine.
The song for this article is ‘My Sheep Know My Voice’. When you know the doctrine taught in the Bible then you will know the voice of the Shepherd.
Barbara Henderson
My Sheep Know My Voice
http://nethymnal.org/htm/m/y/mysheepk.htm
‘My sheep hear My voice, and the path that I take,
They follow wherever I go;
My sheep know My voice and come at my call,
But a stranger’s voice do they not know.
Refrain
My sheep know My voice, and day by day
They abide in the fold and go not astray,
They love Me because I have made them my choice,
And they follow My call for My sheep know My voice.
My sheep know My voice, and the pastures of green,
Where I lead them so often to feed;
My sheep know My voice and the cool sparkling stream
Where beside its still waters I lead.
Refrain
My sheep know My voice, and the valley of death
Through which I shall lead them some day;
But no danger nor harm can touch one of them,
For I will be with them alway.
Refrain
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/y/mysheepk.htm
In the Bible we find many recorded words of God. Actually, the entire Bible is the written Word of God. Some of it is recorded history. Some of the Bible is direct quotes from God Himself. He makes some very definite statements on how people should act. It is settled for true Christians that God has the authority and the power to make the rules. What seems in question for some Christians is, ‘Did God REALLY mean what he said? Are His rules still relevant, and are they for everyone in every situation?’
There is proof aplenty that many who claim to be followers of the God of the Bible do not do the things God says to do. They claim to accept Jesus, but they disannul the DOCTRINE of Christ in order to follow their own doctrine. They in fact, reject the doctrine of God as revealed to us in the Bible in favor of cunningly devised fables. Actually, some people turn from the doctrine of Christ in order to follow their own selfish lusts and ideas. There is often nothing ‘cunningly devised’ in the fables they follow. My dad says they get their theology from the seat of their pants.
Cunningly devised fables can be identified in worship services that put the traditions of men above the doctrine of God. ‘Tradition’ did not die for sinners on Calvary. Traditions that work for our good are traditions that make worship of Christ and following His teachings easier. Traditions are wicked when the tradition itself begins to substitute for true worship. Keep in mind that if there was salvation available in following the ‘traditions of men’, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.
Cunningly devised fables may be seen in rituals. There are ritual religions outside and inside Christianity. People believe that through certain repetitions and rituals they will be able to obtain something they want, cause someone to do something they want done, and even gain eternal life. You can also gain wealth and health through ritual sacrificial giving according to some purveyors of cunningly devised fables. That means watch out for the wealth and health preachers. Remember, that if there was salvation in rituals, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.
Cunningly devised fables may be seen in vain repetitions and babbling. People will chant a mantra as though often repeated words somehow gain the power, or call upon some unknown power to grant their request. It may work even better if the mantra is chanted while the chantor is sitting in some uncomfortable position. Again, if vain babbling and chants could gain salvation for the lost soul, then Christ need not have died that we might be saved.
A rampant cunningly devised fable in the church today is the myth that church growth is proof of a spiritual church. A growth oriented church, believing that church growth proves their relationship with God is good, will often set aside doctrine in favor of ‘doing what it takes' to get the number of church members to grow.’ Such churches are willing to destroy families in order to establish a mega church. Everyone in the church is supposed to be involved in every church function, or their salvation is suspect. A family cannot survive as a strong family under such circumstances. And, it is very likely that many of the members brought in this way, will not actually be true believers.
In order for His children to avoid being deceived by a cunningly devised fable, God gave us DOCTRINE.
This doctrine is based on the truth, as given to us by our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, infallible Creator and God. This Doctrine is written down for us in the Bible. It is not a tradition that was handed down by word of mouth for a thousand years and then written down.. It was written down directly from the mouth of God through the hand of the writer. Knowing and living the Doctrine of the Bible gives us the prescription to avoid being deceived by the great abundance of cunningly devised fables.
According to biblegateway.com the term ‘doctrine’ is used in the Bible fifty (50) times. Due to the limits of space, I won’t be able to include all fifty here. However, I will use some of them.
Proverbs 4:2
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Remember that the doctrine given us by God is infallible. It is correct, truthful, and good. To forsake it is foolish; yet many do.
Isaiah 28:9
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
God will give understanding to the willing. Often Christians are like adults who try to live as though they were still teenagers. They never grow up, and they are very unpleasant people. They are also useless to those around them. There is nothing lovely or cute about idolizing the foolish actions of rebellious teenagers. The same goes for Christians. There is nothing cute or appealing in a Christian refusing to learn the things of the Bible, preferring instead to remain ignorant and easily beguiled. Remember Eve. She was beguiled and look what happened because of her actions.
Jeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Beware of vain doctrines. Only those teachings that are completely within the boundaries of the teachings of the Bible are good. Vain doctrine places man, or a particular man, or a particular humanist ideology as the solution to the world’s problems. Jesus Christ is left somewhere out in left field.
Matthew 7:28
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
The doctrine of Jesus Christ is astonishing. It stays in the mind of the hearer.
Mark 1:22
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
The Triune God of the Bible is the authority behind the doctrine of the Bible. It is powerful and astonishing when told in humility by believers.
Mark 1:27
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
The mighty power of the doctrine of the Bible has not been seen in any earthly teaching, theology, ideology, sorcery, or anything else outside the Bible.
Mark 11:18
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
The doctrine of the Bible brings about fear in those who reject it. They will seek in vain to destroy it. They know that if the doctrine of the Bible is true, then all other beliefs, or belief systems, or deeply held beliefs, are false. The Bible is not compatible with any other doctrine. When you see someone trying to be reconciled with other doctrines, then they are following fables.
Luke 4:32
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ has power.
John 18:19
The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ causes curiosity when people hear it.
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ inspires great loyalty in those who believe.
Acts 5:28
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
The doctrine of Jesus Christ cannot be stopped by the edicts of men. The Christian will be like the Psalmist who tried, but could not keep his mouth shut. (Psalm 39:1-3)
Acts 17:19
And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
The doctrine of the Lord arouses curiosity. It is something new and wonderful to those who have not heard. They want to hear more.
1 Timothy 1:3
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
Christians are charged to teach no other doctrine. That really kicks things like all the eastern mystic teachings out of the church. Things outside the gospel have no place in the church, no matter how much they will ‘help people lose weight’, ‘chill out’, ‘get in touch with themselves’, and so on. They certainly have no place being taught to the youth of the church, except as things that are outside the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Churches should be teaching the doctrine of Jesus Christ alone. By the way, when I was in school in Anchorage, Alaska, we were to taught to sit and stand straight, breath through our nose, and keep our shoulders back. No one had ever heard of yoga; it was just commonly accepted as good health practice. And it was not taught in church.
1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Christians are to continue in the doctrine that is taught in the Bible. This keeps the believer out of trouble and converts those who hear what the Christian says. (That is not out of all the troublesome trials of life, but out of the stupid mistakes made by those who step outside the doctrine of the Bible.)
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Preach the doctrine of Jesus Christ with patience, continually, and with sound theology.
Titus 1:9
Holding 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.
It takes a solid knowledge of the doctrine of Jesus Christ in order to convince non-believers. Nowhere does the Bible teach that we are to look for things we have in common with non-believers. We are to teach them and tell the truth according to the Bible.
2 John 1:10
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
When someone comes to you with a different doctrine than what was preached by Jesus Christ, you are not supposed to let him into your house, nor bid him God speed.
Nowhere does the doctrine of the Bible teach that we are to band together with unbelievers in order to bring about good. This means any mega church that is trying to be inclusive and work together with all faiths is not following the teachings of the Bible.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
The doctrine of Balaam was ‘anything for money’, even treachery toward one’s own people. Today the ‘anything for money’ doctrine is seen in politicians, businessmen, and Christians all the way up to the clergy.
Revelation 2:15
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
This is the doctrine that believes that ‘once saved one could still engage in sin because they are no longer under the law’. Naturally Christ hates such false doctrine.
There is no question that Biblical ‘doctrine’ is important. Doctrine is the message of the Bible. How foolish that some people who profess Christ as their savior don’t even know what it is. Many church members have no idea what their church teaches as doctrine. This is the fault of the church leaders. It is their duty to instruct their flock in the doctrine of the New Testament Church. It is the duty of the pastor to oversee those he allows to teach in the church that God has given him. It is the duty of the pastor to spot error in its infancy and squash it before it has time to grow.
It is also the duty of every Christian and church member to check the things the pastor/preacher teaches against the Bible itself. We have the Bible readily available. We have no excuse to put up with preachers spewing false doctrines from the pulpit.
Doctrine, doctrine, doctrine….. Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone. His teachings are the foundations of the faith. This is the doctrine by which we are to live. The doctrine of the Bible does not change. The doctrine of the Bible provides stability in an unstable world. The doctrine of the Bible is the key to wisdom and understanding.
There are those who seek to destroy the doctrine of the Bible, in which case the world would be left worshipping one of Satan’s many lies. All religions and belief systems outside the doctrine of the Bible are false religions. They are based on lies. Satan is the father of lies. Therefore, any doctrine outside the doctrine of the Bible is really Satan worship. In that case, is there any way the importance of the doctrine of the bible can be overstated? The answer is, ‘No! The importance of the doctrine of the Bible cannot be overstated.’ That is why Satan is trying so hard to do just that.
Christian, are you willing to follow the instructions in Jude 1:3 which says, ‘Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
If you answered, ‘Yes! I am willing to earnestly contend for the faith.’ you need to realize something very important. No matter how willing you may be, you cannot earnestly contend for the faith if you do not know the doctrine on which the faith is built. Without knowing the doctrine of the faith you profess, then you will be like Eve. You will be beguiled and led into tragic error. Zeal, but not according to knowledge, is a tragedy waiting to happen. For your soul to prosper you must know doctrine.
The song for this article is ‘My Sheep Know My Voice’. When you know the doctrine taught in the Bible then you will know the voice of the Shepherd.
Barbara Henderson
My Sheep Know My Voice
http://nethymnal.org/htm/m/y/mysheepk.htm
‘My sheep hear My voice, and the path that I take,
They follow wherever I go;
My sheep know My voice and come at my call,
But a stranger’s voice do they not know.
Refrain
My sheep know My voice, and day by day
They abide in the fold and go not astray,
They love Me because I have made them my choice,
And they follow My call for My sheep know My voice.
My sheep know My voice, and the pastures of green,
Where I lead them so often to feed;
My sheep know My voice and the cool sparkling stream
Where beside its still waters I lead.
Refrain
My sheep know My voice, and the valley of death
Through which I shall lead them some day;
But no danger nor harm can touch one of them,
For I will be with them alway.
Refrain
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/y/mysheepk.htm
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