If You Are a Christian You Should Know Bible Doctrine

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 church roles to grow in number.’  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.  

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
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXfhkVh9qSA

‘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

God Loves You

Daniel was Greatly Loved by God and You Can be Too!

I wrote a short article for my blog a few years ago titled ‘Give Your Spiritual Immune System a Boost.  Here is the article with additional thoughts. 

(quoted material)

‘Are you a little weary and soul sick today? Would you like to improve your spiritual health? Let's take a look at the example of Daniel the prophet who was greatly beloved by God and see what instructions we can find there to help us today.,

Daniel 10:19 says,

'O man greatly beloved,

fear not:

peace be unto thee;

be strong, yea be strong.

1. Daniel is beloved by God. To be 'beloved by God' see that God is beloved by you. Give God first place in your life. Set your priorities so that there is nothing more important to you than a good relationship with the God of your salvation.

2. God told Daniel to 'fear not'. This requires fellowship with God. The more you fellowship with God, the more you understand the power of God to keep you safe. The perfect love of God casts out fear. You can live your life unafraid.

3. God told Daniel 'peace be unto you'. Without fear, there is peace, even in the midst of turmoil. God gives the peace that passes understanding. He will give it to you if you are willing to receive it.

4. From the vantage point of no fear, and peace with God, it is much easier to be strong. Fear and turmoil zap your strength like a virus attacking your soul. You can 'boost your spiritual immune system' by continuing to:

seek God;
trust Him so much that you are not afraid;
seek the peace of God that passes understanding;
take hold of the strength of God to face whatever the day brings.’

(end quote)’

I am always pleased to read an old article and find that it encourages me again right now.  I was thinking on this article and decided to write down a few more thoughts on Daniel.

Daniel was a captive in a heathen land.  He was undoubtedly homesick for loved ones, familiar places, sounds, and smells.  He was probably even wearing strange clothing.  The language was different.  Everything in the physical world was unfamiliar and even repulsive to him. 

Fortunately, there was something very important and constant that Daniel was able to bring with him from home.  Daniel brought with him the knowledge that God was not only with him, but that God would hear his prayers.  God listened when Daniel prayed.  Daniel wasn’t speaking into the air just to hear himself speak; nor was he engaging in some ritual chant.  He was speaking directly to God, and God was listening to exactly what Daniel had to say.  In spite of being taken from home and family, the Hebrew lad was not taken from the constant fellowship of the Most High God. The most important part of his life in his native land went with him to the courts of Babylon.  God did not set Himself to obey Daniel’s every request, or to work on Daniel’s timeframe, but God was definitely listening.  For the Christian today who is separated from home and family, it is still the same.  Whether they are serving in the military away from loved ones, or separated by a new job in a new place, or away from home at college, or even imprisoned for some reason, God is with them and God will listen when they pray.

This reminds us that God also hears you and me today right where we are in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves.  In God Almighty we not only have someone to talk to, we have someone who is actually listening to us!  No matter where we are or in what dire situation we may find ourselves, we have the presence of God with us.  Like Daniel, the knowledge that God hears us doesn’t guarantee the answer we want, or the time frame we want, but we can be positively sure that God is hearing our prayers.  AND – remember James 5:16 which clearly says fervent prayer avialeth much.  I translate ‘avialeth much’ to ‘gets result’.

( 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.)  God hears your prayers.  God will help you.

Psalm 4 tells us:

‘1. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

 2. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

3. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.’

In verse one the Psalmist is asking God to hear him.  In verse 3 he is confident that the Lord will hear him.

Verses 4 & 5 say give instructions on waiting for an answer. 

‘4. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

5. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.’

I am sure Daniel remained in awe of God, refrained from sin, thought continually on the things of the Lord, behaved righteously, and trusted God.  Waiting for his prayers to be answered did not weaken Daniel’s faith that God had heard his prayer.  Nor did he use God’s delay in answering prayers as an excuse to sin. 

Micah 7:7 says, ‘Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.’

I love this verse. ‘MY God will hear me.’  Specifically, it is MY God who will hear me.  It isn’t a false god, and it isn’t a servant of God.  It is God Himself who will hear me.  Just like Daniel, God is with us.  God will hear us. 

What did Daniel do with his confidence that God would hear his prayers?  I am sure he prayed for his own needs, but he also prayed for the needs of other.  To know that God hears your prayers is an awesome gift and an overwhelming responsibility. Pray for the good of your loved ones, family, acquaintances, those in authority, and always for the lost. Consider the possibility that there is no one besides you who will pray for your enemies.  (Luke 6:35, ‘But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.’)

Today it is often said that we have more stress than generations before this age.  The truth is that while each generation may have had peculiar stress for that era and location, most of the things faced by every generation are the same.  In every generation people want food, shelter, love, peace, health, and freedom.   In every generation people die and face eternity.  Certainly life at its best can be overwhelming.  A life patterned after Daniel will be a life not only well spent, but also a life that has as high a level of personal peace and success as is possible.   Let’s do a recap.

Daniel was special to God.  There is no doubt about that.
Daniel had a personal visit from God’s messenger telling him:
That he was greatly beloved
Not to fear
To be at peace
To be strong

And he was told one more time to be strong.

We have the Bible, so each Christian has that same message. 

We know that Daniel lived a life that was

Obedient to God
Prayerful

Bold in living and speaking the truth, and
Uninhibited by any laws or decrees that interfered with his worship of God.

A key element in Daniel’s life was his faith that God would hear him when he prayed.

That is the key to prayer.  God will hear me.  Why else would it be useful to pray?  Of course God will hear me. 

In prayer God will guide us to pray what is right.  He may guide us to change some of the things for which we pray.  But it isn’t futile prayer because God hears us.  We may find our minds changed about one thing, and we may find that something else is of greater importance than we had originally thought.  Prayer is a means by which we gain direction from God as well as obtain specific blessings.  Sometimes we pray very hard for one thing, get another, and are eventually very thankful that we didn’t get the item for which first we prayed.  It can’t be stated clearly enough that God is listening!  Have you ever needed to talk to someone who was not paying attention at all, or who was giving lip service like they were taking you seriously when truly they didn’t take you seriously at all?

God will not only hear you when you pray, God will help you! 
Psalm 46:1 promises, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’

Because you KNOW God will hear you keep praying.

Colossians 4:2 instructs us to, ‘Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;’.

Daniel 6:10 tells us that giving thanks was part of Daniels routine when he prayed. ’Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.’

Be thankful.

Watch for your answer and watch out for distractions.

Continue in prayer

God will hear you.

Daniel prayed on a regular schedule, and we should do the same.  Sometimes our prayers are more dedicated than others because of a specific trouble.  Often when we are compelled to pray without ceasing, there is a tempest raging in our lives.  This song was written for such a time.  Regardless of circumstances, our prayer life should be a part of our daily life.

Master the Tempest is Raging
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/a/mastertt.htm

Master, the tempest is raging!

 The billows are tossing high!

 The sky is o'ershadow with blackness,

 No shelter or help is nigh;
 Carest Thou not that we perish?
 How canst Thou lie asleep,
 When each moment so madly is threatening
 A grave in the angry deep?

Refrain
The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will,
 Peace, be still!
 Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea,
 Or demons or men, or whatever it be
 No waters can swallow the ship where lies
 The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
 They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
 Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
 They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
 Peace, peace, be still!

Master, with anguish of spirit
 I bow in my grief today;
 The depths of my sad heart are troubled
 Oh, waken and save, I pray!
 Torrents of sin and of anguish
 Sweep o’er my sinking soul;
 And I perish! I perish! dear Master
 Oh, hasten, and take control.

Refrain

Master, the terror is over,
 The elements sweetly rest;
 Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
 And heaven’s within my breast;
 Linger, O blessèd Redeemer!
 Leave me alone no more;
 And with joy I shall make the blest harbor,
 And rest on the blissful shore.

Refrain

Point of Contact Between the Lost and the Saved

Point of Contact

There is a point in time when the lost and the saved meet.  At this point of contact, there is opportunity to speak Jesus Christ to the lost.  The opportunity may never come again…

To make effective use of the point of contact”

1.  Take God’s Word seriously – for our good, the good of our families, and the good of society.

2.  Determine truth from falsehood by the scripture alone

3.  Hold fast to the truth.

4.  Avoid worldly entanglements.

 Remember the Bible is the Word of God.

The Bible is carried to the world through the churches, and the people who make up the churches.

The church has the duty of teaching the congregation the Word of God according to the Bible.

The congregation of true followers of Jesus Christ has the duty of teaching the world.  

It is the duty of every believer to apply Bible teachings to personal actions. 

It is the duty of every believer to take obedience to God very seriously. 

 The contact of the believer with the world is limited because the people of the world are going in one direction, and the people of God are going in another direction.  A believer cannot turn from the narrow way in order to ‘reach the lost’.  However, there is a point in time, a point of contact when the lost are face to face with the redeemed.  At that point of contact there isn’t time to consider what the believer should tell the lost.  The believer must already know where he or she stands regarding what the scripture says.  The believer must be able to articulate truth in a clear but brief manner.  The following, while not Bible passages, are taken from the Bible and condensed into tenants of the faith.  They are to give believers guidelines for Bible study, proper ways to watch for error from Bible teachers so-called, and to use to convert the lost and set the feet of new believers on the path to Bible knowledge instead of ‘seat of the pants’ theology.

 Obviously, the first thing to know are the fundamentals of the faith.

1.  The Bible is inerrant

2.  The pre-existence and deity of Christ

3.  Jesus was born of Virgin

4.  Jesus was crucified, died, was buried.

5.  Jesus was bodily resurrected from the dead

 These things are concrete things taught in the Bible on which all Christians who understand the power and authority of God should be able to agree.  Today unfortunately, there are many who disagree with point number one, and from there they question all points.  They are not really considering the power and glory of God.  In their minds they think, ‘If God is not able to get His book written correctly, then He probably doesn’t really have the authority to make the rules.  If these aren’t God’s exact rules, then I have leeway to interpret them in the way that suits me.  It boils down to every one doing what is right in his or her own eyes.

 There are other tenants, or statements of faith that apply to all the ages as well.  This was taken from Wickapedia.com  and regards the tenants set down during the Protestant Reformation.

 ‘The Five solas are five Latin phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers' basic theological beliefs in contradistinction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church of the day. The Latin word sola means "alone" or "only" in English. The five solas articulated five fundamental beliefs of the Protestant Reformation, pillars which the Reformers believed to be essentials of the Christian life and practice. All five implicitly rejected or countered the teachings of the then-dominant Catholic Church, which had in the reformers' mind usurped divine attributes or qualities for the Church and its hierarchy, especially its head, the pope.  Christ alone is head of the church.

1 Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")

 2 Sola fide ("by faith alone")

 3 Sola gratia ("by grace alone")

 4 Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")

 5 Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_solas )’

 Those five solas alone, if taught with passion and love, are excellent tools to explain the Gospel to someone wanting to hear the truth.

 Christ alone is head of the church.  There is no earthly head of the church. No scriptural authority is given to anyone to make such a claim. In this day of ‘reconciliation’, there is a push for Christianity in general to be reconciled with the Catholic church.  The Bible says we are to be reconciled to God – not errant teachers.  2 Corinthians 5:20  The traditions of man often stand between the individual and God. 

 In a later era J. C  Ryle preached:

‘There were three great doctrines or principles which won the battle of the Protestant Reformation.

These three were:

(1) the sufficiency and supremacy of Holy Scripture,

(2) the right of private judgment, and

(3) justification by faith only, without the deeds of the law.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/classics/ryle-knots-untied/private-judgment.html  (J. C. Ryle)’

(Acts 17:11 says, ‘These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.’  They exercised the right of private judgment to make sure Paul was telling the truth.)

 Number one tells us the scripture is sufficient.  Today there are some who claim ‘new revelation’.  They are liars, perhaps fooling even themselves, but never the less they are liars. 

Furthermore, the scripture is the rule above anything a man may say, though he be pope or beggar.  The Bible is also supreme or stands in authority over the traditions of man.  There is no man made revelation (so called) or tradition that can be right if it usurps God’s authority.  The Holy Spirit will never speak what is contrary to the written word of God.

 Number two reminds us that all Christians have the right to evaluate the scripture based on the scripture.  Therefore, if a man or woman preaches something that is error, then the lowliest Christian has the right to disavow wrong teachings.  Currently he or she also has the right to separate themselves from the church preaching heresy without fear of being burned as a heretic.

 Number three reminds us that it is by grace through faith that a lost soul is saved.  It is without works, or obedience to the law.  A truly saved person will do their best to live within the boundaries set by God.  Works give evidence of one's salvation; works do not give salvation.

In a more modern day I have been taught in church that the Bible is:

Inerrant

Sufficient

Relevant

 Here we go again with that inerrant stuff.  Fortunately, it is true.  The Bible is inerrant.  That is the rock solid unshakable foundation on which a committed Christian can stand.  This book is true.  It is the Word of God.  It has the words of life.

 Sufficient is also a wonderful tenant.  The Bible is complete and makes clear the way of salvation.  There is nothing new to be added to it or taken away from it. 

 The Bible is also relevant to whatever is happening at any given moment in time.  No matter what era or age, no matter who the person, no matter what the nation or people, the Bible has the keys for the individual to make peace with God. 

 You may be thinking that these things are best suited to convert those who are in a false form of Christianity, or who have fallen into some doctrinal error.  It is true tenants of the faith are a good way to approach someone like that.  They are also good to show the way of truth to someone who may be a social Christian, or has some idea of Christianity from living in culture with some of the traits of Christian behavior and hospitality still left. 

 However, knowing these things is useful in approaching anyone.  If you are able to engage them in a conversation regarding their eternal destination they will have questions.  The point of contact is always scripture from the Bible.

 The Bible is the word of God.  It is the truth.  The Bible has power to convert to a receptive or non-receptive audience.  Take a look at an example of the Apostle Paul’s life.

 The Apostle Paul preached to a group of non-believers on a place called Mars Hill.  That was a point of contact, and Paul definitely made the most of it.  He preached the unwavering truth of Jesus Christ to a totally pagan society.  The story is told in Acts 17. (Take the time to read the entire chapter.  It is really good.) 

 Things just did not appear to be going well for Paul.  He got himself kicked out of Thessalonica for preaching Jesus Christ.  He was escorted to the next city called Berea, where he again set out to immediately preach Jesus Christ.  Things went a little better there, but the trouble makers from Thessalonica came and stirred up trouble there as well.  The next thing Paul knew, he was kicked out of Berea and escorted to Athens.

 So, what did Paul do in Athens?  Did he keep his mouth shut in order to stay out of trouble?  Did he re-evaluate his approach to preaching?  Did he try to come up with a way to better engage society and then slip in a few uplifting thoughts about Jesus Christ?  No.  His heart saw the need of the people to hear about Jesus.  So, he started preaching Jesus again!  The end result was that some were saved.

 How did Paul manage to win converts from such a group of stuck up scoffers?  He didn’t do anything except preach the same message that had gotten him kicked out of the last two towns.

He preached the scriptures telling them:

 ABOUT GOD

24.  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
 25. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26.  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

 TO SEEK GOD

27.  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

 WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD:

28.  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

 CHILDREN OF GOD SHOULD NOT MAKE THE GODHEAD INTO AN IMAGE

29.  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

 NOW IS THE TIME TO REPENT

30.  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

 JUDGEMENT DAY IS COMING

31.  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

 RESURECTION DAY IS COMING

32.  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

 PAUL QUIT SPEAKING WHEN HE HAD SAID ALL

33.  So Paul departed from among them.

 SOME BELIEVED

34.  Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

 When considering this story, you cannot get past one thing.  Paul’s method was effective.  Some were converted out of a very hard audience.

 The Bible is our example in all things.  Because this is the message Paul used to a pagan society this is the message Christians today should use to a pagan society, or a Communist society, or a New Age society, or apostates, or any person or group of people that don’t know Jesus Christ.  Paul faced the arrogant when he faced the Athenians.  They thought of him as a ‘babbler’ (V.18), someone fit for amusement. Paul didn’t care.  He had a message to preach and he preached it. 

 In most of the societies around the globe today, the gospel is either not known or not respected.  The people of most societies are like the people of Athens, they just want to hear something new and try it out.  Obviously a lot of them will not repent though they hear the truth, but some of them will.  Paul had a point of contact with the lost in three towns in this one chapter of Acts!  He didn’t waste any of his time.  He seized the opportunity to preach Jesus Christ on all three locations.  And, some were saved in every instance. 

 Paul didn’t know how much time he had to preach, so he didn’t waste any time trying to fit into society, or ease people into the idea of Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.  He just jumped in with both feet and started telling the truth.

 Make the most of points of contact with the lost.  Preach/teach the same message Paul preached/taught to the Athenians. 

 Remember Colossians 4:5, ‘Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.’  Just like Paul, no one has time to waste skirting around the issues and mentioning Jesus Christ as an afterthought.  Many people may have only one point of contact with a Christian in their life time.  Others may have many points of contact with Christians, but no one knows when it will be their last point of contact with the truth. 

 Always be ready to throw out a lifeline to the lost.  Tell them about Jesus Christ.

 

 Throw Out the Lifeline

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/h/throwout.htm

Throw out the life line across the dark wave;

 There is a brother whom someone should save;

 Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare

 To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Refrain

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

 Someone is drifting away;

 Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

 Someone is sinking today.

Throw out the life line with hand quick and strong:

 Why do you tarry, why linger so long?

 See! he is sinking; oh, hasten today

 And out with the life boat! away, then away!

Refrain

Throw out the life line to danger fraught men,

 Sinking in anguish where you’ve never been;

 Winds of temptation and billows of woe

 Will soon hurl them out where the dark waters flow.

Refrain

Soon will the season of rescue be o’er,

 Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore;

 Haste, then, my brother, no time for delay,

 But throw out the life line and save them today.

Refrain

This is the life line, oh, tempest tossed men;

 Baffled by waves of temptation and sin;

 Wild winds of passion, your strength cannot brave,

 But Jesus is mighty, and Jesus can save.

Refrain

Jesus is able! To you who are driv’n,

 Farther and farther from God and from Heav’n;

 Helpless and hopeless, o’erwhelmed by the wave;

 We throw out the life line, ’tis “Jesus can save.”

Refrain

This is the life line, oh, grasp it today!

 See, you are recklessly drifting away;

 Voices in warning, shout over the wave,

 O grasp the strong life line, for Jesus can save