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DOCTRINE ISN’T A DIRTY WORD

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Doctrine!  When individuals hear it, they seem to think of it as a curse word.

 

B.   A form of doctrine is indoctrinate. 

1.    This word is even worse than doctrine.

2.    “Don’t you dare try to indoctrinate us!”

 

C.   The Bible uses the word doctrine 51 times in 50 verses.

1.    The Old Testament uses the word 6 times in 5 verses.

2.    The New Testament uses the word 45 times in 45 verses.

3.    The first time the word is found in Scripture is in Deuteronomy 32:2.  We will start with verse 1.

 

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.  My doctrine shall drop as the rain…

 

D.   If I could teach three things about doctrine, it would be this.

1.    Doctrine is not evil.

2.    Two different teachings are two different doctrines.

a.    2 + 2 = 4 is one doctrine.

b.    2 + 3 = 4 is another doctrine.

3.    There is a doctrine of Christ that exists, and, if heeded, gives us fellowship with Him.

 

E.   The title of our lesson this morning is:  “Doctrine:  It’s Not An Dirty Word.”  When we finish this lesson, we hope all will have a better understanding of doctrine and will have a deep concern for the doctrine of Christ.

 

I.             THE DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE

 

A.   There is one dominate Greek word that is translated doctrine.  It is the word “didache.”

1.    Strong (1322):  instruction

2.    Thayer:  that which is taught, teaching, instruction

3.    Vine:  teaching

 

B.   Let’s look at a few verses that will help us to see the definition of the word.

1.    Deuteronomy 32:2

 

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.

 

a.    This verse contains a couplet, that is, two different statements that mean the same thing.

b.    My doctrine shall drop as the rain

My speech shall distill as the dew

c.     The speech, that is, the words of God are doctrine.  His words are His teaching.

2.    All of us are familiar with Matthew 5-7.  This section of Scripture is referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount.”

a.    Listen to the last two verses of this section, Matthew 7:28-29.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

b.    They were astonished at Jesus’ doctrine.

1)    For He taught them…

2)    The Sermon on the Mount opened with similar words (Matt. 5:1-2).

 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:  and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying.

 

3)    Very simply, the people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching. 

3.    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.

 

a.    The words “hath been taught” are from the word “didache.”

b.    The text could read:  “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been indoctrinated.” 

 

C.   Doctrine is teaching.

1.    If we say, we hate doctrine, then we hate teaching.

2.    If we do not want to be indoctrinated, we do not want to be taught.

3.    If we say doctrine is not important, then we are saying teaching is not important.

 

II.           MANY DOCTRINES EXIST IN THE WORLD

 

A.   All we are saying is that many teachings exist in the world.

 

B.   The Bible mentions several different doctrines.

1.    The doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 16:12)

a.    These were two sects of the Jews.

b.    Acts 23:8

 

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit:  but the Pharisees confess both.

 

2.    The doctrines of men (Matt. 15:9; Mark 7:7; Col. 2:22).

3.    The doctrines of devils (1 Tim. 4:1).

4.    The doctrine of Balaam (Rev. 2:14)

5.    The doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2:15)

6.    The doctrine of Jezebel (Rev. 2:24)

 

C.   There are so many different doctrines in the word that the Hebrew writer issued a warning in Hebrews 13:9.

 

Be not carried away with divers and strange doctrines…

 

1.    Divers

a.    Strong (4164):  various in character

b.    Thayer:  variegated, of various sorts

c.     Vine:  particoloured

2.    Strange

a.    Strong (3581):  foreign (literally alien, or figuratively novel)

b.    Thayer:  a foreigner, a stranger, alien, new, unheard of

 

III.        THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST EXISTS

 

A.   When Jesus was on earth, He taught many people.  In numerous places, we find His teachings referred to as “his doctrine” (Matt. 7:28; 22:3; Mark 4:2; 11:18; 12.38; Luke 4:32; John 18:19).

 

B.   Jesus made an interesting statement about “his doctrine” in John 7:16.

 

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

 

1.    Jesus was the servant and messenger of God the Father.

2.    The words that He spoke were not His, but belonged to the Father (See John 12:49).

 

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

 

C.   Names by which the doctrine of Christ is known.

1.    The doctrine of the Lord (Acts 13:12)

2.    The doctrine of God our Savior (Tit. 2:10)

3.    The doctrine of Christ (2 John 9)

 

D.   The doctrine of Christ is described in unique ways.

1.    Sound doctrine (1 Tim. 1:10; Tit. 1:9; 2:1)

 

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.

 

a.    Strong (5198):  to have sound health, that is, be well (in body), figuratively to be uncorrupt (true doctrine)

b.    Thayer:  to be sound, to be well, to be free from any admixture of error

c.     Vine:  to be healthy

2.    Good doctrine (1 Tim. 4:6)

 

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

 

a.    Strong (2570):  good (morally), valuable or virtuous for us

b.    Thayer:  excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends

c.     Vine:  of that which is well adapted to its circumstance or ends

3.    Doctrine according to godliness (1 Tim. 6:3)

 

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.

 

a.    Strong (2150):  piety

b.    Thayer:  reverence, respect, piety towards God

c.     Vine:  literally, to be well devout, denotes that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him

 

E.   NOTE:  There is one, and only one, doctrine of Christ (“one faith, Eph. 4:5).

 

F.    The doctrine of Christ is found in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16).

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…

 

1.    The Scriptures are the standard.  If it is not in the Scriptures, it is not part of the doctrine of Christ.

2.    Illustration:

a.    Math Book (the standard):  2+2=4              Sound doctrine

b.    Victor’s Book (man-made):  2+3=4              Unhealthy, false doctrine

c.     English Book (wrong standard):  2+1=4     Unhealthy, false doctrine

 

G.   Continuing in this doctrine is essential to one’s fellowship with the Father and Son (2 John 9).

 

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   What have we seen in this lesson:

1.    Doctrine is simply teaching.

2.    There are many doctrines in the world.

3.    There is only one doctrine in religion that is our standard, that is, the doctrine of Christ.

 

B.   In John 7:17, Jesus makes an interesting promise.

 

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

 

1.    If a man longs to do with will of God, it will be possible for him to know the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.

2.    Many do not know the doctrine because when it is presented unto them, they refuse to do it.