OceanSide church of Christ

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OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO CHRIST’S DOCTRINE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Last week, we looked at the concept of doctrine.

1.    We defined doctrine as simply “teaching” or “that which is taught.”

2.    We noted that there are many doctrines or teachings that exist in the world.

3.    Lastly, we found that there is only one true doctrine in the spiritual realm.  It is the doctrine of Christ. 

a.    It is sound doctrine. 

b.    It is good doctrine. 

c.     It is the doctrine which is according to godliness.

 

B.    In order for a person to become a Christian, he had to obey the doctrine of Christ (Rom. 6:17-28).

 

But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

 

C.    Once we become Christians, we do not abandon the doctrine of Christ.  Oh no!.  Now, we have very important responsibilities to it.

 

I.             WE ARE TO ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE

 

A.    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.

 

1.    Abide

a.    Strong (3306):  to stay

b.    Thayer:  to stay, to remain, to continue, not to depart

c.     Vine:  continue, dwell, endure, remain, stand, tarry

2.    Other verses:

a.    Acts 2:42

 

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

b.    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.

 

c.     2 Timothy 3:14

 

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

 

B.    Illustrations of what it means to abide in.

1.    The Rechabites

a.    Jeremiah was commanded by God to bring the Rechabites into a chamber in the house of God and set wine before them (Jer. 35:2).

b.    Jeremiah did as the Lord commanded (Jer. 35:3-5).

c.     The response of the Rechabites (Jer. 35:6, 8).

 

But they said, we will drink no wine:  for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons forever…Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us…

 

d.    LESSON:  The Rechabites were abiding in the teaching of Jonadab.  What’s interesting is that over 200 years had passed since Jonabad had given the command to drink no wine.

2.    Peter (Acts 10:13-14)

 

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

 

a.    Under the Old Law, there were very specific laws governing clean and unclean animals.

b.    Up to this point in his life, Peter had continued in the laws that Moses had delivered unto the Jews.

 

C.    What abiding is not:

1.    Coming and going

2.    Sometimes in and sometimes out

3.    Sometimes here and sometimes absent

4.    Doing enough to ease one’s conscience

5.    Continuing in mind, but not in action

6.    Believing someone else can fulfill my duty to continue in the doctrine

7.    Finding reasons not to abide

8.    Faithful by my rules, but not faithful by God’s rules

9.    Hoping I am continuing, but knowing I am not

10. Not being ready to give an account at the judgment

 

II.          CHARGE SOME NOT TO TEACH ANOTHER DOCTRINE

 

A.    1 Timothy 1:3

 

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.

 

B.    A similar command is given specifically to elders as the shepherds and overseers of the flock of God (Tit. 1:9-11).

 

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.  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:  whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

 

C.    We have already seen that there are many “other” doctrines, “strange” doctrines, and “false” doctrines that are in the world that stand in opposition to the doctrine of Christ.

 

D.    It is not enough to merely know these doctrines exist and refuse to adhere to them.

 

E.    If we hear someone teaching a false doctrine, we have been charged to tell them not to teach that doctrine.

1.    False doctrines lead individuals down wrong paths.

2.    False doctrines will not save souls.

3.    False doctrines do not make disciples of Christ.

4.    False doctrines will not produce growth.

5.    False doctrines will not bring unity to the body of Christ.

 

F.    Some results of false teaching in the first century.

1.    The churches of Galatia

a.    Galatians 1:6

 

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.

 

b.    Galatians 3:1

 

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…

 

c.     Galatians 4:9

 

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

 

d.    Galatians 5:7

 

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

 

2.    Other passages:

a.    Our minds can be corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ (2 Cor. 11:3).

b.    Our faith can become shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:19).

c.     We can follow the pernicious ways of the false teachers (2 Pet. 2:2).

d.    The Lord will fight against us with the sword of His mouth (Rev. 2:16).

 

III.        PREACH THE WORD…WITH LONGSUFFERING AND DOCTRINE

 

A.    2 Timothy 4:2

 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

1.    Preaching involves reproving, rebuking, and exhorting.

2.    It is to be done with longsuffering and doctrine.

 

B.    Paul reveals the reason this must be done in the next two verses (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

1.    The STRIFE:  Sound doctrine often conflicts with the personal lusts and desires of the brethren.

2.    The SEARCH:  Instead of heeding the doctrine, they seek out teachers who will scratch their itching ears, that is, make them feel good.

3.    The SPLIT:  They turn away their ears from the truth.

4.    The SUBMISSION:  They are turned unto fables.

 

C.    The preacher must keep preaching “the Word.”

1.    He must show people what is taught in the Bible.

2.    He must give individuals a “thus saith the Lord.”

 

D.    Individuals may pursue fables, but when they do, they will also know deep in their hearts that they have forsaken the truth.

1.    When this happens, it is hoped that they will feel the deep sting of conscience that comes from knowing they have violated the truth.  It is hoped that the sting is severe enough to cause the person to turn back to the truth.

2.    Some, however, will not turn back. 

a.    At first their conscience stings a little.

b.    The more they hear the teaching, the angrier they get with both the message and the messenger.

c.     They finally find someone who will scratch their itching ears. 

d.    Eventually, their conscience becomes seared as with a hot iron (1 Tim. 4:2).  The strongest preaching of the truth will often never bring them back. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    In this lesson, we have looked at three responsibilities we have to the doctrine of Christ.

1.    We are to abide in the doctrine of Christ.

2.    We are to charge some that they teach no other doctrine.

3.    We are to preach the Word with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

B.    When we talk about responsibility, we can divide the word into two parts:  response, and ability.

1.    God has told us how we are to respond to the doctrine of Christ.

2.    He knows the ability we have to respond.

3.    He will hold us accountable based on that ability.

 

C.    Question:  Are you fulfilling your obligations to the precious teachings, the doctrine, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 

1.    Dear friend, please do not tell yourself that you are if you are not.

2.    Too, if you are not, please make the necessary corrections and bring yourself into the fellowship of God and His Son Jesus Christ (2 John 9).