Is it really important what we believe? Is it enough to just love the Lord Jesus Christ and be a worshipper? After all, doctrine doesn't unite us but seems to divide us and aren't we seeking unity? Does the statement "I'm free in Christ, I don't need doctrinal beliefs," carry any Biblical weight as a true or false assumption?
These are some of the questions I get from the body of Christ regularly. Over the next few blogs we will address these questions and more. One of the plans of the enemy is to bring a substandard substitute to the real things of God and make it sound "super spiritual," and make the real things of God sound like religious bondage and unscriptural. If the doctrines of God were not important the enemy would not have introduced the doctrines of demons and the doctrines of man. Mankind really likes to do that which is right in their own eyes. We find this by the introduction of the doctrines of men. The false half-truth doctrines of demons and man are the things that divide us. A Statement of Faith, like all doctrine and theology, is a declaration of truths about God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Under the umbrella of these doctrines we find the sin condition of mankind, the need for salvation, and God's plan for that salvation. Doctrine is an attempt to give us a handle on the full Gospel, as we understand it from God's Word. Why is this important? Because we, the church, have been recently flooded with the doctrines of demons and the doctrines of man. We don't know what we don't know. This means that we each have more beliefs that are rooted in the doctrines of man and the doctrines of demons than we realize. After believing them and living them out over a period of time we become emotionally and mentality bound to our doctrines which causes a multitude of internal thoughts and feeling if anyone challenges them. That is why our Lord commanded us over 20 times to have ears to hear and to be teachable. Ephesians 4:14 KJV That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Colossians 2:22 KJV Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 1 Timothy 4:1 KJV Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1 Timothy 4:16 KJV 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. Hebrews 13:9 KJV Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Revelation 2:14-15 KJV 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. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. More later...
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Ephesians 4:3 KJV Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
The word "Endeavouring" in the Greek means "to labor, to use speed, to make effort, to prompt, and to give diligence to." Fellowship in the Spirit seldom just happens. There is an effort on one or both parties to pursue it. Unity in the Spirit and unity in the Faith starts with those who embrace these basic doctrines of faith... 1. The doctrine of the Trinity, (God the Father, the God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) 2. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, 3. The virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4. The sacrificial work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross to redeem mankind, 5. The Bible being the Word of God without compromise 6. Mankind as a whole is lost and cannot save himself and Jesus is the ONLY way of salvation 7. Salvation is a gift given out of God's love and a gift received by grace through faith without works of man Many may call these "basic doctrines of the faith," but we see them as foundational and are mountains worth dying on. There are many doctrines that one can reject and it not have a life or death consequence to it. However, rejecting any of these 7 doctrines listed above affects our stand about the truth of God's Word as to who is He and what He has done for us and affects God's plan to redeem mankind from their sin nature. Therefore, unless these basic doctrines are agreed upon there can be no fellowship, for there is no basis for unity in the Spirit. If you can say "Yea and Amen" to these basic doctrines then we lovingly seek to walk in fellowship, in prayer, in praise, and in the Word of God with you. We also would like to assist you in anyway we can in advancing the kingdom truth of God's Word and His plans for you in these trying times which we live. An example of those teachers or pastors who changed their doctrinal stand, yet those who read the books or material of teachers or pastors decided to remain in the old doctrine that was once taught.
This is a story of what happened to Dr. John Deere, Professor of Greek and Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. He taught against the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and modern day Apostles and Prophets. However, in his room as he was praying and seeking the Lord he was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. This one event moved him from one denominational camp or group of people and thrust him into a total different group of people, which was a group he used to talk about as being wrong. He saw the Word of God differently and had a major theological doctrinal shift. He was removed as Professor at Dallas. He was called by God to walk as a Prophet and has written many books since this event. In reality, many believers don’t really have any true Biblical Doctrine. They only have opinions about someone else’s church or ministry and what they teach or believe. They start doctrinal discussions with, "well, I believe", instead of "well, the Word of God says." In other words they have not looked at the Greek words or the Hebrew words or studied the topic or doctrine for themselves. They believe what they believe because that was their first teaching as a Christian which came from their first church. This means that they are an echo of someone else's truth instead of a voice of God from the truth within Scriptures. This means that it is easier to repeat (echo) someone else's belief system then study for one self and be a voice of what the Word of God says. It is easy for these people to say, “I disagree with so and so doctrine”. This sounds so spiritual yet most can’t sit down with the Word of God and prove with the Word what they say and what they believe. We personally try not to use the phrase “I disagree with you”. We like to use the phrase “I don’t understand, teach me”. This is saying that one of us or both of us might be wrong but let’s sit down together and see what the Word says. This keeps a teachable spirit. Why do so many churches have such a wide difference in doctrine? Although churches and denominations vary in doctrine across the world, the differences are not as extreme as they were 30 years ago or even 10 years ago. This means that each year the church is coming closer and closer to unity, some good and some bad. There are those who continue to read the “old wine skin” teachings of Pastors in the 1800’s and early 1900’s and therefore become the ones who keep the differences circulated. Then there are those who are cultural motivated and keep changing their doctrine to fit the social and cultural changes, especially towards an amoral position of what is sin.
An example of those teachers or pastors who changed their doctrinal stand, yet those who read the books or material of teachers or pastors decided to remain in the old doctrine that was once taught. Many years ago the late Dr. Merrill F. Unger wrote a Bible Dictionary and Bible Handbook were he denied the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and he denied the use of the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. He claimed that these experiences ended in the first century. Although there is no way this could be correctly taught using the Bible, it was the opinion taught by Unger, C.I. Scofield, John MacArthur, and other cessationist. BUT, Dr. Merrill F. Unger, after years of studying, renounced his earlier teaching, got baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to operate in the 1 Corinthians 12 manifestation gifts. He rewrote his Bible Dictionary and Handbook renouncing his first statements of doctrine on the ministry of the Holy Spirit as being incorrect. THE PROBLEM: The people who owned his first book and believed his old teachings refused to purchase his new book and read his new illumination from the Word of God. If our minds are made up about something, we become un-teachable and hostile towards anyone who would teach otherwise. An example of those who change their doctrine as culture changes. Many denominations have face the homosexual issue, and have done so in many different ways. The most alarming are those who have changed their denominational views in accepting homosexual behavior as normal and one that does not violate the Word of God. I certainly don't intend to use this post to express the Scriptures violated in order to accept this lifestyle as acceptable to God, but just wanted to show how doctrine changes in many circles as the wind of society changes. Biblical Doctrine is that which we is true from the Word of God and should be the foundational teachings that identify us as God's children. Governmental Doctrine is the way our relationship with God, our spiritual leaders and others should relate to one another in the area of authority and submission. It is God's established area of authority.
Our spiritual leadership, when operating in true Biblical spiritual governmental authority should not operate in one that is a "worldly business based" model as seen in many mainline denominational churches. Our spiritual leadership, when operating in true Biblical spiritual governmental authority should not be "congregational majority-rules based," which is used by a number of denominational churches. We, as spiritual leaders should draw our authority structure from the Biblical example making our Governmental Doctrine also a major part of our Biblical Doctrine. We should operate in an Apostolic Team Government which takes its example from Ephesians 4:11-16. What our Lord Jesus gave as spiritual government: Ephesians 4:11 ESV And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, Why our Lord Jesus gave us this spiritual government: Ephesians 4:12 ESV to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, How long our Lord Jesus said we would have this type of spiritual government: Ephesians 4:13 ESV until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, What happens to believers when we don't operate in this spiritual government: Ephesians 4:14 ESV so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. What happens to believers when we do operate in this spiritual government: Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, (16) from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. We said in Part one that doctrine is a belief or a body of teachings or instructions, or taught principles or positions. It is a belief system.
We have Scriptures on the... Doctrines of God Doctrines of man Doctrines of religious leaders Doctrines of demons Doctrine is used to refer to a principle of law or traditions established through a history of past decisions. In some organizations, doctrine is simply defined as "that which is taught". In other words their doctrine is their foundational teaching of its internal ways of doing business. I want to address doctrine that comes from the Word of God right now which we classified as the Doctrine of God. Like all churches, we all personally have doctrinal beliefs whereby we operate. We might even say that we don't believe in doctrine but we all have a certain belief system, even if it is only mental assent and not something we personally live our daily lives by. Scriptural doctrine is classified under two headings, Biblical Doctrine (what God says is true and what we should believe), and Governmental Doctrine (how God says He has established His kingdom of authority). Therefore, Biblical Doctrine is that which we is true from the Word of God and should be the foundational teachings that identify us as God's children. Governmental Doctrine is the way our relationship with God, our spiritual leaders and others should relate to one another in the area of authority and submission. It is God's established area of authority. God the Father gave us Pastors that are to teach us, lead us, minister to us, and correct us. The Word of God gives the guidelines wherein the Pastor operates, how we relate to the Pastor in honor, respect and obedience, and how both relate to the Father. This is Biblical and Governmental authority in operation. Why Do We Need Doctrine? The word DOCTRINE: (Latin: doctrina) is a belief or a body of teachings or instructions, or taught principles or positions. It is a belief system. Often doctrine specifically deals with a religious dogma as it is promoted by a church. So doctrine can be both positive and negative. It is positive if taken from the Word of God for the purpose of building up and correcting the Church. It is negative if doctrine is taken from the traditions of man and taught in a self-righteous manner, or is a doctrine of demons for the purpose of deceiving believers.
1. Doctrinal teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ: Matthew 7:28-29 ESV And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, (29) for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. 2 John 1:9-10 ESV Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, Titus 2:1 ESV But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. The word for teaching here is didachē (did-akh-ay') in the Greek, (G1322) and means instruction or doctrine that has been taught. It is used 30 times in the N.T. 2. Doctrinal teaching of man: Matthew 15:8-9 ESV “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (9) in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Hebrews 13:9 ESV Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. The word for doctrines here is didaskalia (did-as-kal-ee'-ah) in the Greek, (1319) and means instruction, information, learning, and teaching. It is used 21 times in the N.T. 3. Doctrinal teaching of the religious leaders: Matthew 16:11-12 ESV How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (12) Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The word for teaching here is the same as G1322 that when Jesus actively taught the Word from God, but here the religious leaders took God's Word and created their own interpretation for their own good. Just a little leaven (false teaching or sin makes the whole lump wrong). 4. Doctrinal teaching of demons: 1 Timothy 4:1 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, The word for teaching here is the same as G1319 that was used for the false teachings of man. Many may call these "basic doctrines of the faith," but we at RSIM see them as foundational and are mountains worth dying on. There are many doctrines that one can reject and it not have a life or death consequence to it. However, rejecting any of these 7 doctrines affects our stand about the truth of God's Word as to who He is and what He has done for us, which in turn affects God's plan to redeem mankind from their sin nature.
Therefore, unless these basic doctrines are agreed upon there can be no fellowship, for there is no basis for unity in the Spirit. 1. The doctrine of the Trinity, (God the Father, the God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) 2. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, 3. The virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4. The sacrificial work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross to redeem mankind, 5. The Bible being the Word of God without compromise 6. Mankind as a whole is lost and cannot save himself and Jesus is the ONLY way of salvation 7. Salvation is a gift given out of God's love and a gift received by grace through faith without works of man If you can say "Yea and Amen" to these basic doctrines then we lovingly seek to walk in fellowship, in prayer, in praise, and in the Word of God with you. We also would like to assist you in anyway we can in advancing the kingdom truths of God's Word in your life in these trying times which we live. |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
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