Bible Doctrine

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Thought For Today:

The Doctrine serves two purposes. First: To ensure compliance with the established regulations and publications written by higher authorities; and Second: To ensure standards are enforced and maintained.
I normally use the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, because that is what I grew up using, and that was what I depended on as the set standards for the church. Jesus and the apostles enforced doctrine. Jesus said to the religious leaders, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?” John 7:16-19. Notice, that Jesus said His doctrine was from a higher authority and he was simply enforcing it. Thus, Paul told Timothy, “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” (1 Timothy 1:3). They were advised to teach no other doctrine. He said that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul said that the scriptures were inspired by God, (they came from a Higher Authority; Heaven) and is profitable for use to ensure compliance and enforce the standards in the church. The fivefold ministry (mentioned in Ephesians 4:11) was for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:12-15). So I ask you today, do you get upset and angry when someone tells you what to do in the church that you attend? Do you see the standards as being too hard? Let me encourage you, before you walk away from a church because of its biblical standards of living you may want to ask the pastor what Bible he is using to enforce his standards. And then, you read your Bible to see if what they are saying and if the teaching is true. You just might be surprised by what you find. Judgement day is coming, and God wants us to comply with God’s word.