The word “doctrine” actually means instruction, especially as it applies to how one lives and conduct himself or herself in the world, and other real-life issues. So, doctrines are instructions that guides one’s beliefs, lifestyle and general conduct. Paul was writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16, it says: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” This means that by giving oneself to following doctrines, one can save both his own life and the life of those who hear him.
Again, we have come to know about the Bible that it is profitable for doctrine. When we accept the Bible as God’s word and will for us, we have a solid base for our doctrine. In 2 Timothy 3:10, 16-17, Paul wrote to Timothy the following words: “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” Paul was saying to Timothy in essence, many unpalatable things actually befell me, but the Lord delivered me through a set of doctrine or instructions that I gave myself to.
Vese 16-17 then says: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Following the logic behind what Paul wrote here, there is no portion of the Scripture that cannot become a guide or a source of instruction to one if one carefully reads and study it.
The Doctrine of the Trinity
The doctrine of the trinity speaks to the fact that there is one God whose expression can be seen in three personalities. Now, this does not connote that we have three gods, no, there is only one God. There is nowhere in the Scriptures where it was stated that we have three gods. God is one. In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, the Bible says: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” So, the elementary understanding we must have from here is that God is one! But this God manifest Himself in three persons as the occasion demands.
For example, in the beginning, we saw God the Father in action creating all things. Genesis 1:1-3 says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” And when you jump to verse 26-27, the Bible says: “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.”
Then when man fell from grace, we saw the God manifesting Himself through Son so that mankind could be reconciled back to Him. Hebrews 1:1-9 says:
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “you are my Son, today I have begotten you”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son”? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” 7 And of the angels He says: “who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.” 8 But to the Son He says: “your throne, O God (notice He didn’t say your throne O Son) is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than your companions.”
Now, when the Son was done with His own side of the assignment, the Holy Spirit had to come down and also fulfill His own part of the deal. So, God released His Spirit to come to the earth and indwell us. John 16:5-15, Jesus shows us categorically how this scenario was going to play out. The Bible says:
“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
First of all, Christians don't believe in three Gods. We don’t serve three gods, but one. Second, we don't believe that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are three "forms" of God. Third, we don’t accord a lesser respect or worship to the Son and the Holy Spirit simply because God manifested Himself through them, no! we give the Son and the Holy Spirit equal honor and worship and respect as we accord God.
The Doctrine of Christ [2 John 1-7-11]
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist…” I believe this point is absolutely clear, because naturally speaking, you wouldn’t see anyone write on their forehead that they are antichrist or a deceiver. Nobody brandishes being an antichrist around town. How you simply know that someone is antichrist is by their disposition and what they confessed from their mouth. John here showed us that one of the ways through which you know such people is that “do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” So, when you see such people, John said look no further; that is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.” 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
There is something about these verses 8-11 that I want us to quickly get because it actually reveals to us exactly what is happening in our world today, especially when you hear about the fact that people walk away from the faith or that they are no longer believers. When you hear believers fall off the race and they are no longer following, lose all their value systems and become immoral, the reason is because of what verse 8-11 says.
8-11 in the MESSAGE TRANSLATION
“And be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive (liberal, broad-minded, advanced) in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the father and the son. 10-11 If anyone shows up who doesn’t hold to this teaching, don’t invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you, his partner.”
What exactly is the Doctrine of Christ? The first thing we must understand when it comes to understanding the doctrine of Christ is centered on the fact that Jesus Christ is God, but came in the flesh to die for the sins of the world. So, that means that there is the divine side to Christ Jesus, and there is the humanity side as well. I am going to read to us to Scriptures that would facilitate our understanding when it comes to the divine nature of Christ and the Human nature of Christ.
Divine Side: John 1:1-5, 14
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Human Side: Philippians 2:5-11
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The Doctrine of Salvation
The doctrine of salvation talks about man’s deliverance from sin and its consequences. The idea behind salvation is borne out of the fact that man lost it with God and therefore it became imperative that man finds its way back to God. When Adam sinned, he transferred the nature of sin to man, because we all were sourced from him. And so, as a result of that, man died spiritually to God. The Bible made it clear in Romans 6:23 that: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Spiritual death first and foremost, and ultimately, physical death.
Now, the efforts of man to get back to God was fruitless, until Christ stepped into the scene. In Hebrews 5:9-10, the Bible says: “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek…”
1 Peter 2:21-25
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
This world is fast fading away! What would save us and make us faithful to the end are the doctrines that we have imbibed based on the word of God. May God help us all in Jesus’ name.
Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!
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