Many people in today’s American Church are saying that all we need is Jesus and to love people, and that doctrine is divisive and only offends the lost.
But what did Paul say about doctrine?
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
Why did Paul say that Doctrine will save? Only Jesus can save by the work He finished on the cross, which Paul taught. But if you don’t have right doctrine, which is right thinking about God, you are instead creating your own version of God and worship a God of your own liking. Many want the salvation that Jesus freely offers but don’t want the Lordship of Jesus.
“from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”
2 Ti 3:15–16 (NIV)
When we are studying the Old Testament Scripture and New Testament Scripture which Teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, if the Doctrine of Jesus as he taught and also taught by his Apostles don’t change our thinking, rebuke us, make us uncomfortable, and bring a greater desire for righteous and holiness, your must likely doing it wrong, or not studying scripture at all.
Just remember scripture and doctrine, which is right thinking about God as taught by Jesus and his apostles, are to stand in Judgment of our lives and bring about changes in our actions and thinking, not for us to judge scripture and doctrine and change them according to our desires.
Tony Nobles Ministry 