Statement: Christ so identifies with the church that He calls it his “bride”. You cannot claim to love Jesus and then refuse to love his church.
Donald Bohanon: It’s important to first identify what true doctrine is. There are many religious factions that claim to be the true church of God. But many of those same self-proclaimed churches follow unbiblical doctrine.
Contrary to popular belief doctrine is the foundation of true Christianity without true bible based doctrine you don’t have true Christianity. And without true Christianity, you don’t have a spiritual body of Christ which is the church. An important profound verse in scripture that many refuse to acknowledge is 2 John 1:9-11 which states
2 John 1:9-11…KJV
“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. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
Which is also confirmed by several other verses in scripture. The bible clearly instructs us to first find and follow the doctrine of Christ and God and if you don’t have that doctrine you don’t have the father or the son. And if you don’t have the father or the son you don’t have a church.
There is no spiritual body without the head because without the head the body is dead or non-existent and Christ is the head of the church Colossians ..1:18. Paul instructs us to avoid anyone who teaches a doctrine contrary to God’s and Christ’s doctrine and informs us that anyone who does teach a false doctrine does not follow God or Christ but they only follow their own bellies and or greed…Romans 16:17-18.
Christ says doctrine is so important that you worship him in vain if you are following the doctrines of men/religion and not the doctrine of God and Christ which is based on keeping the commandments and the word of God as a whole. But you may say we follow a new covenant now? But Hebrews 8:10-11, tells us the new covenant is now based on keeping the commandments more exclusively.
Without many of the old laws that were added previously. Paul expounds on it further in 1 Corinthians 7:19 and in Roman 3:31 also notice 1 John 2:3-4. Keeping the commandments exclusively is what the focus is now. Paul emphasizes that God says he will now write the commandments on their hearts and in their minds. That’s how important it is… Hebrews 8:10-11.
But you say the law is written in our hearts through and by the holy spirit? But according to scripture, you can’t and won’t receive the holy spirit without obedience to the commandments and God’s word. Acts 2:38, Acts 5:32, John 14:15-17, John 14:20-24. And the commandments can’t very well be written on your heart and in your mind if you aren’t obeying them and living by them, can they?
Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4.
Matthew 5:17-18
King James Version (KJV)
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mark 7:7-9
King James Version (KJV)
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Matthew 19:17
King James Version (KJV)
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
John 14:20-24
King James Version (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
So it’s of paramount importance to find the true doctrine of God and Christ first, then follow and obey it. In conjunction with believing that Christ died and shed his blood for your sins to even connect to the head which is Christ. You don’t have the head of the church if you follow false doctrine.
And consequently, you don’t have a church/spiritual body because the body is dead without the head. And you don’t have the head which is Christ if you don’t have Christ doctrine Colossians 1:18. So says Christ, so says God, so says the bible. Basic but critical biblical truth that many overlook and because of it are led astray and deceived.
2 John 1:9-11
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.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
To not have the right doctrine is a spiritual disconnect from the outset because you can never be connected to the head without the right doctrine. Without the right foundation. When you find God and Christ’s doctrine and follow it, then you have found and connected to the head which is Christ.
And have then become a part of the body if and when filled with and led by the holy spirit while producing fruit and practicing good works. And it’s important to note that receiving of the holy spirit is contingent upon obedience to the commandments and word of God as a whole Acts 2:38, John 14:15-17, Acts 5:32.
Anyone who claims to be a teacher of God’s word should be able to provide several verses in several different books of the bible put in their proper context to confirm what they claim. Never believe the unsubstantiated claims of any person man or woman without biblical proof to support those claims.
And a woman is to keep quiet in the church and not teach especially when they don’t know what they teach or what they are talking about. This is another important verse in scripture that many choose to overlook but yet still claim to be committed to serving God. Good sounding words and oratory don’t necessarily correlate with biblical facts and truth.
1 Corinthians 14:34
King James Version (KJV)
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
The Importance Of Doctrine.
Is doctrine really important? I was recently asked by a woman why do you emphasize doctrine? As if to suggest teaching doctrine is wrong or biblically condemned. But the truth of the matter is doctrine is very very important and is the cornerstone of true Christianity.
Many people have been taught by self-proclaimed ministers that doctrine should not be taught, and one’s focus should only be on Christ, but in 2 John 1:9-11. God informs us that the man or woman who does not have the doctrine that God taught does not have the father or the son.
Doctrine is so important in the eyes of God that he says if you don’t have his doctrine the doctrine that Christ taught, that God gave to Christ to teach, you don’t have God or Christ.
So based on that clear instruction who are we to believe? Are we to believe men who have reduced the relevance of doctrine to insignificance separate from what the Bible teaches?
But if we are to believe God, and what his word teaches, there is no way to get around the importance of doctrine and it’s placed as the cornerstone of true Christianity. Without true Bible-based doctrine there is no such thing as true Christianity.
Without doctrine true Christianity does not exist because true Christianity is founded, established, and created based on the doctrines of God.
God’s word teaches us that without the right doctrine, God’s doctrine, you don’t have God or Christ and you are worshipping Christ in vain. Let’s examine scripture to get a clear picture of the importance of true Bible-based doctrine. God’s doctrine.
Listen to The Importance Of Doctrine.
Listen:The Importance Of Doctrine.
Added Saturday, July 20, 2013