I ran this series of articles five years ago, and I felt that it would be good to run them again; as some of you may new readers since 2009.
How do you feel about Bible doctrine? I know that many people today are saying that we should not focus so much on Bible doctrine, but on getting along and loving one another. Well, I am all for loving one another. God’s people should be the icon of true love, whether it is brotherly love, friendship or love toward our spouse. Hebrews 13:1-4 talks about the three types of love. I realize that love among brethren is very important, but not at the expense of compromising the word of God.
What is Bible doctrine? The word “doctrine” actually means “teaching.” Why do we have to eliminate Bible teaching to get along or to love one another? Every child of God ought to be interested in Bible teaching; for the word of God is our very spiritual food. If you live on junk food all the time, you may get your belly full, but you may not get the proper nutrition needed to keep you healthy. If you are not feeding on the word of God, you are feeding on something else. What you are feeding on might make you feel good, but you are not getting the nutrition you need to sustain your spiritual life.
I know that there are people who believe that the Bible alone is not to be accepted as the final authority for religious teaching. Some believe that historical tradition should be included in order to have a well balanced theology. BE WARNED: when you begin to put man and man’s opinions into the religious equation you have nothing more than a man made religion. Paul said that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The Pharisees sacrificed the commandments of God for the traditions of men. The Lord Jesus said in Mark 7:9; “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” You simply cannot have a mixture of God’s divine wisdom and man’s frail, feeble , finite thoughts and come up with something pure.
I know that there are people who want nothing to do with Bible doctrine because it causes too much conflict. Well, yes it does cause conflict. Man by nature wants nothing to do with God or His word. Nor does man by nature want anything to do with those who hold His word dear and proclaim it. Some say, “why can’t we just all get along?” I can get along with anyone who believes the Bible to be the final authority in all things. I can get along with anyone who believes God’s word is the only truth. I can get along with anyone who believes that salvation is by grace through faith alone. If you don’t believe these things, then we can’t have much of a spiritual conversation.
Beloved, Bible doctrine is absolute and the essence of the Christian religion. It is also the essence of truth and the essence of holiness. Bible doctrine is the only thing—the only thing that leads mankind to a right relationship with God. Bible doctrine is the only thing which leads men and women to truly glorify God. If we mix man’s traditions, man’s ideas, and man’s values with the precious word of God, it is like mixing poison in our pure drinking water, it contaminates the whole.
Salvation is a Bible doctrine. That doctrine teaches that there is only one way to God and that is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. All other ways that men might try to approach God are futile and foolish. If you want to be saved and go to heaven then you must seek God’s way; for His way is the only way. John 14:6; “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” E-mail, johnpruitt@frontiernet.net.
