Social Gospel or The Doctrines of God?

by Mari

 

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

We can plainly see what is being taught is that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God! The result of teaching Scripture is that it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness.  This all results in the man of God being perfect and thoroughly furnished unto all good works! 

Doctrine is very important, though today some treat doctrine and the concept like it is a nasty word.  I think one reason is because it is doctrine that divides and disrupts peace among believers.  However, it is not the fault of doctrine, but of contentious people who do not want to stand on the truth of God’s Word, but sadly in their own feelings regarding His word.

As we see in 2Ti 3:16 it is doctrine that leads the list of what is profitable, followed by reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness!  If the word of God is your plumb-line you will believe God when He tells you what is profitable for you!  Which is obviously doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness! The doctrines of God are what we want to learn and teach one another!  We do not want to teach people to look for whatever may please them…as this may turn them to fables instead of the doctrines of God.

Look what Paul tells us here: 2Ti 4:1-4  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Too many Christian circles are morphing into this ecumenical thinking of that Rodney King expressed this way…”can’t we all just get along” rather than searching out true Biblical doctrine for real spiritual understanding and growth.  It is as if these religious people do not know or care that their salvation and the salvation of others is on the line for what one chooses to study, believe and teach!

Why is doctrine so important and what exactly is doctrine from a Biblical understanding?

A doctrine is something that is taught. What is taught in the Bible as doctrine are the essentials of the Christian faith, for example: Salvation by grace through faith. This is one quite important basic Bible/Christian doctrine!  If you are being taught that you must add your own works to your faith for salvation, you will understand that this is not a Christian doctrine and is a false teaching, a false doctrine.  We need to know the doctrines of God so that we will know and understand the difference when false doctrines are being taught. These would be the doctrines of men (Col 2:22) or of the doctrines of devils! (1Tim 4:1)

We should not have fellowship with those who worship another God! And we don’t know that they may be worshipping a false god unless we know Biblical doctrine for who Jesus is according to the word of God.  It is the word of God and His doctrines that weed out who is a true believer and who is not.

2Co_6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Eph_5:11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Four examples of the false doctrines of men and devils are as follows: Mormons who believe that Jesus is the brother of Lucifer, the devil. Or Jews, who do not believe Jesus is the Son of God. Or Muslims who believe Jesus was simply a prophet. Or the RCC doctrine that one must eat their god to have his presence in them. The Roman Catholics are the originators of this present ecumenical lie. Ecumenicalism is a doctrine that teaches a coming together of men not according to the word and doctrines of God, but according to the teaching (doctrines) of men and devils.

Mar_7:7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Col_2:22  Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

 

1Ti_4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

 

People forget that the devil wants folks to be ecumenical, all inclusive, and that he does not want believers to take a stand for truth, nor even to know what the foundational truths of the Christian faith are! The devil wants everyone to just get along and not worry about the content or what is being taught, but instead to simply be concerned about one another’s feelings and how they get along together.  Many no longer want to be a good soldier of Christ (if they ever even knew they are to be a good soldier and to endure hardness (2Tim 2:3) risking telling another the truth if they know it…but have decided to become His social director is more fun and the better, safer path for them to take!

2Co_11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Many have swallowed the lie hook, line and sinker that to question a practice, tradition or doctrine, or worse yet, to take a doctrinal stand is divisive! Then they attack the person who is pointing out the heresy to the brethren, rather than study the word of God to prove what is true or not true…they often simply continue swallowing the heretical doctrine.

When people are not walking or teaching according to Biblical truth we are to bring them back to the doctrines of God.  How? We are told to reprove, to correct, for instruction in righteousness. We take them to the word of God.  We do not beat them up, or put them down as people, we simply reprove, correct, for instruction in righteousness through the word of God.  It is then up to them the direction they choose to go.

It is Jesus Himself who taught that truth, thereby doctrine comes before peace, and it was Jesus who brought division!

Luk 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Why? Why did Jesus come to give division rather than peace?

He brought division to Israel because they were not walking according to God. They were not witnessing to the nations the God of Israel.  Jesus came to separate faithful Israel from unfaithful Israel! It is the same today in the sense that there are those who are willing to stand for the truth no matter the cost…and those who will blame those who try to dispel error in the church body, as those causing the division!  One is for the truth and another says the truth is divisive, going after the person not the doctrine that person is fighting against!  This is a sad state of affairs in the body of Christ today.

Too often today in this Catholic shadowed new religion of Ecumenicalism among believers, where Bible doctrines are being held as spongy and people are moving with emotional dictates rather than the doctrines of God’s written word!  Today, too often personal belief based on the foundation of one’s own feelings is of higher importance than are the facts given by God in His word!

The very foundation of our Christian faith based in Jesus Christ is being constantly eroded by those who have accepted their own inner voice and personal sense of discernment over God’s written word! Their feelings of right and wrong supersede what the word of God teaches! There is no longer a plumb-line other than self-determination, and erroneously placing trust in themselves over God! The word of God is no longer important for instruction in righteousness. Spiritual chaos ensues.

Sadly, folks today can be quite publically adamant about their personal discernment being given the highest rating over facts and the doctrines of God! Feelings over the written word of God is becoming quite a common stance!  And many do not care what you or I or anyone else thinks or cares if they feel good about what they are hearing or believing that they feel is helping them and making them feel better.  If what they are hearing makes them feel good nothing else seems to matter. Including the possible subverting of others faith!

I found out at Grace Ambassadors that this attitude is called lasciviousness! (Eph 4:19) Which is all about what they want, what they feel is important!  If one goes this way, believes this way, put this way above the truth of the written word of God…in short order God will turn one over to lasciviousness!

I believe this can happen to those who no longer believe in sin or have lost all sense of sin, or are no longer concerned with sin. This is another huge problem in this ecumenical world without Biblical foundations.  When people openly declare their personal discernment is of higher value than the word of God and stand in no fear of judgment, they have grown hardened to sin and useless to God to teach others His way in the life of an Ambassador.

Look what Paul said of Demas: 2Ti_4:10a For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

Demas loved the present world more than he loved the truth of God.  He was a fellow saved child of God who determined to please himself and his own ways than those of the Lord and the Apostle Paul.  While still saved, Demas was not a good soldier of Christ (2 Ti 2:3) having chosen to go his own way.  When one decides to go their own way it seems they easily, easily find others who are like-minded.  The Bible says this:

2Ti_4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

Sound, foundational doctrine is what we are to adhere to and be guardians for the truth of God.

1Ti_4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

God tells us that by the inspiration of God, His word is profitable for doctrine.

2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We are to preach God’s word, reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine!

2Ti_4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

We are to hold fast to the faithful word of God that by sound doctrine we may both exhort and convince the gainsayers!

Tit_1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Doctrine is serious business and it is the showing of uncorruptness, gravity and sincerity.

Tit_2:7  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

To follow God’s order for peace, we are charged to defend sound doctrine. How can we have sound doctrine in a group if we have allowed any doctrine of men and devils to join in?

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Today many are actually blindly promoting the devil’s work in helping to deceive themselves and others with false and unprofitable teachings that are based on what feels good with a false “fellowship”. There is no profitable teaching nor fellowship in the Lord without the truth and without a foundation in sound Biblical doctrine.

Bible fellowship today is more than food, fun, entertainment and friends or hearing what you want to hear. You do not need God for that kind of physical enjoyment. Biblical fellowship is what God provides when His word works effectually in those that believe the gospel and doctrines of God as well as the word of truth rightly divided. (2 Tim 2:15)

If one finds themselves in a place where men and women are influencing their life and bringing a sense of peace more than the word of God …it is time to get back to basics.  Start spending time in the word of God daily.  From Romans to Philemon will give you our instructions for today from our Apostle Paul.

In His most amazing grace,

Mari

SWORDS (Strong Women Of Rightly Divided Studies)