OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

A DOSE OF DOCTRINE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     It is interesting how some Scriptural terms are evil in the minds of some people.

1.       Religion:  people want to be spiritual, but do not want any part of religion (James 1:27)

2.       Sin:  people no longer sin; they just make mistakes. (I John 3:4)

3.       Lying:  No one admits to lying; everyone says they misspoke. (Eph. 4:25)

 

B.     Another evil word is “doctrine.”

1.       I have been asked:  “Are you a doctrinal preacher?”

2.       What we need is more love and less doctrine.

3.       Belief in Jesus unites, but doctrine divides.

 

C.     Before we forsake doctrine, perhaps we need to study it just a little.  That is what we will do tonight.  The title of our lesson is:  “A Dose of Doctrine.”

 

I.             STATISTICS

 

A.     The word “doctrine” is found 51 times in the KJV.

1.       It is found six times in the Old Testament.

2.       It is found 45 times in the New Testament.

 

B.     The word “doctrines” is found 5 times in the Bible.  All of these are in the New Testament.

 

C.     The word doctrine is found for the first time in Deuteronomy 32:2.

 

My doctrine shall drop as the rain…

 

D.    Three different Hebrews words are translated doctrine.

 

E.      Three different Greek words are translated doctrine.

1.       The main Greek word translated doctrine is “didache.”

a.       Strong (1322):  instruction

b.      Thayer:  teaching, that which is taught.

c.       This Greek word is translated doctrine in every verse except one.  In Titus 1:9, it is translated “hath been taught.”

 

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.

 

2.       The second Greek word translated doctrine is didaskalia.

a.       It also means teaching or instruction.

b.      Every time it is found, it is translated doctrine except twice.

1)       Teaching (Rom. 12:7)

2)       Learning (Rom. 15:4)

3.       The third Greek word translated doctrine is logos.  It is found only one time in the KJV (Heb. 6:1).

 

F.      Doctrine is not a bad, evil word.  It simply means teaching, instruction, and that which is taught.

 

II.           JESUS AND DOCTRINE

 

A.     Jesus taught doctrine.

1.       The Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:28)

 

And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.

 

2.       When he rebuked the Sadducees concerning their teachings about the resurrection (Matt. 22:33).

 

But when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

 

3.       Mark 4:2

 

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine.

 

B.     Jesus also warned about false doctrine (Matt. 16:12).

 

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

 

C.     An important point that Jesus made about the doctrine He was proclaiming (John 7:16)

 

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

 

1.       Jesus was not free to proclaim anything He desired.

2.       Jesus was authorized to teach only the teaching, or doctrine, that the heavenly Father gave to Him (John 12:49).

 

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

 

III.         SCRIPTURE CONTAINS OUR DOCTRINE

 

A.     The Scriptures have been revealed to provide us with doctrine (II Tim. 3:16).

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…

 

B.     II Timothy 4:2

 

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

 

C.     Titus 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.

 

IV.         OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TRUE DOCTRINE

 

A.     Give attendance to (I Tim. 4:13)

 

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

 

1.       Strong (4337):  to hold the mind towards, that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply one’s self to, adhere to.

2.       Thayer:  to bring near, turn the mind to, be attentive to, give attention to, attach one’s self to, to be given or addicted to

 

B.     Take heed and continue in the doctrine (I Tim. 4:16).

 

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them…

 

1.       Take heed

a.       Strong (1907):  to hold upon, that is retain

b.      Thayer:  to have or hold upon, to observe, attend to, pay attention to

2.       Continue in

a.       Strong (1961):  remain   :-  abide in, continue in, tarry

b.      Thayer:  to stay with, to continue, to remain, persevere, continue

c.       The early church did this (Acts 2:42).

 

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…

 

C.     Speak sound doctrine (Tit. 2:1)

 

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.

 

1.       Sound

a.       Strong (5198):  to be well, to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine)

b.      Thayer:  to be sound, to be well, to be in good health

2.       This also reveals that it is possible for a person to speak unhealthy or false doctrine.

3.       This command is repeated to Titus in Titus 2:7.

 

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

 

D.    Teach no other doctrine (I Tim. 1:3)

 

As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.

 

V.           HOW DO DEAL WITH TEACHERS OF FALSE DOCTINE

 

A.     Romans 16:17

 

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them.

 

1.       Mark

a.       Strong (4648):  to take aim at…regard

b.      Thayer:  to look at, observe, to fix one’s eyes upon, direct one’s attention to

2.       Avoid

a.       Strong (1578):  to deviate, shun

b.      Thayer:  to turn aside, to turn away from, keep aloof from, to shun one

 

B.     II John 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.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

 

1.       Receive him not into your house.

a.       John was writing to the elect lady.

b.      It was the practice of the day to invite traveling ministers into one’s home to show them hospitality on their journey.

c.       False teachers were not to be received.

2.       Neither bid him God speed

a.       This involves wishing one well.

b.      To do this would be to wish one well in the proclamation of false doctrine, doctrine that opposed the doctrine of Christ.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Doctrine is not an evil word.  In fact, it is a very important word to the Christian.

1.       Doctrine simply means teaching or instruction

2.       The doctrine, or teaching, of God’s Word is to be learned, paid attention to, observed, and continued in.

 

B.     Doctrine is slso important because it is attached to man’s salvation.

1.       Romans 16:16-17

 

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Being them made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

 

a.       To be free from sin and to become a servant or righteousness, one must obey from the heart the form of doctrine delivered by inspired men of old.

b.      The form of doctrine involves the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord (I Cor. 15:1-4).  This happens when we die to our old way of living, are buried in the waters of baptism, and are raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4).

2.       I Timothy 4:16

 

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