There is a common misconception within some Christian circles, that doctrine (that is teaching), is insignificant. That it is somehow irrelevant to the Christian walk, and that rather, we should simply “love one another.” While the latter is true, for love truly is the greatest, 1 Cor. 13:13, and by love, all men shall know that we are Christ’s disciples John 13:35, it is also the will of God that we know His Word. In Matthew 28:20,after Jesus rose from the dead, appearing to His disciples, He said:
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Word given to Hosea stated:
Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. 3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. 4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest. :5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
Without knowledge of the Word (doctrine/teaching), that is knowing what God expects of His children, we will fall (Hosea 4:5). It is an apparent ploy of satan’s ministers to withhold teaching the “simplicity of the gospel” to their congregations. They will simply share that Jesus was born of a virgin, died on the cross and rose again, however, the conditions of salvation are startlingly withheld – repentance, abiding in Christ, dieing to self, and yielding to the Spirit. They do not teach it because they do not know it. They do not know it, because it was not taught to them. Sadly because of lack of love of the Word and dedication to studying the Will of God in the scriptures, many Christians are weak and have no power to resist the wiles of the devil. Compounding to this deficiency is that they are assured they have peace with God.
Without knowledge, (doctrine) people are destroyed and it is paramount for all Christians to understand that because they have rejected knowledge, God will reject THEM. The condemnation is not only on the priests/pastors, but on those that love to have it so. Jeremiah 5:31.
Deut. 32 is a strong warning to us, as it was to the children of Israel, what will fall upon a people who reject Him. We must remember, that when we are rejecting God’s doctrine, we are rejecting God Himself. Deut 32 reads
Deu 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
What is rain? What is dew? Is it not the water from heaven that gives life to all living things? What is the water from heaven, but the Word of God. Ephesians 5:26 This pure living water that flows out of the temple of God are the words of life, that cup of water that Christ wishes we give to one another, for His words are Spirit and they are life.
Deu 32:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
Moses publishes the name of the Lord – and His name is the Word of God. Revelation 19:13.
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Jesus is the Rock, 1 Cor. 10:4, and He teaches us judgment, truth, what is just and what is right. Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Mathew 4:4
Deu 32:5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.
Rather than being presented as a glorious church, without spot (Ephesians 5:27), the children of Israel were unholy and blemished. Moses called them a perverse and crooked generation because they had corrupted themselves.
6. Do you thus deal with the LORD,O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?7“ Remember the days of old,Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you: 8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations,When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For the LORD’s portion is His people;Jacob is the place of His inheritance.
Deu 32:10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
Was not that waste howling wilderness, the land of sin and death? But God led the children of Israel out, God instructed them with his DOCTRINE, and kept them, because He loved them.
11 As an eagle stirs up its nest,Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, 12 So the LORD alone led him,And there was no foreign god with him. 13 “He made him ride in the heights of the earth, (Risen with Christ)That he might eat the produce of the fields; He made him draw honey from the rock, And oil from the flinty rock;
What is honey?
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Son 4:11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
14 Curds from the cattle, and milk of the flock, With fat of lambs; And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the choicest wheat; And you drank wine, the blood of the grapes.
What is wheat and wine?
Our bread comes from the grain, and Jesus is that bread; the wine is the Spirit. We can know that because we have studied the teachings (doctrine) of scripture.
15 “But Jeshurun (means straight, another name for Israel)grew fat and kicked;You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him,
And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation. 16 They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods;With abominations they provoked Him to anger.17 They sacrificed to demons, not to God,To gods they did not know, To new gods, new arrivals That your fathers did not fear. 18 Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful,And have forgotten the God who fathered you. 19 “And when the LORD saw it, He spurned them,Because of the provocation of His sons and His daughters. 20 And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them,I will see what their end will be,For they are a perverse generation, Children in whom is no faith.
God says these were children with no faith. The apostate churches today teach that sin is not the issue, yet claim still to have faith in Christ. This scripture proves that following a path of wickedness removes one from the faith.
21 They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in My anger,And shall burn to the lowest hell; It shall consume the earth with her increase,
And set on fire the foundations of the mountains. 23 ‘I will heap disasters on them;
I will spend My arrows on them. 24 They shall be wasted with hunger,Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction; I will also send against them the teeth of beasts, With the poison of serpents of the dust. 25 The sword shall destroy outside;There shall be terror within For the young man and virgin, The nursing child with the man of gray hairs. 26 I would have said, “I will dash them in pieces,I will make the memory of them to cease from among men,” 27 Had I not feared the wrath of the enemy,Lest their adversaries should misunderstand, Lest they should say, “Our hand is high; And it is not the LORD who has done all this.”’ 28 “For they are a nation void of counsel, Nor is there any understanding in them.
Void of counsel – void of the understanding of God His teachings.
29 Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,That they would consider their latter end!
God wishes they were wise, knowing that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.
30 How could one chase a thousand,And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had surrendered them? 31 For their rock is not like our Rock,Even our enemies themselves being judges. 32 For their vine is of the vine of SodomAnd of the fields of Gomorrah; Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter. 33 Their wine is the poison of serpents,And the cruel venom of cobras. 34 ‘Is this not laid up in store with Me,Sealed up among My treasures? 35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;Their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’ 36 “For the LORD will judge His people
And have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is no one remaining, bond or free. 37 He will say: ‘Where are their gods,The rock in which they sought refuge? 38 Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,And drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise and help you, And be your refuge. 39 ‘Now see that I, even I, am He,And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; wound and I heal; or is there any who can deliver from My hand. For I raise My hand to heaven,And say, “As I live forever, 41 If I whet My glittering sword,And My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My enemies, And repay those who hate Me. 42 I will make My arrows drunk with blood,and My sword shall devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.”’ 43 “ Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;[a]For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”
God’s people were destroyed because they rebelled against His Word (doctrine).
(Pro 4:2) For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
(Isa 28:9) Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. (The mature)
The Word became flesh in Jesus Christ and many were astounded at His teachings/doctrine:
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, (DOCTRINE) and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. :26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Jesus warns us against the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees:
Mat 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.
Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh, the Word that was made flesh, amazed his followers by His miracles and power.
(Mar 1:27) And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Jesus Christ was given all power in heaven and earth and He gave power to His disciples as well.
1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
(Mar 11:18) And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
(Joh 7:17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Act 2:42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(Rom 6:17) 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.
(Rom 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.
1Co 14:6) Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
(1Co 14:26) How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
Eph 4:14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(1Ti 1:3) As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
(1Ti 1:10) For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
(1Ti 4:6) If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
(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.
(1Ti 5:17) Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 6:1) Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
(1Ti 6:3) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
(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 4:2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(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;
(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.
(2Jn 1:9) 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.
(2Jn 1:10) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
Do not receive him! If one comes to you that is bringing another teaching, but says they are a Christian, we must have the discernment to know that they are not to be accepted as brethren.
Jesus warns of the doctrines of Balaam, Balac, Nicolatians and Jezebel in the book of Revelation, as teachings that will condemn.
(Rev 2:14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
(Rev 2:15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Rev 2:24) But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
The scriptures clearly teach us that knowing doctrine, obeying doctrine, and teaching doctrine ARE the will of God. We have read the rewards on those who follow it, and sadly, the consequences that will fall upon those who resist it.
Many will come in name (THE WORD) saying they are Christ. How will we know the true from the false? By doing the will of God…for if any man will do the will of God, he will know of the doctrine.
