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The Kind Of Doctrine We Believe Does Matter!

For the past few years, the book entitled, “The Purpose Driven Life” by author Rick Warren, has been extremely popular in the religious world. While the premise and purpose of the book is a good one, much religious error is propagated throughout its pages. It is not a book that should be read or studied by those who do not have a good grounding in the Scriptures, as they may be easily misled.

For example, concerning the final judgment, Mr. Warren says on page 34 of his book:

“God won’t ask you about your religious background or doctrinal views. The only thing that will matter is, did you accept what Jesus did for you and did you learn to love and trust him.”

Let’s think about his statement for a moment. Does not a person’s “religious background” and “doctrinal views” depend directly upon on their acceptance, love, and trust in the Savior by the keeping of His commandments? (cf. John 14:15 NKJV; John 15:10 NKJV; 1 John 2:3-5 NKJV). If one truly accepts Jesus, he will follow and obey Him. Jesus said:

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NKJV).

Do we accept Jesus as the only way into a right relationship with the Father? If we truly love Jesus, we will obey the Lord (Matthew 7:21 NKJV; John 14:15 NKJV). The question then becomes, “Do we truly want to obey Jesus, or do we just want to ‘say’ we love Him?” When the Scripture says:

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16 NKJV).

Do we truly trust Jesus and obey His will, or do we try to find a loophole, trying to “explain away” this crystal-clear statement? One who truly accepts, loves, and trusts Jesus will have the right “religious background” or “doctrinal views” that God expects of His people. Those who have obeyed the Lord will be added to His church, thus having the right “religious background” (Acts 2:47 NKJV). Those who continue to obey the Lord through His doctrine found in the New Testament, will have the proper “doctrinal views.” In speaking to Titus, Paul emphatically instructed:

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1 NKJV).

Brethren and friends, the kind of doctrine we believe does matter! This truth is made abundantly clear throughout the New Testament. Timothy was told by Paul:

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV).

Folks, Timothy couldn’t make up his own doctrine — he had to follow the doctrine that the apostle Paul taught by inspiration (Gal. 1:11-12 NKJV; Ephesians 3:3 NKJV) — and so do we!

The doctrine that Paul taught came directly from God (2 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV; 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV) — not Rick Warren or anyone else. Thus, we must not only give heed to those things taught in the New Testament — we must obey them! Because our Lord said:

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48 NKJV).

Brethren and friends, if we reject the inspired words of the Lord, we are rebelling against Him and refusing to obey. Thus, when He rejects us on the day of judgment, we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves (cf. Romans 2:1-6 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 5:10 NKJV).