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What Is Doctrine?

The word “doctrine” simply means “teaching”, either of an individual or a group. But from what source? For example, Jesus warned His disciples about the “doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12). Their “doctrine” or teaching originated from an uninspired source. The people were astonished at the “teaching” or “doctrine” of Christ, because it was authoritative (Matthew 7:28-29).

The Doctrine Of Christ Defined

Christ’s “doctrine” is that inspired body of New Testament teaching (Gal. 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-6; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21) which Christ originated and propagated through his chosen representatives (the apostles – John 14:15-31).

The Doctrines Of Men Defined

In Matthew 15, the scribes and Pharisees accused the disciples of Jesus of transgressing the tradition of the elders (Matthew 15:2). These traditions did not have their origin with God but were man-made. Because of this, Jesus said their worship had become “vain” (Matthew 15:9). It was vain because they had added the doctrine or teachings of men to the will of God. In Matthew 23:1-33, the Lord gives evidence of how the scribes and Pharisees had corrupted the Word of God. When we change the Word of God, for whatever reason, worship and daily service to God will be corrupted because of the entrance of another Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). That kind of worship is described as “will worship” in Colossians 2:23 (cf. Matthew 6:1-8; Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7). John warned that those who refused to abide in the “doctrine of Christ” (2 John 1:9) did not have God. Denominational bodies (churches) would not be in existence today were it not for the false man-made doctrines they teach contrary to God’s will as revealed in the New Testament (Matthew 7:21; Hebrews 9:11-16).

Conclusion

The New Testament “doctrine” of Christ teaches that there is “one body” (Ephesians 4:4), not multiple “bodies” or churches, and that “one body” is Christ’s church (Ephesians 1:22-23; cf. Matthew 16:18). He is the “head of the church” (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23) and “the saviour of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). The Lord Himself adds those who are being saved to His body, “the church” (Acts 2:47; Acts 5:14).

Brethren, let’s be found “abiding in the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 1:9). Abiding in any other doctrine is spiritual adultery (Romans 7:1-3).