— Doctrine —
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?… (Isaiah 28:9 a&b)
What exactly is “Word and Spirit doctrine” anyway, and why is it so important?
Let’s start with the word doctrine.
First off, the word, “doctrine” has fallen on hard times. It seems as though churches and ministries in our day are less concerned than previous generations were about the importance of sound and systematic doctrine.
At its core, the word, ‘doctrine’ just means ‘teaching.’ So, when Jesus imparted to his disciples the mission of the church–what has come to be known as the Great Commission–the primary emphasis of his standing orders is captured within this idea of teaching
(see Matthew 28:19-20).
In the book of Acts, we find his disciples teaching and preaching everywhere they went (Acts 5:42; Acts 8:4; & Acts 11:19-21 etc.).
One of the reasons people are turned away from the word ‘doctrine’ is because of the word picture it paints in the mind. Perhaps that of dry and stodgy lectures and dusty volumes read by a monotonous authority figure who keeps droning on and on. In other words, people think doctrine is all cerebral, with no bearing on real life.
But make no mistake, our doctrine affects every area of our lives and must be lived out, not just known. In fact, the actual “doing” comes first (John 7:17, James 1:22). Obedience is the truest measure of discipleship.
The obedience of doctrine—
That’s why Jesus said, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:20 a, emphasis added). The Bible teaches we have to practice what we preach.
So, it really doesn’t matter that doctrine has fallen on hard times, because whether it is in season, or out of season, we are commanded to, “…speak…the things which become sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:1).
Where does good doctrine originate?
This brings us secondly to the subject of the sources of doctrine. Sound and proper doctrine comes only from God (John 7:16; 1Tim. 6:1, Titus 2:10), and more specifically, from Christ himself (John 18:19, Heb. 6:1, 2 John 1:9).
So, where does false doctrine originate?
More soberingly, however, the Bible informs us that false doctrine comes from men (Matt. 15:9, Mark 7:7, Col. 2:22) who, “…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.” (2Tim. 4:3-4).
The Pharisees and Sadducees were two such groups in existence during the time of Christ. Jesus warned his disciples against their doctrine; which he called, “the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” This teaching is later defined as hypocrisy, malice, and wickedness (Matt.16:6,12; Lk. 12:1; 1Cor. 5:6-8).
Ultimately, all false doctrine originates from the devil and his demons. “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;” (1 Tim.4:1). People who follow their lies backslide toward apostasy.
How does doctrine relate to real life?
There is without a doubt a correlation between what someone believes and what someone does, because our actions stem from our beliefs. False doctrine produces false lives full of inconsistency and immorality (1 Tim. 4:2), while sound, or healthy doctrine, produces strong, spiritual lives (Titus 1:13-14). Check out Luke 6:43-45 with doctrine in mind.
Sound doctrine gives spiritual life, but false, corrupt teaching erodes life and brings about spiritual death. “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;” (2 Tim. 2:17). The cancer of false teaching can spread to other parts of the body if we do not remove it with the sharp, yet precise, Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17, Heb. 4:12)
With such prevalence of false teaching and deception abounding, we are to, “give attendance to…doctrine;” to, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;” and to, “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” (1 Tim. 4:13-16).
We are also to be on guard against, “any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10 f). The word “sound” relates to that which is good, pure, and to that which produces life. Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63).
How does doctrine affect Word and Spirit people?
Finally, as doctrine relates to Word and Spirit, I leave you with 2 Tim. 1:13-14: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”
Hold fast the form of sound words, and keep them by the Holy Ghost. This characterizes Word and Spirit people.
In the following article we will take a closer look at Word and Spirit doctrine specifically, and why it’s important.