Introduction...continued

The Doctinal Effect - The Necessity of Doctrine

Peter Lewis (5) said this "To say 'Never mind doctrine, let's get on with evangelism' is as ridiculous as a football team saying 'Never mind about the ball, let's get on with the game.'"

So what objection do people have to taking time to study sound doctrine?

1) The church doesn't need doctrine because it is doctrine that has caused so many denominations to appear.

The answer here is the bible's emphasis on sound doctrine. Doctrine existed before the church. The church didn't originate doctrine, rather it originates from God. It is the person who rejects the doctrines of God that causes division. That is why our doctrine must be bible based and not based in tradition, science or humanistic principles.

2) It doesn't matter what you believe; it only matters who you believe in. It is impossible to separate Jesus from his doctrine. He and his teaching are one. No one can accept Christ and reject his teaching. It is possible to accept part of his teaching and to reject him but this is pointless. To accept Jesus fully we must accept his teaching fully. John 7:16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me."

3) It doesn't matter about doctrine let's get on with evangelism.

Evangelistic zeal like any other zeal is like a fire, it needs both feeding and watching.
John Trapp said "Zeal without knowledge is like a wild fire in a fool's hand."

Mat 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

We live in a world where relativism is rife, where people say that there are no absolutes.

Gerald Coates when told by a man that there are no absolutes asked the question "Are you absolutely sure about that?"

As Christians we can know that God, his word, his truth and his law stand out as eternal absolutes, unchanged and unchanging, forever reliable. Today agnosticism, relativism, situation ethics and philosophies of men pervade our society and the church.

This is why all believers need to know:
   1. WHO they believe
   2. WHAT they believe, and
   3. WHY they believe it.

The teaching we believe, receive, obey and practice will determine
   1. CHARACTER - what we are
   2. BEHAVIOUR - what we do
   3. DESTINY - where we go

A strong character is produced by strong beliefs, and clearly defined doctrine makes for clear-cut conviction.

John 8:31-32 'To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."'

Truth combats error and light dispels darkness. The need is not to fight error or darkness as such, but rather to declare truth and turn on the light, and thus dispel the error and darkness.

William Barclay said, "We must remember that any doctrine or belief must finally be judged by the kind of people it produces."

He tells an old eastern fable about a man who owned a beautiful ring and whoever wore it became so sweet and true in character that all men loved him. The man became very successful and had three sons. When he was dying he had duplicates of the ring made and gave one to each son without the others knowing. When they found out that they each had a ring, to discover the real ring they went to a judge who said " You must each wear your ring and as the true ring brings sweetness and truth of character to the wearer we will be able to judge by your goodness. So go on your way, be kind, truthful, brave and just in your dealings. He who does these things will have the true ring.

If we hold to the teaching of Jesus, that is we believe, receive, obey and practice his teaching, it will cause us to be light in the darkness, displaying in our everyday life as we journey with Jesus - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

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