THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF TRUTH

" . . . If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free . . . If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)

Devotion 7 of 20

CONSIDERING "DOCTRINE" #2

The understanding of doctrine is not the result of academic disciplines or teaching. While these are involved, they are not the cause or support of "spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9-11). Real understanding is appropriated by a sensitive heart. This is a revolutionary concept, but is clearly taught by our blessed Lord. "If any man will do (or wills to do) His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself" (John 7:17). A resolution to do the will of God makes room for the development of spiritual focus and understanding. If you really want to know what Jesus is talking about, the will of the Lord must become your preeminent quest.

This has a much higher priority in the faith-life than commonly perceived. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom 12:2, NASB). One of the tragedies of our time is the inordinate exaltation of academic, or mechanical, learning. It has robbed people of both heart and soul, making them more "cerebral" than spiritual. In Christ, those results are reversed.

Sound teaching tends toward godliness. That is because it has a focus that demands godly demeanor. It is possible to emphasize holiness without it being achieved in those being taught. The "doctrine" of God, however, will inevitably produce holiness in those that embrace it. This is the meaning of Paul's counsel to Timothy: "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" (1 Tim 6:3).

A life lived in acute awareness of, and dedication to, the Lord confirms the truth and effectiveness of sound doctrine. If the thrust of teaching is toward God, a life lived in that posture corroborates that teaching. Thus it is written, "Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things" (Titus 2:10).

The Apostles put the Lord Jesus Christ at the very heart of their teaching. Everything depended upon Him, Who is the "Head over all things to the church." Their preaching and teaching was not tangential, majoring on passing issues and novel interests. If issues did not relate to the "great salvation," they simply did not deal with them.

The "doctrine of Christ" is the teaching that has Christ at its center. The focal point of such teaching is not conduct, but the Son. He is immediately related to all sound doctrine. Any teaching that does not absolutely require Jesus--Who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do--is spurious, and is to be rejected. "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" (2 John 1:9). "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed" (2 John 1:10). There is a phenomenal amount of professed Christian teaching that actually does not require Christ. If Jesus had never come to earth, died, risen again, and ascended into heaven, much contemporary church teaching would remain in tact.

Jesus alerted His disciples to the thrust of the teaching given by the Pharisees and Sadducees. They did say some things that were true. However, their teaching did not lead men into the truth. They had objectives differing from God's, and thus their teaching was flawed at the core. It was like creeping leaven that pervaded the heart and mind, corrupting the understanding. "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" (Mat 16:12). Their doctrine stood on a foundation destined to crumble. How tragic that so much contemporary religious
teaching falls into this same category.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, deliver me from all teaching that does not absolutely require the Person of Christ, the work of Christ, and the return of Christ.

-- TOMORROW: ASPECTS OF TRUTH --