The Doctrine of Christ
As a Church, we obey adhere to the Doctrine of Christ, which is the Teaching the Lord Jesus Christ preached and taught for the three and a half years He was on the earth.
Matthew 7:28 says, ‘And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.’
Mark 4:2 says, ‘And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine.’
Mark 1:27 says, ‘And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this?’
John 7:16-17 says, ‘Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.’
The Doctrine of Christ is the Theology of the Lord Jesus Christ found in the Gospels. It comprises the Sermon on the Mount, His Parables, His Prophecies, His Sayings, and His Letters to the Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation.
More than that, the Doctrine of Christ is what the Lord imparted to the Apostles as the Curriculum accredited by Him to create more Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:18-19 says, ‘And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded the Apostles to go into all the world and make Disciples of all nations by teaching them all things the Lord commanded them, in other words, the Doctrine of Christ.
The Apostles therefore taught the Doctrine of Christ.
Romans 6:17 says, ‘But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.’
Romans 16:17-18 says, ‘Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.’
1 Timothy 6:3-4 says, ‘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; He is proud, knowing nothing…’
2 John 9-11 says, ‘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. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.’
Having said that, we read all of Scripture because we believe each and every Word in the Bible to be inspired.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.’
We therefore also study the Scriptures of the Old Testament with equal zeal.
Matthew 5:7-20 says, ‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’
Luke 24:44 says, ‘And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.’
Even though we read the Apostles and the Prophets, we interpret them through the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Words of the Lord Jesus Christ are therefore the Foundation of our understanding of the Scriptures.
Anything in the Scriptures that doesn’t line up with what the Lord Jesus Christ taught, and they are there, we disregard in favour of the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-2 says, ‘God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.’
The Lord Jesus Christ is therefore the Alpha and Omega of Doctrine. He’s the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
We therefore believe that the Doctrine of Christ is the only way the Christian can be discipled into maturity to become like the Lord Jesus Christ and be conformed into His Image.
Luke 6:40 says, ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, and everyone fully trained will be like his teacher.’
Ephesians 4:14-15 says, ‘Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.’
All our Discipleship efforts are therefore geared towards maturing the Christian to make him or her like the Lord Jesus Christ in every way.