Doctrine, Who Needs it?

"I've been baptised in the Holy Spirit and you haven't. So don't talk to me about doctrine, because I know. The Holy Spirit teaches me all I need to know about doctrine. He shows me what is right and what is wrong. It's experience that counts, not obsolete doctrine."

'a principle or set of principles and beliefs held by a religious, political or other group.'

When Yahweh's Son, Yeshua the Messiah, came to earth he confirmed this fact. He practised and taught his Father's doctrines - nothing else! All his sermons were based on the 'religious principles' he had learned from his heavenly Father. They were not his own ideas: they were his Father's. Listen to the Saviour's own testimony:

John 7:	16: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 12:	49: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50: And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

The Saviour's famous Sermon on the Mount is an example of his Father's doctrine.

Matthew 7:

28: And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.

Why is Doctrine so Important?
The answer is: because Yahweh's principles motivate all His actions and laws. They give us insight into His plans and methods. Consequently when you study divine law, you are also studying the motivating principles and will of the Almighty God! You are studying eternal principles which uphold and govern the present and the future universe. No subject could possibly compare with the study of divine law: because it is the study of Yahweh's own will and character.

3. THE DOCTRINES OF MEN
Sad to say, the self-worshipping human mind thought it could do better than the Almighty. It began to conceive doctrines of its own. In this article these are called man-made doctrines. Yes, believe it or not, man set about to design his own doctrines, principles, laws and standards of morality. It wasn't long before the church joined in and jettisoned long established Biblical principles (doctrines) handed down by the prophets and Apostles of old. The church adopted the 'doctrines of men:' and to each incoming doctrine it gave a Christian title. Let me list a few of the doctrines the church adopted from heathenism.

• Mother and Child Worship: This began in ancient Babylon and spread to the ends of the earth.
• Christmas: This popular festival came directly from paganism.
• Sunday Observance: The weekly rest day of sun-worshipping pagans.
• Infant Baptism: Nowhere in the scriptures will you find infants being baptised. Jesus Christ was baptised at the age of 30 years! In Scripture infants are dedicated, adults baptised.
• The Rosary: Another practice adopted from paganism.
• The Sign of the Cross: "The same sign of the cross that Rome now worships was used in the Babylonian Mysteries, was applied by Paganism to the same magic purposes, was honoured with the same honours. That which is now called the Christian cross was originally no Christian emblem at all, but the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and Egyptians - the true original form of the letter T - the initial of the name Tammuz." (The Two Babylons (page 197). This informative book is published by PARTRIDGE and Co. 4 Soho Square, London UK)

"Howbeit in vain do they worship me,
  teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

4. THE DOCTRINES OF THE NICOLAITANS
False doctrine always leads to sin; and more often than not to sexual sin. Indeed that is the very reason why Satan works so hard at getting mankind to adopt falsehood. But Yahweh hates false doctrine. Therefore, no matter how attractive or exciting false doctrine may appear, it must be put out of our lives. Only then will we be able to stand in the Day of Judgement.

Revelation 2:

6: But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Who are the Nicolaitans? According to the Westminster Dictionary of the Bible (page 427) they were:

"A party or sect in the churches of Ephesus and Pergamos whose practice and doctrine are severely censured. Following the doctrine of Balaam, they taught that Christians were free to eat things offered to idols and to commit the excesses of heathenism, (Rev.2:6, 14,15), contrary to the command issued by the apostolic council held at Jerusalem A.D. 50 (Acts 15:29)... A sect of Nicolaitans existed among the Gnostics of the 3rd century. They too taught the freedom of the flesh ..."

5. YAHWEH'S DOCTRINE
The Saviour taught sound doctrine; that is, the spiritual principles he learned from his Heavenly Father. Never did he conceive a doctrine of his own: though he often needed to magnify, explain and demonstrate his Father's doctrines and the laws based on them. Here is proof of this astonishing fact.

John 7:	16: Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 8:	28: Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

The Key to Understanding Sound Doctrine
Sound doctrine is best understood by the obedient; by those who really want to do the Father's will. You have absolutely no chance whatsoever of appreciating the value of true spiritual principles and divine law if you blatantly practice sin or do not wish to give it up. Only the obedient understand the Father's will. (Daniel 12:10)

John 7:

17: If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,   whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

6. THE DOCTRINE OF DEVILS
Devils are evil angels who have revolted against the Almighty. They are spirit beings and they posses enormous powers. In the distant past millions of evil angels rejected Yahweh's authority and His laws. Ever since, they have done their utmost to ruin His creation and frustrate His work. The Holy Spirit warns us about the increased activity of evil spirits (devils) in the days just prior to the return of Jesus Christ to earth.

1 Timothy 4:

1: 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 ... 3: Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

One such doctrine of devils is 'enforced celibacy.' Another is to 'forbid eating meat.' (verse 3). These two doctrines are widespread in pagan lands, where they originated. They are classified in Scripture as the 'doctrines of devils.' Sad to say the Christian church adopted these two doctrines. The tragic consequences of this adoption continues to this day in communities around the world.

7. SHOULD WE PREACH SOUND DOCTRINE?
We are commanded to preach sound doctrine. The world is perishing because of a lack of sound doctrine; those divine principles which teach us how to regulate our behaviour. The popular church has departed from the doctrines of the Bible and are now wallowing in the unclean doctrines of men and angels. Because of this, sin in its myriad forms is smothering the life out of billions of souls! We dare not remain silent; even if it means upsetting some readers, a reaction we deeply regret.

• Jesus taught sound doctrine
  

  Mark 1:	22: And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
  Mark 12:	38: And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces.

• The Apostles taught sound doctrine
  

  Acts 5:	28: Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
  Acts 13:	12: Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
  Acts 17:	19: And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

• Scriptural advice concerning doctrine

  1 Timothy 1:	3: As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.
  1 Timothy 4:	6: If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
  1 Timothy 4:	13: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine ...
  verse 16	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 Timothy 5:	17: Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
  1 Timothy 6:	1: Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
  2 Timothy 3:	16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
  Titus 1:	9: Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
  Titus 2:	1: But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
  2 John 1:	9: 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:	10: If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.
  Revelation 2:	14: But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
  2 Timothy 4:	2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. 3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.

• Sound doctrine is a set of moral principles which comes from Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel. It forms the basis of His character, His will and His law.
• Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) always taught sound doctrine; which he received from His heavenly Father. He never introduced a single doctrine of his own: but always magnified his Father's laws in order that mankind would appreciate their meaning.
• Sad to say the Christian church set aside the doctrines of the Almighty and adopted in their place the 'doctrines of men and angels' (Sunday observance, Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, relic/idol worship, celibacy of the priesthood etc.).
• Teaching and living by the 'doctrines of men' results in vain, futile and worthless worship. Believers may delude themselves and each other; but we cannot delude the Almighty. The Saviour's warning was: 'Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted will be rooted up.' This applies to all false doctrine, be it of men or angels.
• The Bible admonishes us to live by sound doctrine:- the principles of Yahweh.
• If you really wish to understand the will of the Almighty you must begin to obey His commandments: which are simply the divine definitions of His own principles.
• You may have had some extremely exciting experiences. I'll not doubt them. But if you are relying on personal experiences instead of the Word of God, then you are in for a big surprise on the soon-coming Day of Judgement.

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