"The Importance of Doctrine"

I Timothy 4:16 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. (KJV)
I Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (NASB)
I Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (NIV)

As many of you know, I'm a big fan of parallel reading of the scriptures. Sometimes things come out more clearly when you read a verse in several English translations. Each of these effectively capture the importance of keeping our doctrine straight (as well as our lives). Notice first that we are to "take heed" "pay close attention", or "watch" both of these areas closely. I'm always amazed and appalled at the careless attitude many Christians (and ministers I might add) take towards doctrine. If I had a nickel for every time I heard someone in the church say "it's only doctrine- belief in Christ is the main thing." While the point is duly noted that without Christ there is no access to God, I think it is a tremendous insult to say that God's word to the church is of little or no value. Whether we like it or not- doctrine is in the bible- and it is for our edification, exhortation, and instruction!

Paul says we are to continue (or perservere) in the doctrines of scripture. We live in an hour of tremendous deception within the ranks of Christendom. Unity is placed at a premium, sensitivity to those who don't know Christ, and positive affirmation. All of those things have their place, but doctrine and behavior should be placed at a premium. After all, what we believe about Christ determines where we will spend eternity. Many believe that a man named Christ walked the earth, but not everyone believes that He is who He says He is (the Way, the Truth, the Life). Whether we would admit it or not, our doctrinal beliefs will affect how we behave. There is always an intrinsic link between belief and behavior (remember James says "faith without works is dead"). Paul speaks twice in Romans about the "obedience of faith" (interestingly enough they are found in the first and last chapters of a book dealing with the issue of justification by faith-I find it fascinating that Paul framed this book between these two sayings). Those who believe Christ could come at any moment will live their lives differently from those who have no expectation of His return (just count some time how many references there are to "watch" for His appearance). Those who believe in a rigid determinism will be tempted to pray less or put forth less effort from a practical standpoint because after all "everything's foreordained...therefore no need to pray."

We live in an hour of great doctrinal apostacy. Jesus Himself (when speaking about the signs of His return) said in the Olivet discourse "take heed that no man deceive you." Paul warned Timothy that the last days would be marked by "seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." Peter warned of false teachers who would "promise liberty, but they themselves are the servants of corruption." Jude warned of men ordained for the last days who would creep in and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness. But we also live in a day of great personal apostacy. Paul warned the Thessalonians about a "great falling away" in the last days and that many would "depart from the faith" (I Timothy 4-both doctrinal AND moral apostacy). That's why Paul told Timothy not only to watch his doctrine...but his life! Paul told the Corinthians that he must "keep under his body" lest that by any means-after he had preached to others -he HIMSELF would be a castaway!

We have become so conditioned to never question anything that we often neglect careful examination of our lives and doctrine. I realize this is somewhat of a heavy post today, but I think we would do well to take an inventory of what we believe, what we are teaching others, and how we are behaving. Eternal souls hang in the balance- Paul said that by watching our lives and doctrine closely that we will both save ourselves and those who hear us. A sobering truth- but truth indeed. I'll leave you with a famous writing by Matthew Simpson called "the preacher":

"His throne is the pulpit; he stands in Christ's stead; his message is the word of God; around him are immortal souls; the Saviour, unseen, is beside him; the Holy Spirit broods over the congregation; angels gaze upon the scene, and heaven and hell await the issue. What associations, and what vast responsibility! "

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