What is doctrine?

Doctrine or teaching is essential for Christians at all times, and never more so than in these last days, for, says the Apostle, "the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth" (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Divine teaching brings to us the mind and will of God, and should not be despised. Some have said, We do not want teaching, we want Christ. But we cannot have Christ apart from the teaching of Christianity, the One who said, "My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me" (John 7:16-17).

Let us notice that, first of all, the apostle puts the doctrine as that for which Scripture is "profitable." Doctrine must come first, as the basis of everything. Truth must be ours before there can be the application of truth... The first use of the doctrine is for "conviction." It is light that shines upon us, shines upon all the road in which we are... "Correction" is that which is to follow "conviction," while "training in righteousness" carries us on to the positive side of things, and occupies us with the good in itself, and not merely enables us to distinguish it from the evil.

The fact is that many fundamental doctrines are not summarised in Scripture by a single defining statement. To find the scriptural authority for a doctrine it may be necessary to glean information from many places. The clear inferences from all these texts are then put together and the doctrine is found proven, so that it can be defined in a plain statement. This statement is not in the plain words of Scripture, but, in spite of that, the doctrine so stated has all the authority of the Word of God behind it.

If I take scripture simply, without wishing to add to it or take from it, I have no choice. It is God's book to me, and I have nothing to do either to choose or refuse... Men commonly say, "I must choose my own religion." But this supposes that God has not spoken; that He has not given a revelation, and a form of doctrine. Paul thanked God that the Roman saints had obeyed from the heart the "standard of teaching to which you were committed." There is no thought in scripture of Christians choosing their own doctrine.

It is very evident it would cover the truth of the Lord's Deity, His true Manhood, His sinless life on earth, His atoning death on the cross of Calvary, His resurrection from among the dead, His coming again, the testimony of Christ to the Scriptures, and of the Scriptures to Christ. It is very evident "the doctrine of Christ" is something very vital and fundamental concerning the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In opening the epistle the Apostle wrote of "the truth, which accords with godliness," for all real "truth" has this as its effect and fruit. That which has not is thereby declared to be spurious and not "truth" at all. But, on the other hand, in writing, "teach what accords with sound doctrine," he indicated that any course of behaviour or speech not in keeping with truth and sound doctrine is thereby condemned. Sound doctrine and sound conduct fit one another like a die and the impression it makes in the wax.

To have the head full of doctrine without its having a corresponding effect upon the heart and life is terrible, and works only havoc. To be a soulless machine, reeling out glib, correct doctrine, and for our utterances not to be the communications of the heart is disastrous in Christian life.

There is nothing, on the human side of the effects of the truth, more admirable than its practical power on the heart of those once degraded or even depraved. See it in the converted robber's bearing while he was suffering the agonies of crucifixion. What newborn reverence! What confession of sins! What sense of righteousness! What boldness of faith! Was not this, even then and there, to adorn the doctrine of our Saviour God?