Is Bible Doctrine Important?

Most people who claim to be Christians think the details of what doctrine we believe don’t matter, that all that matters is if you believe in Jesus. They reason that since preachers teach different doctrines, it must not matter to God. But since when does 2 + 2 equal 4 and 5 both?

I Timothy 4:16 says “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.” So to be saved, this text says we must continue in the doctrine. Meaning if we don’t continue in the doctrine, we won’t be saved – that is clear.

Evidently Jesus thought doctrine was important as he warned His disciples in Matt 16:12 “beware … of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” If doctrine doesn’t matter, why did Jesus warn his disciples of false doctrine?

II John 9 reads “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.” So the doctrine we believe and teach must be super important because it determines whether or not we have God. And we can’t be saved if we don’t have God, can we? No, the only way we can be saved is through the grace and mercy of God.

Jesus said in Matt 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Do you see how teaching the wrong doctrine results in our worship being vain (useless, worthless)? We certainly can’t be saved like that, can we?

If doctrine is not important, then it would be okay to believe, teach, and practice – abortion (Rev 21:8), gay marriage (Rom 1:26-27 “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet”), and etc.

If doctrine is important, then we shouldn’t go along with – women preachers (I Cor 14:34-35 “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church”), the teaching that water baptism is not necessary to salvation (Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned”), once saved always saved (Gal 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”), infant baptism (Acts 8:37 “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest” [be baptized]), sprinkling for baptism (Rom 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death”), etc., etc.

Romans 6:17 reads “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. Being then made from sin ….” That says to be made free from sin, we must obey the doctrine. Question: If we don’t know the correct doctrine, how are we going to obey the correct doctrine – in order to be saved from our sins?

I Timothy 6:3-5 instructs “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 … from such withdraw thyself.” So churches must withdraw fellowship from those who don’t consent to the doctrine taught by God’s word. Why, if Doctrine doesn’t matter?

II Timothy 4:3 reads “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.” This is why most preachers (even many gospel preachers) limit their preaching to only what their audience already accepts in order to increase their teaching opportunities and earnings. They even participate in the ostracization of those who teach the full truth, so they won’t be ostracized themselves.

Titus 1:9 says “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.” Not only must we have sound doctrine, it is important that we use it to correct false doctrine. And that is only a popular thing to do if one is correcting believers not present.

II John 10-11 instructs “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” Most seem to just go along with those in different churches who teach erroneous doctrines, but this forbids doing such; instead we must oppose false doctrine in order to save as many as possible (and ourselves – Acts 20:26-27,31).

Revelation 2:15 says “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” So we should hate false doctrine, not tolerate it.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Ephesians 4:14 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;

II 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,

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

What about the doctrine at the church you attend?

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