Christians do you desire to grow more deeper in biblical doctrines? By doctrines I mean the truth found in God’s Word. While I have written more on defining doctrine and theology in my post ‘Doing’ Christian Theology in the 21st Century here in this post I want to look more at Bible verses on the topic that Christians must grow deeper in doctrines.
1. We are to realize doctrines matter
- Point: Sometimes the reason why Christians are not growing in biblical doctrines is because they don’t think doctrines even matter. This is not so.
- Passage: “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.” (1 Timothy 4:16)
- Proof:
- Paul is giving this exhortation to Timothy, a young pastor and leader of the church.
- Note command: “Pay close attention“
- What a pastor must “Pay close attention” are the following:
- “to yourself“
- “ and to your teaching“–>Note here doctrines are mentioned.
- Notice the focus is on the preacher’s own life and doctrinal beliefs first before it is about what others and the church’s life and doctrines.
- Apparently life and doctrines are important for we also see here the exhortation “persevere in these things.“
- What is the reason for the importance of Christian life and doctrines? “for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
- It is important for salvation; specifically the doctrines of what you believe if it is biblical.
- Note this importance of believing biblical doctrines is not only for pastors but also “for those who hear” the pastors and teachers.
- Thus doctrines are important!
- Practice:
- Do you see doctrines as important? If you do, you would strive to grow deeper in biblical doctrines!
- As part of watching your own doctrine carefully you need to realize that working through theology from the Bible deeper allows you to be better discerning and better at defending your faith from false teachers and those who want to attack the Gospel and the message of salvation. So grow deeper in doctrines!
- What if you don’t see doctrines as important?
- Is your salvation important to you? If not, you might want to check to see if you understand what you are saved from: Hell and the wrath of God. Its these doctrinal truths you must understand and take to heart. You must know you are a sinner who deserves the wrath of God. Unless you understand you are lost, only then would you realize you need to be saved. And once you are saved you would desire to persevere in right doctrines.
- After you are genuinely saved, you would have a new regenerate heart that desire to please God with your life. Doctrines are the motives for godly obedience; therefore you would want to grow in doctrines to fuel your loving obedience to God!
2. We are to move beyond elementary things
- Point: Sometimes Christians don’t grow deeper in deeper biblical doctrines is because they don’t realize this is what God’s Word encourages us to do.
- Passage: “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,” (Hebrews 6:1)
- Proof:
- Doctrines is the focus here.
- Note the words “elementary teaching;” doctrines are teachings.
- Note the specific doctrine of:
- “repentance from dead works“
- “ and of faith toward God“
- Here we see the verse say “leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ” but that does not mean we are abandoning these doctrines.
- We know this does not mean abandoning the elementary teaching/doctrine of Christ because this verse goes on to say “not laying again a foundation.” So these elementary teaching about Christ is foundational. And the foundation can’t be moved. When it says “not laying again a foundation” it is to make the point that Christians must be solid and grounded in “the elementary teaching about the Christ” to not require having to have others try to establish the foundation for the believers again and again.
- We know this does not mean abandoning the elementary teaching/doctrine of Christ because the verse goes on to say “let us press on to maturity,” showing that the specific situation here being described is a group of Christians who are immature and requiring to have the foundation being laid out again.
- Let me make my point nuanced. Christians are to treasure the simple doctrines and foundations of the faith. There’s a place to study them and meditate upon them again and again for a lifetime. But the point here is that we must surely have our foundational doctrines down. These elementary teachings of Christ is foundational for further growth and maturity in deeper doctrines!
- Yet let us not miss the point Christians must grow deeper in doctrine.
- Doctrines is the focus here.
- Practice:
- Do you desire to grow deeper in biblical doctrines? See the implication of this verse that Christians must grow deeper in doctrines. That is a sign of spiritual maturity.
- Do you treasure the elementary teaching about Christ?
- If you desire deeper doctrines but don’t treasure the elementary teachings about Christ that is a sign that you might want to study theology and doctrines more out of a pride of knowledge rather than a true heart of wanting to worship God and be mature in our faith.
- Also if you truly treasure the elementary teachings about Christ, and have tasted the sweetness of the Gospel you would want to crave to learn more about what Christ has done for you, who He is, etc.
- What are you doing to grow deeper in knowing the truth from God’s Word?
- First off, do you have a plan? As the idiom goes, he who doesn’t have a plan, plan to fail.
- Does your plan consist of reading Scripture and not just theology books?
- Have you prayed to the Lord to give you the desire and the resolve to grow? Pray also that the Spirit illuminate His truth to you.
- Picture: When we see someone who is immature we recognize it as foolishness. Yet we must also recognize spiritual immaturity is foolishness. It is not cute for a twenty year old to throw tantrums and sucking his thumb; likewise we are to realize it is not cute, virtuous nor godly to be acting as spiritual babies when we get older in the faith. Grow in biblical doctrines!
3. We are to aim to be mature teachers of God’s Truth
- Point: If we realize that we are to teach God’s Word in some capacity that would make us strive to grow deeper in biblical doctrines.
- Passage: “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12)
- Proof:
- Note here the believers being addressed are mentioned as those who “ought to be teaching others.“
- Yet the reality was otherwise: “Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.“
- This reveals the fact that they are immature spiritually: “You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.”
- The author gives the analogy of babies who cannot eat solid food.
- The solid food is deeper doctrines.
- Practice:
- While not everyone should be teachers (James 3:1) yet as Christians during different times in life one might be called to teach God’s truth. Do you recognize that? One might teach in the following situation:
- Sunday school teachers to kids or adults.
- Bible Study or small group leaders.
- Parenting.
- If one is going to be a teacher one would have to know more than the “student” or “disciple.” That means growing deeper than the elementary teachings of Christ: There is a need to learn solid deeper doctrines.
- While not everyone should be teachers (James 3:1) yet as Christians during different times in life one might be called to teach God’s truth. Do you recognize that? One might teach in the following situation:
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog!
Yankee Whiskey Bravo 😁
Thanks, for this! Doctrine has become a dirty word these days, even among evangelicals. The pattern today is to go to church, sway to some music and get lifted up emotionally, and then hear a feel-good sermon with little admonition and certainly no rebuke.
Yeah its crazy how doctrines have become a dirty word. I think Satan has been working hard to make Evangelicals weak in the contents of Scripture. Sadly people delight and pride themselves in being doctrinally light weight and willful ignorance. I think Deuteronomy 29:29 should make Christians grateful for sound doctrines from the Bible. I think also many of the issues and compromises you blog about among Evangelicals is the result of Evangelicalism today’s irrational anti-doctrine attitude.
In today’s era, doctrine is tolerated only as long as it doesn’t infringe on tolerant, pluralistic, let’s-all-just-love-Jesus-and-get-along mega-church (c)hristianity.
Excellent post! Sadly, I see this all the time. Lack of Biblical doctrine, lack of discernment, and a who cares attitude. Here are a few examples:
Below you will read how a Christian school administrator was duped by an anti-Trinitarian. This individual is a leader with “Spirit And Truth Fellowship International” an off-shoot of the cult, “The Way International”, whose founder was no friend of the Christian faith, as is evident from his book, “Jesus Christ Is Not God” Sadly, many of these Way off-shoots have duped/confused many Christians, Christian publishers, Evangelical camps/retreats, Home-School conventions, Christian radio, and so on. Then you have Christian Radio/TV, giving a platform to many anti-Trinitarian cults. Also below, I have just one example (I could give many), of a Bishop Luke airing on SALEM’S “Family Values Radio 1010 AM. Read Bishop Luke’s bio. Not only does Bishop Luke deny the Trinity, but he also denies the “Eternal Sonship of Christ”, and does not believe that “Jesus is the Son of God” He denies that the “Son of God rose from the dead” and denies that Jesus has a physical body in Heaven. Of course he denies Salvation by Grace, and so on. Bishop Luke stated that the “Trinity Is Pagan” and inferred it is of “Satan” in his email to me. Why is SALEM Christian radio airing this individual? Recently I read one of the endorsers for Joseph Farah’s new book,(He is the founder, and CEO of World Net Daily) is the anti-Trinitarian Joe Kovacs. If one understand the teachings of the late Herbert W. Armstrong, then you will know the teachings of Joe Kovacs. What a real shame!
http://www.familyvaluesradio1010.com/radioshow/4529
http://www.stfonline.org/a-biblical-unitarian-navigating-through-a-trinitarian-world
Man that is so sad the amount of compromises and so disheartening to know a heretic is propagating false doctrines on “Christian radio.” I pray these anti-Trinitarians would eventually lose their radio platform with Salem, whether by Christian protesting, lack of interests or other means! Thank you James for sharing that
Yes, it’s very sad SLIMJIM! Salem airs quite a few anti-Trinitarian programs, just as Crawford Christian Broadcasting. American Christian Network, also airs anti-Trinitarian programs, also many smaller Christian Networks. Yes, many anti-Trinitarian programs have been cancelled from many Christian Networks, including Salem.I have voiced my concern to Salem, about these cultic
programs. I guess as long as their check “clears the bank”, they will keep airing these programs. SALEM, on their other sites, will have articles warning about “False Teachers”, “False Teachings” “How To Spot A False Teacher”,etc.. yet air “False Teachers” Salem will have articles on the Trinity, “The Trinity Under Attack”…, yet SALEM airs anti-Trinitarians. Some of the anti-Trinitarians airing on Salem, Crawford, American Christian Network, are, Ronald L. Dart, Irvin Baxter, Roy Masters, Steven Leblanc, Bishop Luke, and so on. Salem has shown a lack of discernment in the past. Their book publishing, XULON Press, published a book by one who denied the deity of Christ and the Trinity in the book. They aired a advertisement for a cult, “The Living Church of God” which is another off-shoot of Herbert W. Armstrong. Matter of fact one of the programs no longer airing on Salem radio is, Ronald L. Dart’s, “Born To Win” Dart’s program and Steven Leblanc’s program both were cancelled. What’s strange, is Salem’s “OnePlace.Com” has Dart on. Dart has duped many Christians and Christian radio. He is smooth, and does not discuss his anti-Trinitarian Herbert W. Armstrong teachings over the airways. These are brought to light in his tapes, articles, and other Armstrong cult sites.Dart is a former Baptist, studied at a Christian college to prepare for the Christian ministry. He left the college and became a leader in Armstrong’s cult, from 1958-1978. He became the VP of Armstrong’s son’s cult, “Church of God International” from 1978-1995, at which time he founded “Christian Educational Ministries” Dart has been canceled from over twenty Christian stations. I have noticed a new Bible teacher on Salem, Crawford, and other Christian stations Aaron Budjen. I was informed that he is a great teacher, and believes in the Trinity… I thought I would listen to his tapes on the Trinity, and Hebrews Chapter 1. I almost fell out of my chair. I sent him an email to please clarify his statements. I have never received a response. I don’t mean to take up all this space, but it’s clear “Something’s Wrong In Denmark”
To start, this is not in reference to the people you have listed as false teachers because I have no clue who they are. Not saying that you are not correct, but I just don’t know.
However, to your point, I believe that much of the problem with people buying into some of the false teachings is that many of these teachers will use $50 dollar theological words combined with a dance around approach that sounds extremely biblical. I have heard some teachers who I thought were sound in their doctrine, yet I had a Holy Spirit check on the inside of me saying that something was really stinking. That is why we need to have not only a sound foundation of the Word but also confidence in the Holy Spirit to warn us when something is wrong even though it sounds right.
In the end of the day the Spirit is our teacher. I know what you mean by the Spirit warning us and your comment specifically reminded me in my younger days when I knew less than I do now where I struggle with wanting only head knowledge and yet the Spirit was warning me to be careful and not to buy everything that was said by some teacher posturing as a deep teacher. I think he’s delivered me from a bizzare apologist that wanted to disciple me who later had a lot of moral and wicked failure being exposed along with some weird theology and other things. Totally agree with you and your comment is much needed addition to the post.
Sorry, I typed in the wrong link for Bishop Luke airing on SALEM’S Family Values Radio 1010 AM. Here is the correct link:
https://familyvaluesradio1010.com/radioshow/4529
James it is crazy to see the compromises today
Yes, Koinonia Christian it is crazy and a real shame. perhaps one of the listed anti-Trinitarians are airing on your local Christian radio station. It would not surprise me. All one hast to do is voice their concern. Ronald l. Dart’s program, “Born To Win”, has been cancelled from over twenty-two Christian stations. The others listed also have been canceled from other Christian radio stations. Some of the stations such as “Faith-Radio” have a good “statement of faith” When I voiced my concern, I inform the owner/GM that this radio teacher is not in agreement with the stations “statement of faith” I also provide links to the cults teachings and other sources. That’s what i have done with Salem, Wilkins, American Family Radio, Faith Radio, and a host of other Christian stations. It would be interesting to see what state the others who have posted comments on this blog live, to see if one of these “false teachers”‘ air in their area.
I agree with Tom. Doctrine gets in the way of culture.
BTW, Jim, I’m waiting for someone to do a good job at reviewing Rachel Held Evans’ new book “Inspired.” No pressure 😉
Alf I just place this book on hold at a library; it seems many people are checking it out and reading it…sadly. I normally don’t buy heretical books because I don’t support them and their cause financially so I usually go to some library to get it. Are you planning on reading this too Alf?
I may do so, Jim. I sometimes wait until I can get these books second-hand. I may download this one on Kindle. Sadly, REH has an enormous outreach and is wreaking havoc.
slimjim,
entirely too well written. Nothing in the article to add or subtract that I can think of.
Titus 1:9 ( every qualified elder ) Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine to explain/exhort it and to confute convince those who contradict it. ( my combined revised/interlinear versions )
Oddly all to few churches emphasis this REQUIRED training to be an elder.
Not only is doctrine a dirty word it would seem it has been replaced by, “I am a very spiritual person”. Well big deal, the 9-11 terrorists and the followers of Baal were very spiritual people too. In fact the devil is very spiritual.
On a personal note, recently 2 protestant knocked on my door to invite me to their church. They were saddened that to many Christians just believed their pastor but had not studied the bible enough on their own. I told them that I shared their concerns which is why I studied apologetic s. They, bless their hearts, had never heard of apologetic s, exegetics, hermenuetics. Which sort of implies that they were mostly just listening to their pastor.
“Not only is doctrine a dirty word it would seem it has been replaced by, “I am a very spiritual person”. Well big deal, the 9-11 terrorists and the followers of Baal were very spiritual people too. In fact the devil is very spiritual.”–>Word brother! Dead on. I think you did add to the post with your comment.
Those 2 Protestants weren’t “Jehovah’s Witnesses” were they?
The hardest times I’ve had as a Christian came from not being rooted enough in God’s Word, and from not knowing enough about God’s Word.
Wow thanks for sharing that and I imagine this is shared from personal experience and deep reflection…I’m using this post for when I meet up with our young people as “preventative medicine” and opportunity to go tangent and reinforce the Gospel so I plan to point out your comments to others when I do use this. Thanks brother for sharing that
🙂
Excellent post Jim! One of the reasons why so many are easily led astray is that there is very little foundational doctrine study being done in the God’s Word. Will repost this and thank you again! Grace and blessings!
Wow Bruce what an honor to have this piece reposted on your blog! Thank you Bruce!
I’d be thinking it’s the other way around!
[…] is a WordPress repost of an excellent article originally authored by SLIMJIM at their veritasdomain.wordpress.com website. If you haven’t followed their blog yet I would really encourage you to do so. The […]
Exceptional post Pastor Jim. I totally agree ! I fell into a ditch as a young Christian for not knowing enough of God’s word and just believing what the Pastor was teaching. Praise God that the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth.
I am going to share your post!
Shalom!
Crissy, thank you for sharing my post with your readers! Have you thought about doing a post of your testimony of your growth from a young Christian not knowing enough of God’s Word to the Spirit teaching you His truth (just an idea)? Praise God for the Spirit being our teacher, Amen?
Praise God for his faithfulness. I will work on a future post regarding my testimony . God is FAITHFUL and His Word is TRUTH
Reblogged this on KNOWING THE TIME, because what's coming matters.
SlimJim,
In a word no, rather they said they belonged to a nearby Church of Christ, church. They are to be commended for taking the time and effort to go door to invite and witness. Defenders of the faith do need to examine all who knock on their doors.
On this topic the vast majority of new churches and or “church planting” churches rely to heavily upon luring converts from the church down the road. Real church planting and church growth ought to come more from converting the lost. It should be approached like a missionary sent to area with zero Christians.
Words mean things. They have denotative and connotative definitions.
While practicing, virtue signaling ( in defiance of Matt 6 ), people will claim they are spiritual but never define what they mean. This is just like Obama’s hope and change rhetoric was left unexplained so everyone would project their own imaginings on to it. A simple, how so or in what way or please elaborate is the only way to enlighten them of their confusion.
The most galling trait of doctrine mockers is their focus upon works righteousness as the only thing that matters. They never ask me what I believe only about my works. I ask them, will loud and proud atheists be in heaven because of works? I know of the famous “by faith” chapter. I know about the famous “love” chapter. I have never found the “saved by works” chapter.
Doctrine mockers are also bible mockers. The new false social gospel the new missional good works false gospel is all they want to practice. They get to virtue signal before men and receive praise. They get to avoid witnessing and other socially embarrassing things. They get to be approved of by society at large. They can condone every anti-biblical sin that modern society has declared good. Easy believeism to the max.
Exceptional post! I’m sorry I’m just now getting around to reading it. It’s been a crazy few weeks!
What we believe impacts how we behave. It affects who we listen to and how we teach. Doctrine is of vital importance as you so excellently reasoned in this article.
Thanks for reading this; anything we can pray for in light of your crazy weeks?
You are so kind! My son is still recovering from his tonsillectomy & adenoidectomy surgery, so since he’s recovering the busyness has slowed a teeny bit. I’m busy preparing to re-enter the homeschool arena and I’ll be a tutor in our homeschool community. None of it is bad stuff, there’s just a lot of life going on. Please pray for me to keep my heart focused on the Lord in the midst of this busy season. 😊
[…] who blogs at The Domain for Truth, gets it right with Christians Must Grow Deeper In Biblical Doctrines. His assertion is near and dear to my heart. Please read his Scriptural reasoning for making this […]
GREAT POST! GREAT COMMENTS! \o/
Thanks sister; again thank you for sharing this on your blog!
Amen-Amein Brother in Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua Jim!!
The B-I-B-L-E that’s the BOOK for me!! I LOVE the HOLY BIBLE as it is the LIVING WORD of our ONE TRUE GOD the HEAVENLY FATHER and HIS SON Christ-Messiah Jesus-Yeshua!!
Love ❤ Always and Shalom ( Peace ), YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Amen! I’ve seen so many Churches remain in their infancy just because doctrinal teachings aren’t taken seriously! Thank you for sharing!
Excellent post. Really well done.
Reblogged this on memoirandremains and commented:
Years ago, a fellow Christian asked me why I spent so much time trying to understand doctrine when we would all just “know it” when we got to heaven (so why “waste time” now). This post is the answer to his question.
Reblogged this on BibleProphecyWatch.
thx I needed to know this