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Doctrine and Teaching

All Scripture has information for the saints today, but not all Scripture is for the saint’s practice. The Greek language uses two different words to describe these types of information. The first, often translated teaching, is referring to information that is to be learned but not to be practiced, where the other word means doctrine – that which is to be practiced.

Teaching – διδασκαλία (Information to be learned but not practiced)

  • Teachers teaching the precepts of man, Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7; Colossians 2:22
    1. The people draw near with their mouth and honor with their lips, but are far from Him with their hearts
    2. They reverence Him in vain
  • “Precepts” is used exclusively of the teachings of men. – A royal or Imperial ordinance
    1. Touch not, taste not, handle not, Colossians 2:22
    2. The elementary principles of the world system, Colossians 2:20
  • Have an appearance of wisdom in self made religion and self abasement and mistreating the body, Colossians 2:23
  • Teachings of Demons, 1 Timothy 4:1-6
    1. Speaking lies
    2. Having a conscience seared
    3. Forbidding to marry
    4. Abstaining from meats
    5. In contrast to good (well) teachings
  • The Time will come when men will not endure healthy teaching, 2 Timothy 4:3
    1. They will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts
    2. They will turn from the truth to myths
  • Within the Church
    1. Used of information that is to be learned but not practiced
    2. A separate gift from a Pastor, Romans 12:7 (Pastor is both a shepherd and a teacher)
    3. Information written before for our learning, Romans 15:4
    4. Pastors who labors in the Word and teaching, 1 Timothy 5:17
    5. Scripture is profitable for teachings, reproof, correction and child training, 2 Timothy 3:16
      1. Teaching – properly handling information that is to […]
Doctrine and Teaching2023-11-23T12:17:14-08:00

The Standard – Our Commandments

Believe on God’s Son1; love one another (other saints2) as Christ has loved us; abide in Christ, John 13:34,35; 15:1-4; 1 John 3:24, 25. These are the commandments for Christian’s today. Christians are not under any quality of law, but rather under grace3. This does not mean that there is no standard for a Christian or that a Christian may continue in sin without any penalty4. Grace is not a license to sin; rather, through grace we are provided the ability to act righteously. The law5 of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the standard by which we live. We fulfill the righteousness of the law of the Spirit when we are […]

The Standard – Our Commandments2023-11-23T14:10:31-08:00

The Proper Use of the Old Testament

Two types of doctrine are found in Scripture that are revealed through two Greek words used for different types of teaching; doctrine that is to be learned and practiced and doctrine that is to be learned, but NOT practiced.

“All Scripture is God breathed and profitable towards teaching, towards conviction, towards correction, towards child training in the righteousness” , 2 Timothy 3:16.

“Teaching” refers to information to be learned but not practiced. Conviction, correction and child training in the righteousness relates to doctrine that is to be learned and practiced.

“And having various gracious gifts according to the grace, the one given to you, whether prophecy, according as the portion of the faith, whether the one serving, in serving or the one teaching, in teaching…” Romans 12:6, 7.

“… and He gave the Apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors even teachers…” Ephesians 4:11.

The “Pastor” and the “Teacher” in the Ephesians passage are the same person. It is the primary responsibility of the Pastor as the shepherd to teach doctrine that is to be learned and practiced; however, he is also to properly handle Old Testament information by teaching it as information that is to be learned, but not practiced. In addition to the Pastor properly handling the Old Testament information, God has proved others with the Spiritual gift of teaching who properly teach the value of the Old Testament information without abusing it by seeking to make it doctrine to live by in this day and age (Romans 12:6,7). This is not restricting doctrine to be learned and practiced to only a Pastor being able to teach it, but the Pastor is the primary method by which this type […]

The Proper Use of the Old Testament2023-12-10T07:25:07-08:00

Definition of Sin

The Definition of Sin

The definition of sin has become so elusive today that there are so called “sins” in many churches that cannot be found in Scripture. How do you know what a sin is? True, we see very well defined sins in Scripture such as adultery, fornication, stealing, lying, murder, etc., but what about the things that are not revealed in Scripture. Is it a sin not to give ten percent of your wages to the Church? Is it a sin for a husband to ignore his wife? What about which movies you watch, what you wear, what friends you hang out with, going to a party…, how do we know if they are sins?

“Missing the mark” as a definition of sin is very predominate in teachings today. However, there is a problem with this definition. First of all, what mark are we missing? When we start asking this question we will find that the answer is a moving target. Secondly, this definition is so generic it allows for really anything to be put in as the mark missed. The mark could be, not living up to God’s glory; having a ruined character; not abiding by God’s law; and they go on and on. Lastly, where this definition comes from is an issue. In the book of Judges the word normally translated as “sin” from the Hebrew is used to describe men who are so good with a sling that they do not miss their targets. The meaning “missing the mark” comes off of a miss understanding of how this word is used in this passage and also requires ignoring other passages of Scripture that specifically define sin. These men are so good […]

Definition of Sin2018-10-28T13:29:20-07:00
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