The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ Next: Lesson One

The Doctrine of Christ Lesson 1 Next: The Bible instructs us to examine

As we travel life’s highways, we should stop to examine the quality of our faith. Next: 2 Cor 13:5

2 Corinthians 13:5a Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves … Next –

But what kind of evidence should we see? 2 Corinthians 13:5a: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . . . . Next: 2 Cor 13:5

There are many opinions about what a successful Christian life looks like. 2 Corinthians 13:5a: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . . . . Next: 2 Cor 13:5

Health! A big church! Wealth! No problems! A TV show! 2 Corinthians 13:5a: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . . . . A TV show! Next: 2 Cor 13:5

God wants our lives to be fruitful. Next – definition of reprobate

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Next – definition of reprobate

What kind of fruit is he talking about? Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Next –

The proof of our Christian faith – and the kind of fruit God wants us to have – is the fruit of the Spirit. Next

against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. NEXT: Having good fruit in our lives – even when trouble is all around us –brings glory to God…

Having the fruit of the Spirit in our lives – even when trouble is all around us – brings glory to God and proves we are his disciples. Next

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Next

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; How do we get this fruit? John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. Next

Jesus said, “Abide in me.” Next

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

To abide somewhere is to make it your home To abide somewhere is to make it your home. This is much more than being a Sunday visitor.

How do we abide in Christ? To abide somewhere is to make it your home. This is much more than being a Sunday visitor.

We abide in Christ when his words abide in us.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Narrative: When the word of the Lord abides in you, the mind of Christ governs your thoughts and behavior. Your prayers and supplications will be answered because they are in harmony with God’s perfect will. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

We abide in his love when we keep his commandments.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Jesus said keeping his commandments was like building a house on a good foundation.

Luke 6:47-49 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. Narrative – Too often this story is retold as one who heard and another who did not. Both heard. One obeyed. NEXT – the two houses

Both houses looked much the same. NEXT – the two foundations

The difference was beneath the surface. NEXT – the storm

The storm hit both houses. EXPOUND on the STORM – “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b) NEXT – The aftermath

Only one remained standing. NEXT – Identifying the ROCK

It was founded on a rock. NEXT – Identifying the ROCK

The ROCK is Christ. EXPOUND – the wise man “digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock.” NEXT – 2 Samuel 22:2-3

2 …The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The ROCK is Christ. 2 Samuel 22:2-3 2 …The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. NEXT – Identifying the Foundation

The ROCK is Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4b …they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. NEXT – Identifying the Foundation

The FOUNDATION is also Christ. NEXT – 1 Cor 3:11

The FOUNDATION is also Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. NEXT – We build a good foundation when we hear and obey

We build a good foundation when we hear and obey “his sayings.” NEXT – Luke 6:47

We build a good foundation when we hear and obey “his sayings.” Luke 6:47a Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like …”

But what are “his sayings”? Are those the four Gospels? NEXT – Luke 6:47

Jesus is the living Word of God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The word of the Son is the word of the Father.

John 14:23-24 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Trying to separate the Father from the Son is like trying to separate fire from heat, or water from wetness. NEXT

From beginning to end, the Bible is the doctrine of Christ From beginning to end, the Bible is the doctrine of Christ. This is the key to understanding the book.

The warning in 2 John should be burned into our minds:

2 John 1:9-11 9 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. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

2 John 1:9-11 9 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. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. How do I learn the doctrine of Christ?

The book of Hebrews lists the “principles of the doctrine of Christ.” Just as learning the alphabet is the first step in learning to read, knowing these principles is the first step towards spiritual maturity.

Hebrews 6:1-2 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. NEXT – Luke 6:47

Hebrews 6:1-2 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (The Spirit is annoyed that God’s people are still struggling with the A-B-C’s of the doctrine of Christ). NEXT – Hebrews 5:12

Hebrews 6:1-2 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. These principles are meant to be the mother’s milk of our spiritual development. NEXT – Hebrews 5:12

But the time for milk is limited. Hebrews 6:1-2 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. But the time for milk is limited. NEXT – Hebrews 5:12

But the time for milk is limited. Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. But the time for milk is limited. NEXT – Hebrews 5:13-14

Hebrews 5:13-14 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. But the time for milk is limited.

Hebrews 5:13-14 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Before we can digest the meat of the Word, we must begin with the milk.

Isaiah 28:9-10 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Before we can digest the meat of the Word, we must begin with the milk.

In these lessons, the six Principles of the Doctrine of Christ will be examined “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.”

If we want our lives to be built upon an unshakable foundation, we must be able to trace the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ throughout our system of belief, and be ready to discard any idea that contradicts these truths. NEXT – Final page

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 What brings glory to God and proves you are a disciple of Christ?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 What brings glory to God and proves you are a disciple of Christ? How do you abide in Christ?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 What brings glory to God and proves you are a disciple of Christ? How do you abide in Christ? What two things are required to build your life on a good foundation?

Test Your Understanding of Lesson 1 What brings glory to God and proves you are a disciple of Christ? How do you abide in Christ? What two things are required to build your life on a good foundation? Which book of the Bible lists the principles of the doctrine of Christ?