THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE - Part 2 By Daniel J. Musokwa

Daniel J. Musokwa

Here is the Second installment in this series on The Christian Doctrine by my dear brother and good friend Daniel J. Musokwa of The New Testament Ministries Tanzania. You might want to read the First installment here.

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Now, it is very important that the genome or doctrine of an organism be maintained the way that God created and programmed it. The genetic blueprint of the Body of Christ should not deteriorate over time to where the consequent organisms (people) born thereof are genetically mutants of the original template (Jesus Christ), spiritually speaking, of course. This is why Paul says to Timothy, “Watch your LIFE and DOCTRINE closely…” You must watch your LIFE and DOCTRINE very closely because those are the parameters which define you as a member of the Body of Christ! You should avoid anything that puts your spiritual doctrine at variance with the doctrine of the Body of Christ.
 

Source: Google Images

If all of a sudden a cell in your body altered its DNA and mutated, it would be considered by the rest of the body as a CANCER! That’s exactly what cancer is, it is made up of rebel cells whose DNA has been altered! When cancer develops, the whole body becomes sick because it rejects the cancer as an “error”. This causes the body a lot of pain until the cancer is removed. Why is the cancerous cell rejected? It is rejected because its doctrine has been corrupted.
 
For that reason the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 4:16 continues to urge Timothy to “…persevere in them (his doctrine and life), because if you do, you will save both yourself and your HEARERS.” So really, in the Body of Christ, what you believe isn’t just a personal matter. Your hearers, especially the unsaved ones, depend on the wholesomeness of the message you are carrying and how it measures up to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Covenant that He brought. You must persevere or hold fast to the message of the cross as it has been delivered unto us through the early apostles. The “salvation” of your hearers depends on your doctrine. Now that’s a tall order, but every bit true as well.          

 

Tit 1:9 He MUST hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by SOUND DOCTRINE and REFUTE those who oppose it.

 
Here’s Paul, once again, writing to Titus this pastoral epistle talking about the desired characteristics of church elders,he is talking about sound doctrine. He says “an elder… must hold firmly to the TRUSTWORTHY message AS IT HAS BEEN TAUGHT…” Doctrine in not something that you as a Christian could compromise about. It is not a bargaining chip. It is not up for discussion. It ignores our popular opinion, neither does it recognize it. Christ’s doctrine is a set of carefully selected spiritual parameters that define the Body of Christ AND the Head of that body (Jesus Christ), whom the Bible tells us CHANGES NOT. Everything that any religious leader teaches should align perfectly with the gospel and the New Testament doctrine as it has been laid out by the apostles, otherwise his/her listeners are in grave danger. You are also COMMANDED to REFUTE all and any who oppose sound doctrine - that is, indeed, a living part of the doctrine of Christ.
 

Source: Google Images

This is the very reason that the Apostle Paul had to confront the Apostle Peter’s deviation in public to heal both Peter and his hearers. There’s no nicer way of protecting the doctrine of Christ. Constructive criticism given out of the heart of love is not haughty or conceited. It is pure, humble and kind. But a heart against whom such criticism is leveled MUST learn to be BROKEN, CONTRITE, HUMBLE and TEACHABLE; otherwise pride will take its course and cause the heart to be defensive and run deeper down the hole of deception. After pride and defensiveness (selfishness), comes the spirit of offence and division. 

When that happens, we have a new splinter group. And voila! congratulations, Satan! We have a new denomination! You’ve won another round. 


TO BE CONTINUED >>>