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THE VALUE OF DOCTRINE

A. Introduction: We are working on a series about the Bible. My ultimate goal in this series is to encourage
you to read the Bible (the Scriptures) regularly and systematically. Because of its size, the Bible can seem
overwhelming. Regularly, systematic reading helps you read effectively.
1. To read regularly means to read for a short period of time each day (15-20 minutes, if possible). To
read systematically means to read each book from beginning to end, just as it was written to be read.
a. Start with the New Testament. The Old Testament is easier to understand once you are familiar
with the New Testament. Read the New Testament through, and then do it again and again.
b. Don’t worry about what you don’t understand. You’re reading to get familiar with the text
because understanding comes with familiarity, and familiarity comes with regular, repeated reading.
2. Bible reading is essential to your relationship with the Lord because He reveals Himself (His character
and His works) through His written Word. Regular reading deepens your relationship with God. He
won’t love you less or be mad if you don’t read, but you’ll never know Him to the degree that He desires.
a. The Bible is our only fully reliable, completely trustworthy source of information about God. It
supersedes your emotions, your circumstances, your thoughts, and all supernatural experiences.
b. God not only reveals Himself through the Bible, He produces growth and change in us as we read so
that we can be and do all that He intends for us. John 6:63; John 14:21; I Thess 2:13; etc.
3. It is important to understand what the Bible is. It is a collection of books that altogether tell the story of
God’s desire for a family and the lengths to which He has gone to obtain His family through Jesus.
a. The Bible reveals that God created human beings to become His holy sons and daughters, but that
sin has disqualified us for our created purpose. Eph 1:4-5; Rom 3:23; Heb 2:14-15; I Pet 3:18
b. The Bible reveals that Jesus came to this world to die as a sacrifice for sin, and open the way for all
who believe in Him to be saved from the guilt and power of sin, and restored to our purpose.
1. The Bible is a gradual, progressive revelation of this plan. Every book adds to or advances the
story in some way. The Scriptures reveal Jesus and the salvation He has provided, the
salvation from sin that is available to all who believe in Him. II Tim 3:15
2. The Bible tells us what we need to believe about God to be saved from sin. It shows us what
needs to change in us to be pleasing to Him, and then changes us as we read and believe it.
c. The end result is that we are restored to our created purpose as a son or daughter of God who is fully
pleasing to our Heavenly Father in every motive, thought, word, and action.
4. Our key verse in this series is II Tim 3:16-17—All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God
may be perfect, (thoroughly) furnished unto all good works (KJV).
a. Last week we began to talk about doctrine. The Greek word translated doctrine means instruction
or teaching. The Bible is doctrine. We learn (or are taught) about God through the Bible.
b. You can’t have a true relationship with God without right doctrine or right teaching because there
are certain things you must believe in order to be saved from the guilt and power of sin. John 8:24
1. The New Testament was written by eyewitnesses of Jesus (or close associates of eyewitnesses).
John, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles wrote five New Testament books.
2. John stated that he wrote “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31, ESV).
5. We have more to say tonight about the importance of doctrine right (teaching) and what it will do for us.

B. Jesus was born a Jew in Israel to a people group that was steeped in the Scriptures (the written Word of God).
Based on the writings of the prophets in what we call the Old Testament, the Jews were looking for a Savior,
because there were many prophecies about the coming Savior or Messiah in those Scriptures.
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1. All good Jews went to the synagogue on the Sabbath Day. Synagogues were places where they
gathered for religious services. Although there was some worship (a psalm and prayer), the main
purpose of these gatherings was religious instruction—to hear the Scriptures read and explained.
a. Even though these people did not have copies of the Scriptures in their homes, they had access to
God’s Word, not only through the weekly Sabbath meetings, but through their education system.
1. Boys went to school at age five. Their only textbook was the Torah (first five books of the Old
Testament). They were taught orally and memorized numerous passages from the Scriptures.
2. At age ten many went on to more advanced learning, not just in the Torah, but in the Talmud,
(rabbinic commentaries on the Scriptures). This meant more oral learning and memorization.
b. When Jesus began His public ministry, He traveled throughout Galilee (northern Israel), teaching in
synagogues and reading and teaching from the Scriptures as was the custom. Matt 4:23; Luke 4:16
2. In previous lesson we pointed out that on Resurrection Day when Jesus appeared to His disciples, even
though they could see and touch Him, Jesus proved who He was and what He did through the Scriptures.
a. Jesus showed them the Scriptures that pointed to Him (His Person and His work) and explained the
significance of what He had done through His death and resurrection (that’s all doctrine). Then He
opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and told them to go out and tell the world.
1. Luke 24:46-48—(It is written)…the Messiah must suffer and rise from death on the third day,
and that in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached
to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things (Good News Bible).
2. Jesus told them: I’ve fulfilled all that the Scriptures predicted about me and my work. I
offered myself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Now, you can tell the world that, on the basis of
what I have done, if they repent (turn from their sin to me), their sins will be forgiven.
b. Before Jesus returned to Heaven He told His apostles to stay in Jerusalem until He sent the Holy
Spirit: When the Holy Spirit (comes) upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about
me everywhere (Acts 1:8, NLT).
3. Fifty days later at the annual Feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit came on Jesus’ disciples as
they gathered together, and Peter the apostle preached his first public sermon. Note that Peter did just
what Jesus had done. He used the Scriptures to explain and proclaim what had and was happening.
a. Peter said: You are witnessing a fulfillment of what the prophet Joel wrote, that in the last days,
God will pour out His Spirit on men and women (Joel 2:28-32). God endorsed Jesus by doing signs
and wonders through Him. However, you rejected and crucified Him. But God raised him from
the dead just as the Scriptures foretold (Ps 16:8-11). And Christ the Lord is now seated at God’s
right hand as the Scriptures say (Ps 110:1). Christ is both Lord and Messiah.
b. The crowd was convicted by what they heard and asked Peter what they should do. He told them:
Each of you must turn from you sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:38, NLT). The result:
1. Acts 2:41-42—Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—
about three thousand in all. They joined together with other believers and devoted themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing the Lord’s Supper and prayer (NLT).
2. In other words, these believers gathered together to be taught doctrine —what the Scriptures
(the Word of God) said and what Jesus (who is God) told the apostles while He was with them.
3. We know from the historical record that their first worship services followed the pattern they
knew from the synagogues—the Scriptures were read and taught. They were given doctrine.
C. The Scriptures (doctrine) not only inform us as to what we need to believe to be followers of Jesus, the
Bible helps us fulfill our created purpose as God’s sons and daughters, and it protects us from deception.
1. We mentioned Paul the apostle last week. Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus, became an ardent
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follower of the Lord, and spent the rest of his life proclaiming Jesus throughout the Roman world.
a. Even though Paul had a supernatural experience with Jesus, in every city he visited, he went to the
local synagogue and reasoned with the people, from the Scriptures, that Jesus is the Son of God, the
Messiah. Acts 13:5, 14; Acts 14:1; Acts 17:1, 10, 17; Acts 18:4, 18:19; Acts 19:8
b. As a result of Paul’s efforts, communities of believers (churches) were established in various cities.
Paul stayed with some of them for a period of time to teach them the Word of God (doctrine).
When he moved on, Paul continued to teach doctrine by writing epistles (letters) to the churches.
1. Some of these letters became part of the New Testament. In one such epistle Paul stated his
motive and goal in preaching Jesus: We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone
with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ (Col 1:28, NIV).
2. Perfect means complete, finished, full grown, mature. We were created to become sons and
daughters of God who are Christ-like, or like Jesus in character and behavior. To be perfected
means to become like Jesus. He is the pattern for God’s family. Rom 8:29; I John 2:6; etc.
2. Growing in Christ-likeness (being perfected) is a process that begins when we bow our knee to Jesus as
Savior and Lord, and continues until we see Him face to face. The Scriptures are vital to this process.
a. Not only does the Bible tell us who Jesus is, it is useful in the process of perfecting us because it
shows us what needs to change. It reproves and corrects us: All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction (II Tim 3:16). Reprove means to
convict or administer a rebuke (stop that). To correct means to set right again (do this instead).
b. You cannot achieve Christ-likeness on your own. It requires supernatural help from the Holy
Spirit. Jesus died as a sacrifice to open the way for the Holy Spirit, to indwell us and restore us.
c. But you must cooperate with the Holy Spirit by hearing and obeying God’s Word: Put into action
God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in
you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him (Phil 2:12-13, NLT).
1. The Bible functions like a mirror. It shows you (or informs you) what Christ-like character
and behavior looks like and what needs to change to reach that goal. It shows you what you are
and what you are becoming. As we look into the mirror we are changed by the Holy Spirit.
2. II Cor 3:18—All of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of
God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own
image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes]
from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit (Amp).
3. Paul not only brought the initial message of salvation from sin through faith in Jesus to people, when he
left churches, he put men in charge who continued to teach believers from the Scriptures (doctrine).
a. Paul founded the church in the city of Ephesus and stayed there for over three years teaching them
the Word of God (Acts 20:31). When Paul left, he gave the leaders he raised up these instructions:
1. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his blood (Acts 20:28, NLT).
Paul warned these leaders that grievous wolves would come (false teachers) who “will distort
the truth in order to draw a following” (Acts 20:29-30, NLT).
2. Paul’s final words to the leaders was: And now I entrust you to God and the word of his grace
—his message that is able to build you up (Acts 20:32, NLT).
3. Paul knew false teachers were coming. But he also knew that accurate teaching from the Bible
not only causes growth and builds believers up, it protects people from deception.
b. Paul later wrote an epistle to the church at Ephesus. Paul reminded them that the purpose of
leadership in the church (apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers) is to help believers
grow in Christ-likeness, or perfect then and build them up into the image of Christ. Eph 4:11-12
1. Leaders do this through proclaiming and teaching the Scriptures so “that we will be mature and
full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ” (Eph 4:13, NLT)
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2. Note how Paul concluded his statement on the role of church leadership (to build people into
maturity by teaching the Scriptures): As a result, we will no longer be children tossed here and
there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14, NASB).
c. Paul later wrote a letter to one the men he put in charge at Ephesus, Timothy. Our key verse for
this series is in that letter (II Tim 3:16-17). Note something else Paul said: Work hard so God can
approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains
the word of truth (II Tim 2:15, NLT).
d. Paul also established a church in the Greek city of Corinth, stayed with them about a year and a half,
teaching them, and then later wrote to them.
1. The Corinthian church was also affected by false teachers and Paul wrote to urge believers not
to be moved away from Jesus by those who preach another Jesus. II Cor 11:1-4
2. The only way you can recognize and reject a false Christ is if you know the true Christ of
the Bible. That’ only possible if you have right doctrine (right teaching from the Scriptures).
4. Apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers have an obligation to teach the Bible accurately.
But believers have an obligation to read the Scriptures for themselves.
a. Paul visited the city of Berea in northern Greece. He went to the local synagogue to proclaim that
the Messiah has come, and He is Jesus. Note their attitude toward the Scripture: They listened
eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and
Silas to see if they were really teaching the truth (Acts 17:11, NLT).
b. You can’t do this if you aren’t familiar with the Scriptures. Just because someone quotes a Bible
verse does not mean that they know what they are talking about.
1. The Bible is not a collection of unrelated verses. To properly interpret any verse, we much
always consider how it fits with other verses (context). Everything in the Bible was written by
someone to someone about something. Historical and cultural context is also important.
2. If you take a verse out of context, you can make it say anything. A lot of popular preaching
and teaching today is proof texting. The speaker makes verses fit the point he’s trying to make,
rather than explaining the verse in context. I recently heard a Christian leader quote Haggai
2:8 and urge Christians to buy gold because that God’s help in hard economic times.
3. Regular, systematic Bible reading will help you recognize whether or not someone has taken a
verse out of its context. It gives a framework through which to assess what you hear.
D. Conclusion: We have more to say next week about what the Bible (right doctrine) does for us when we read
it regularly and systematically. But consider these final thoughts as we close.
1. If you don’t already have an effective reading habit, I’ve suggested that you focus on the four gospels
for the first part of this year. Read them over and over. As you read, look for Jesus (who He is, what
He did). Look for reproof (stop that) and correction (do this instead). Ask God to help you and give
you understanding as you read.
2. You may be thinking yes, but I need a specific answer for a specific situation in my life. Good news!
God can and will use the Scriptures to help you in that way as you read.
a. God did that for me the very first time I read the New Testament through. I did not understand most
of what I read, but one verse was life changing. It says that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek,
bond nor free, male nor female, bond nor free (Gal 3:28). I always felt inadequate as a female and
longed for someone to see me as a person first, then as a female.
b. That’s not what this verse says (Paul was referring to equality in Christ), but I realized that God sees
me for me, and that ministered to me in a very powerful way.
3. Consider one more benefit of the Scriptures: Paul wrote that the things written “teach us (and) give us
hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promise” (Rom 15:4, NLT). More next week!