A Teacher of Scripture

My reader may wish to refer to my earlier message: "The Goal of Our Instruction". Like many of my most recent messages I am also receiving greater revelation in this message. I praise and thank the Lord for revealing to me what it takes to be a true teacher of the Scripture.

A teacher of Scripture (or Bible doctrine) is one of the five ministries which have been set forth by Jesus Christ in the Church for the up building of the whole body of Christ which is the Church.
Paul said, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ..."Ephesians 4:11, KJV, emphasis added).

Purposes of the Church building ministries

Ephesians 4:1 - 16 lays the foundation of the Church building ministries of which the teaching of Scripture plays a major role. Let us consider, briefly, the basis of these ministries:

1. Character requirement of spiritual leaders

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthery of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness of meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; ..." (Eph. 4:1, 2, KJV, emphasis added).

The basic character requirement for believers who are receiving and applying the truth which is unfolded in the rest of Chapter 4 is described in one word "humility" - lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and love. Jesus, the perfect Servant, was a perfect example (Verses 9, 10). Jesus went as low as He could go before He was promoted and exalted to glory.

2. Unity of the the body of Christ

"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:3 - 6, KJV, emphasis added).

The seven elements of unity are:

1. One body - All those who are united by the Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ and to one another in Christ.

2. One Spirit - All filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. One hope - All the good that lies ahead for every child of God. Hope is always points to the future.

4. One Lord - The Lord Jesus.

5. One faith - All believe the Bible.

6. One baptism - All identified with Jesus Christ in death, burial and resurrection.

7. One Father - The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom every fatherhood, heavenly or earthly derives its Name (Eph. 3:15).

3. Diversity in ministries of the body of Christ

"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ, wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Ane he gave some, apostle; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ..." (Eph. 4:7, 8, 11, KJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. Each of the five different ministries is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. In other words, when the Ministry of Christ manifests through a believer, that believer receives the ministry.

2. Christ is the perfect pattern of all five ministries. If a man is called to be a Pastor (or Shepherd) then it is Christ, the perfect Shepherd, continuing and extending His Shepherd Ministry through that man that makes that man a Pastor. Similarly, a man is called to be a teacher of Scripture then it is Christ the perfect Teacher continuing and extending His Teaching Ministry through that man that makes that man a teacher of Scripture.

3. If all the five ministries are functioning as they should in the body of Christ, then collectively the body of Christ can continue the Ministry of Jesus as He Himself continued when He was on earth. Then the body of Christ, the Church, can go on doing on earth in ministry exactly what Jesus did while He was on earth. That is God's divine intention!

4. Main function and purpose of ministries

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12).

The main function is to equip saints (Christians) to do the work of the ministry and not to produce perfect saint. In other words, the five ministries do not do it all but they equip each of the believers to do his part of the job. The main purpose is to equip the believers to do their work themselves and the second purpose is for the building up, spiritually, of the total body of Christ.

The is very different from the accepted picture of the contemporary Local Church where you will find a professional minister who is paid to do the job of preaching and teaching and the churchgoers are expected sit quietly and endure by listening to these well prepared and well paid professionals.

I believe people who are most successful in their ministries are those who can move on and leave the believers to carry on to do what they have been taught to do without the help of the professionals. Leaders have got to get people away from their dependence on a human ministry. The real test of a successful ministry is what happens when it is withdrawn!

5. The goal of ministries

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with ever wind of doctrine, by the sleight (trickery) of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ..." (Eph. 4:13, 14, KJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. The word "till" indicates the goal to which we are moving - toward the unity of faith in maturity and cease to be baby Christians.

2. The word "knowledge" in Greek also means "acknowledgement". For example the doctrine of salvation depends on acknowledging Jesus as the savior; the doctrine of healings depends on acknowledging Jesus as the Healer and so on.

3. If Christians faill to grow then they become spiritually retarded. The tragedy of spiritual retardation is stated in Verse 14 which is the Devil's alternative! They will be "tossed to and fro" indicating that they are unstable in their Christian walk.

4. This is where the ministry of a true teacher of doctrine comes in. If Christians fail to interpret Scripture correctly they will face the tragedy of deception. The moment you come into the experience of salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit there will be people lying in waiting to deceive you!

John Wesley once said, "To bring people to conversion and make no subsequent provision for their instruction is to beget children for the murderer". In other words, just to bring people to the Lord and leave them without instruction, without discipline and without teaching them the Scripture to make them grow and mature is to hand them over to the deciever who is ever ready to come in to murder them!

6. The climax of ministries

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:15, 16, KJV, emphasis added).

In the Church one thing we must not separate is truth from love - not only in speaking but also being honest in words (without compromise), in deeds, and with Christ-like character and attitude. It is no good having the truth without love which leads to wounds and hurts. Love without the truth is soppy, sentimental and deceptive.

Solomon said, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6, NKJV).

The picture of a matured body of Christ can be summed up with three words - completeness, unity and strength. Completeness - because the whole body of Christ comes into the fullness of Christ. Unity - because every part and ministry fitly joined together. Completeness - because all believers are compacted together with "joints" which is the manifestation of good inter-personal relationship.

The ministry of a teacher

It seems strange that of all the five ministries of the Chruch the ministry of a teacher of doctrine is the least heard of, even though, as we have seen above, knowledge of the right doctrine is of supreme importance for the Church.

The scenario of the early Church is - "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42, NKJV).

New believers in Jerusalem did four things steadfastly - following the apostle doctrine, fellowshipping, eating together and praying. The primary requirement is to continue in the apostles' doctrine. Whenever the Church has departed from the apostles' doctrine it is ended up in trouble and failure. In fact most of the contemporary Local Churches have already departed from the apostles' doctrine in various degrees!

Paul's advice to Timothy

1. "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter time some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1).

This is something rather frightening - not only God has doctrine but demons have doctrines as well. I believe that every major false doctrine is the product of a demon. This is one of Satan's major tactics against the Church.

2. "Take heed to youself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16).

This is certainly a good advice to every teacher of Scripture. The two things a teacher must do are: First, take heed of his personal life - habits of living, conduct, integrity and the like. Second, take heed of doctrine - the whole area of teaching and public instruction of the Scripture.

If you are wrong in your personal life, right doctrine will not accomplish what it should. But if you continue in both you will save yourself and those who hear you. Never take it for granted that once saved is always saved!

Admonitions to believers

1. John said, "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him share in his evil deeds" (2 John 9 -11).

The is something very frieghtening which I don't think has been sufficiently attended to by the Church. The doctrine of Christ is the basic truth about Jesus Christ which is contained in the Creeds - Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin, led a sinless life, died an atoning death, rose physically from the death, ascended into heaven and He is coming again in power and great glory.

The people who come to you with the wrong doctrine of Christ are not unbelievers but deceived Christians. We have to be very careful about those whith whom we are fellowshipping!

2. Paul said, "Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves" (Romans 14:22).

Believers have to be very careful about endorsing the doctrine of someone who comes along. Personally I will not endorse the doctrine of a so-called professional prophetic teacher. I will listen to him but I will be very careful about endorsing what he says because if I endorse something that is in error God holds me responsible.

3. Paul said to elders, overseers and pastors, ".. holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:9).

Paul was talking about "reproduction" ministry of the Scripture (2 Tim. 2:2). Elders, overseers, pastors and teachers are not necessarily initiating the teaching of the Scripture but they are required to receive the teaching, hold on to it, and teach others.

Major requirements of a teacher of Biblical doctrine

1. Total commitment to the teaching of the Gospel (Col. 1:23 - 25)

Paul, as a servant of God, was a servant of the Gospel first and a servant of the Church second. We need to follow Paul's example and keep it in the right order. If we see ourselves as servants of the Church without seeing ourselves as servants of the Gospel we will do what the Church wants us to do. And we are not free to do if the Church is contrary to the teaching of the Gospel.

2. Have a comprehensive grasp of the whole Bible (2 Tim. 3:16)

Basically this is to prevent taking certain Scriptues out of their context.

3. To be uncompromising

Basically most of the truth of the Bible has been obscured by compromised teaching. It is like a thick fog or cloud over the Church if the preachers are compromising. To be uncompromising is a great challenge to our character. Uncompromising teaching can make us unpopular among believers because most believers find it hard to endure sound Biblical doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3, 4).

A teacher of Scripture is faced with two choices - to be compromising to please men or to be uncompromising to please God. If he does not please God all his teaching is in vain!