The Goal of Our Instruction

Every Christian ministry has a goal and there are means to achieve this goal. In general, every believer is involved in teaching in more than one way - in counselling, instruction, exhortation, leading, witnessing, sharing of testimonies and preaching etc. The Bible says, irrespective of the means, the goal of our instruction (or teaching) is love.

The New American Standard is very vivid about this truth:

Paul wrote to Timothy, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5, NASV, emphasis added).

"Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 13, NASV).

As a young pastor Timothy was to learn from Paul's example of ministering and teaching believers in love and sincerity. I believe any teaching or instruction of Biblical truth that does not yield love and produce loving people is missing the goal. The goal of our instruction is not only to produce knowledge but love from a pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith. Every true teacher of the Scripture must teach in truth, faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Types of Doctrine

This message concerns the teaching of Bible Doctrine. There are two types of doctrine:

1. The Apostles' Doctrine

James said, "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment" (james 3:1, NKJV).

The word "teacher" comes from the Greek word "didasklos" which describes many types of instructor - communicator, doctor, master and teacher of doctrine. In the context of the above verse James was talking about teachers in general. God places great responsibility and accountability to teachers. They receive a stricter judgment because God's judgment is according to the measure of light and knowledge given to His people (Matt. 11:20 - 24). The teacher of Biblical doctrine, in particular, recieves stricter judgment because other believers' faith depends on hearing the correct or incorrect doctrine from the teacher.

When three thousand believers were added to the Church after they have heard Peter's first sermon - "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayers" (Acts 2:42).

Notice that, of the four activities of the early Church, the most important one is the learning, obeying and applying the apostles' doctrine continuouly with steadfastness. This is understandable because Paul also places great importance of the correct doctrine for new believers:

".... you are .... members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:19, 20, emphasis added).

If believers fail to uphold the apostles' doctrine, the very foundation of their faith will be greatly weakened and thus open themselves to Satan's deceiption. Therefore I believe whenever a local Church has departed from the apostles' doctrine it will inevitably ends up in trouble and failure. In fact the average contemporary Church has already departed from the apostles' doctrine in various degrees!

2. The doctrines of demons

The counterfeits of God's Doctrine (apostles' doctrine) are the doctrines of demons:

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

Paul's prophecy is being fulfilled in our days - we are living in the last of the last days. Notice that demons have many doctrines which have their roots from deceiving spirits. Christians who depart from the Christian faith will be deceived by deceiving spirits and they might even "continue steadfastly" in upholding the doctrines of demons without being aware of their problem. I believe one of Satan's major tactics against the Church of Jesus Christ is to produce erroneous doctrines.

In the next two verses (1 Tim. 4:2, 3) Paul lists some of the symptoms of obeying the doctrines of demons - speaking lies in hypocrisy, having no conscience, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from various types of food that are sanctified by God.

The Importance of the Apostles' Doctrine

Paul advised Timothy, "Take heed to yourself 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).

In other words, Paul was saying, if you are wrong in your personal life the right doctrine would not accomplish what it should. But, if you continue to live right and preach the right doctrine then you will do well - you will save yourself and those who hear you. The reverse is also true. If a Bible teacher does not live right and preaches the wrong doctrines (doctrines of demons) he brings death (spiritual first and followed by physical) to himself and death to those who hear him!

The apostle John gave some good advice to a Christian (elect) lady concerning false teachers of doctrine:

"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 shares in his evil deeds" (2 John 9 - 11, emphasis added).

What radical statements and what a solemn warning!

Notice that the "doctrine of Christ" means the "doctrine taught by Christ and His apostles" which is the apostles' doctrine steadfastly followed by the early Church.

John pointed out that a teacher who does not teach the correct apostles' doctrine is not a true Christian (one without the Father and the Son) and we must neither greet him nor welcome him in our home or we will share his evil deeds. We must have nothing to do with such a fake "christian" but we usually greet a non Christian and welcome him in our home because he is unlikely to deceive us.

It is good that Christians today heed John's advice. The local Church must be very very careful when inviting preachers to teach the congregation of believers. A preacher who draws a large congregation of hearers does not necessarily mean his doctrine is correct. In fact he should be a suspect of being a teacher of wrong doctrine until he is proven otherwise. He must be tested. The genuine uncompromising apostles' doctrine is unlikely to attract many hearers. It is more likely that many will run away the Church.

The Apostles' Doctrine as a Reproductive Ministry

Teachers of Bible doctrine can be divided into two levels - those who initiate and those who reproduce. The apostles' doctrine is initiated by all the apostles. True Christians are all reproducers of this doctrine.

Paul said to Timothy, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).

Notice that there are four generations of teachers of the apostles' doctrine - Paul taught Timothy; Timothy taught "faithful men" in the Church; these faithful men continued to teach other Christians.

There is reproduction in the teaching of the apostles' doctrine through the overseers (bishops) also:

Paul wrote to Titus concerning the ministry of an overseer, "..... 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 said the overseer is expected to teach (what he was taught) to others sound Biblical doctrine so as to exhort and convict anyone who contradicts. The only sound Biblical doctrine is the apostles' doctrine. Unsound doctrine has no power to exhort and convict anyone who contradicts.

What it takes to teach the Apostles' Doctrine? - Major Requirements

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

Paul's commitment to be the servant of the Gospel was total. Paul's choice is clear; first a servant of the Gospel and second a servant of the Church. As true servants of God we must not do everything the Church wants us to do, and if there is anything found contrary to the Gospel or the apostles' doctrine, we must not obey the Church.

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

Every Bible teacher must study and seek to understand the whole Bible if he wants to teach the full counsel of God. For example it is not enough just to study Kings but also the Chronicles. The Chronicles explain many things which are not found in Kings. Another example is in the topic of "faith and works" we need to study both Romans and James.

3. Uncompromising

Unfortunately, most of the truth of the Scripture has been obscured by compromising in the contemporary Church. To be uncompromising is a great challenge to our character. Uncompromising teaching of the Scripture can make us unpopular among believers. Not many believers would like to join an uncompromising Church. Many teachers and believers are unable to discern between compromise and love. To many, to compromise is to love and to be without compromise is to be without love. Who wants to go to a "loveless" uncompromising Church? Many believers will not endure sound Biblical doctrine because they have itching ears (1 Tim. 4:3, 4). They want preachers to preach what they want to hear and not what they need to hear!

This truth is well illustrated by the contrast in character of Moses and Aaron. Moses would not compromise in his dealing with Israel. On the other hand, Aaron compromised and pleased men; the result is the Golden Calf (Exodus 32).

In my opinion, it is not difficult to look for "Golden Calf" Churches. They have two things in common - One, they are all large local Churches; and two, they are "purpose driven" to "love" and please people but never warn people about end-time Bible prophecies. They have no eternity in mind. They lead believers into the broad way of destruction (Matt. 7:13)!

The narrow way that leads to life is found in following and obeying the apostles' doctrine in all circumstances. The choice is ours!