Power Of Doctrine

The Power of Doctrine

By Apostle Felix

1  Your duty is to teach them to embrace a lifestyle that is consistent with sound doctrine.

Titus 2: 1

In my early days as a believer in Christ, I used to hear statements like, ‘I don’t need theology, all I need is revelation from God.’ So, most of got to despise theology, thinking it is for the unspiritual people like the baptists. For some, even Bible school was avoided for the same reason. This assumption has produced carnal believers instead. Theology was treated as something that denies the power of God, often quoting 2 Timothy 3: 5, that says, They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these! However, this scripture is not warning us against theology but against reprobates, haters of God. Theology is the study of the nature of God. So then, how can teach the ways of God without studying the nature of God. No one can be allowed to practice medicine without studying medicine. We have so many novices in the church that are preaching their nuances. The Bible has only subject, which is Christ. The theology of the Bible is Christology.

14  And then our immaturity will end! And we will not be easily shaken by trouble, nor led astray by novel teachings or by the false doctrines of deceivers who teach clever lies.

Ephesians 4: 14

I recently heard one man of God saying that preaching grace will take the church down the toilet drain, instead preach values and principles. It was so shocking when I heard this particular man of God say that. He actually rejected the core message of the Bible and the person of Christ. Grace is Christ personified. There is no way one can preach values when he has rejected grace. The reasoning behind such beliefs is that grace waters down the values and standards of God. The belief that says grace gives people license to sin.

15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 

Romans 6: 15

The church had a similar problem with Paul’s message of grace. They thought he was giving people license to go about sinning because of grace. Paul refuted that notion, and went on to say that grace is empowers believers not to sin.

14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6: 14

Other notion that has contributed to wrong teachings and practices is the elevation of miracles. It has always been said that the Bible will cease to be the word of God when miracles are removed from the Bible. It may have some truth in it but it is not the absolute truth because miracles are not the monopoly of the kingdom of God. Christ is the monopoly of the Bible. When Christ is taken out of the Bible then the Bible ceases to be the word of God. Witch doctors do perform miracles. But what they cannot do is revealing the Christ. Christ is exclusive to the kingdom of God. the doctrine of church should be Christ. Miracles too, should be judged by the doctrine of Christ. Is this miracle pointing to Christ or man? Doctrine is more powerful than miracles.

3  As I urged you when I left for Macedonia, I’m asking that you remain in Ephesus to instruct them not to teach or follow the error of deceptive doctrines,
4  nor pay any attention to cultural myths, traditions, or the endless study of genealogies. Those digressions only breed controversies and debates. They are devoid of power that builds up and strengthens the church in the faith of God.

1 Timothy 3: 3, 4