Does Doctrine Matter?
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When studying the Old Testament because it is no longer binding we need to understand who God is because He does not change.
Malachi 3:6 (NKJV)
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
This same concept is taught in the New Testament about Jesus Christ.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So if we can understand the principle behind what is being taught we understand a guiding concept that is never changing.
So in trying to understand doctrine we need to understand the concept that is fundamental to God.
This idea will be unchanging because it is fundamental to God and God cannot change.
What does the Scriptures say about doctrine?
First We need to define the word doctrine.
In the Old Testament the Hebrew word that is translated Doctrine means “teaching, instruction or learning.
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? 3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? 4 For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.’
1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; 2 For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. 3 When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. 5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.
24 These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine.”
Body:
In The Old Testament God cared about what was being taught and that it need to be right or correct and that everything was being taught was not right.
This is a different word in the original Hebrew but the concept is the same.
8 But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine. 9 Silver is beaten into plates; It is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the craftsman And of the hands of the metalsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skillful men. 10 But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
One of Job’s friends said “You say that your doctrine is pure but look at what is happening to you.
Job’s response is my doctrine is pure?
In both cases they were concerned with doctrine.
In Proverbs 4 The Father is concerned with what he is teaching his son.
In reality this proverb is an analogy for God the Father and He gives good doctrine.
We are told no to forsake His (Verse 2)
This means doctrine matters.
Let your heart retain my words (Verse 4a).
If the words are to be retained then the words matter.
Keep my commands, and live (Verse 4b).
If you only live if the commands are kept then the commands matter.
In Isaiah 29:24 they will learn doctrine showing that doctrine matters to God.
23 But when he sees his children, The work of My hands, in his midst, They will hallow My name, And hallow the Holy One of Jacob, And fear the God of Israel. 24 These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine.”
Conclusion:
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
We can learn so much from the Old Testament and things that they went through and how God handled them.
God revealed His character to us through the Scriptures.
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
