#104 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth
Valley November 30, 2003
The distinction between doctrine for faith but not for practice and doctrine for faith and practice is essential for the Christian's spiritual life. The world system seems to know this and duplicates the two types of doctrine or teaching as mentioned last message. The religious influence of the world system provides teachings that are premises for practice that cannot be practical. Scripture evaluates the teaching from God's perspective marking some of the doctrine designed for practice as something that the believer should not practice. World system Christendom will say that its teaching is practical and beneficial. God says that it isn't and that the spiritual Christian should avoid it. The teaching is there and may be acknowledged as an acceptable basis for the life of an unbeliever. A grace believer should not even consider the possibility of attempting to apply the teaching for practice. Much of this kind of teaching has infiltrated Christendom. The last message focused on the use of didaskalia in relationship to false teaching from the Satanic world system and its varied influences. This message considers the six passages that use the other word for doctrine didache of the influence of world system religion and its teachers upon the local church (doctrine for faith and practice).
The Satanic world system and its religious aspects distort and detour doctrine from God for Christian practice especially for the Christian life. Matt. 16:12 provides a good illustration from the Dispensation of Law during Christ's earthly ministry of the affects of this kind of doctrine. The Pharisees and the Sadducees taught doctrine that neither represented the Mosaic Law not the teaching of Jesus Christ. It was doctrine for their personal practice and for those that they could influence. The Pharisees and Sadducees had tempted Jesus Christ by asking Him to do a sign miracle. He calls them to task saying that they are incapable of knowing or seeing the signs of the times (16:3). He identifies them as hypocrites (16:3) and a malignantly evil and adulterous race (16:4) giving the sign of the prophet Jonah as an adequate sign for them. Jesus then leaves with His disciples and goes to the other side of the sea. The thoughts of the Twelve were on food and the fact that they had neglected to bring food with them. This occurred shortly after the feeding of the 4,000 (15:38) in the previous chapter. In 16:11 Jesus warns them of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Leaven is bad doctrine for practice. It is teaching for practice that permeates the whole. A little leaven will penetrate the whole loaf. Bad or malignantly evil doctrine for practice will permeate all doctrine whether it is good or not in the church. Important links are found throughout the doctrine for practice for grace believers in grace revelation. Jesus told His disciples that such doctrine under the Law needed to be avoided because of what it would do to them as Law believers. Doctrine for faith and practice easily permeates the teaching of the local church and will automatically set aside God's teaching for Christian living in present tense salvation.
Hebrews 13:9 describes doctrines that carry Christians around. Paul tells the Hebrew Christians not to be carried about by using an imperative. His Holy Spirit uses the plural "doctrines" to indicate that there is a variety of doctrines available for Christian practice that are not from God. "Divers" refers to a variety or wide selection of possibilities provided by world system teachers for Christian practice. "Strange" indicates that these teachings are foreign and unlike what God has actually given for Church practice. The immediate doctrinal issue was food or diet. These Hebrews had been saved from Judaism which had strict dietary regulations in the Law plus additional traditional regulations. The AV conceals the impact of what was going on by the phrase which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Notice the import of an accurate translation: ". . . not with foods, by which the ones who were walking (or ordering the details of their lives) were not profited." World system religious Christian doctrine provides a variety of practices that can become their manner of life and walk. The Purpose Driven Life has several different mechanisms for "Christian" practice that it makes available. These violate the context of the passages of Scripture and provide an optional walk to the Spirit-filled life by the Holy Spirit. The book places the responsibility and the ability upon the individual without the biblical involvement of the Holy Spirit. It is amazing how often the pronoun "I" is used to make the purpose driven life man centered rather than God centered in the book. There is no real benefit from these teachings from God's point of view.
Rev. 12:4 describes the doctrine of Balaam held by some in the church in Pergamos. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. In Num. 24:25 Balaam goes home to Syria after the series of blessings of Israel in spite of Balak's request for curses on Israel. In Num. 25:1-3 Israel is caught up by the seduction of the daughters of Moab and commits spiritual fornication with their idols. In Num. 31:8 Balaam is killed with the kings of Midian. He is back in the land of Palestine. The doctrine of Balaam is identified in Num. 31:16. Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. Balaam's advice was that the Moabites use their women to seduce Israel's men and to cause them to fornicate both physically and spiritually. This is affirmed in Revelation 2:14. Balaam taught Balak to use the sexual and gratification of the Israelites as a means for leading them into their religion. The result was that this provided protection for Balak and Moab.
The church at Pergamos also had a problem with those who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. These people held that there was a hierarchy in the church with leadership over the people. Nike = victory. Laos = people. Ephesus hated the works of the Nicolaitans as God did (Rev. 2:15). These worked to practice their doctrines seeking leadership positions. These were teachings in addition to those who taught that some matters of moral compromise were permissible.
Rev. 2:24 describes the doctrine for faith of a woman named Jezebel that affected the church in Thyatira. The woman Jezebel called herself a prophetess. She taught and led the saints astray with the purpose of causing them to commit fornication and of eating idol sacrifices. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest (or permit) that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (2:20). The whole situation involves works by her followers. The word "works" is found in 2:22 ("deeds" AV), 23 ("works"). Christ expects those who follow her to change their minds or repent of their works. 2:24 presents the doctrine that Jezebel taught. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. She taught the deep things of Satan. There are some in the church of Thyatira that do not possess or have this doctrine for faith and practice. Those who hold this doctrine have experientially known the deep things of Satan. Notice that this is totally in contrast to the deep things of God mentioned in 1 Cor. 2:10. This kind of doctrine provides an exposure to the deep or most technical things of Satan's program for teaching.
2 John 9, 10 describe the doctrine for faith and practice of those who deny the Incarnate Son. Deceivers have come into the world and approach true Christians. They deny that Christ has come in the flesh. John identifies each one as a deceiver and of having the quality of antichrist (vs. 7). A believer's involvement with these and their teaching can deprive one of his or her reward (vs. 8). Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed (2 Jn. 9, 10). These present teaching that denies the effective involvement of the human nature in cooperation with the divine nature concerning Christ. There is a fine Scriptural line that presents Jesus Christ as the God-man who is one Person who now shares two natures (a divine nature and a human nature) as the result of the incarnation. Anyone who does not present the balanced teaching should not be welcomed into the believer's house nor should the saint rejoice with him. One who bids him joy in his departure is having fellowship with his malignantly evil works (vs. 11). This passage describes the action that God expects from the spiritual believer who is confronted with a false teacher who presents unbiblical doctrine for faith and practice. Those who have problems with the human nature of Christ will always have problems with present tense salvation if they are saved. This is because of the importance of imputation and one's position in Christ which very much involves His human nature.
1 John 2:15
Proposition: To present the two types of doctrine that teachers from the world system teach in place of the two types of doctrine described in grace revelation.
Introduction
A. The Isolation of Two Types of Doctrine (=Teaching) in the New Testament
B. The Infiltration of Grace Doctrine with World System Doctrine
C. The Presentation of Doctrine by Teachers of the World System
D. The Duplication of the Types of Doctrine by World System Religion
E. The Substitution of World System Doctrine for Grace Doctrine
TRANS: Two types of doctrine are distinguished in grace revelation: doctrine for faith and doctrine for faith and practice. The two words come from the same verb yet are distinguished in their content and application. These are found together in the Greek text of Titus 1:9.
I. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN TWO TYPES OF DOCTRINE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THE REVELATION OF THE TWO TYPES OF TEACHING IN THE BIBLE FOR THE CHRISTIAN A QUESTION OF FAITH OR FAITH AND PRACTICE Titus 1:9
A. The Occurrences of the Two Terms
1. didaskali,a (didaskalia) 21 times
2. didach, (didache) 30 times
3. The Verb dida,skw (didasko) 97 times
B. The Significance of Their Meaning
1. didaskali,a (didaskalia) Doctrine to Be Believed and Not Practiced
2. didach, (didache) Doctrine to Be Believed and Practiced
C. The Importance of Titus 1:9
1. Both Nouns in the Same Verse
2. Both Words Given Distinct Meanings
3. Translation: Titus 1:9 Holding firmly to the faithful word according to (or down from) the doctrine to be believed and practiced, in order that he may possibly be able (or have the power) both to be exhorting by the healthy doctrine to be believed but not practiced and to be convincing the ones who are contradicting (or speaking against) [My translation].
D. The Two Words in the Same Immediate Context 2 Timothy 4:2, 3
E. The Distinction Maintained in the Verse
1. Holding Fast the Reliable Word Down From Doctrine to Be Believed and Practiced
2. Exhorting by Healthy Doctrine to Be Believed but Not Practiced
TRANS: The world system religions all have their doctrine for faith and practice. These often are modifications of true Christian doctrine that permit their entry into the church to dissuade Christians from accurately following the teachings for grace living.
III. THE DISTORTION AND DETOURING OF DOCTRINE FOR CHRISTIAN PRACTICE BY WORLD SYSTEM HUMAN MORAL RELIGION THE REQUIREMENTS OF WORLD SYSTEM RELIGION FOR PRACTICE THE IMPOSITION OF TEACHING THAT REPLACES GOD'S INSTRUCTION FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING didach, (didache) Doctrine to Be Believed and Practiced
A. The Doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees Matt. 16:12
1. A Doctrine for Practice
2. A Doctrine That Permeates 16:11
3. A Doctrine That Needs to Be Avoided 16:12
B. The Doctrine That Carries Christians Around Heb. 13:9
1. The Provision of a Variety of Options for Christian Doctrine for Practice
a. There Is a Diversity of Doctrines for Practice
b. They Are Strange or Foreign When Compared to the Teaching of Scripture
c. The Provide Multiple Choices for Christians
2. The Peculiarity of Doctrine Foreign to Biblical Christian Practice
a. The Importance of the Heart
b. The Isolation of Foods
c. The Involvement with the Person's Order of Life
d. The Insufficiency for Real Benefit
C. The Doctrine of Balaam Rev. 2:15 [Num. 25:1-3; 31:16] {The church in Pergamos}
1. Deception by Misdirection of Practice
a. The Departure of Balaam from Palestine Num. 24:25
b. The Deception of Israel Num. 25:1-3
c. The Death of Balaam Num. 31:8
d. The Doctrine of Balaam Num. 31:16
2. Gratification by Cohabitation as Practice
3. Progression of Balaam's Advice
a. Marriage of Foreign Women to Israelites
b. Idolatry
c. Eat Sacrifices to Idols
d. Fornication
D. The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2:15 {The church in Pergamos}
1. Victory Over the People
2. Hierarchy Over the People
3. The Strong Exhibition of the Belief in the Doctrine
E. The Deeds of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2:6 {The church in Ephesus}
1. The Church at Ephesus Hates the Deeds [neuter]
2. Christ Hates the Deeds [neuter]
E. The Doctrine of Jezebel Rev. 2:24 [20-23] {The church in Thyatira}
1. Teaching and Leading Christ's Slaves Astray 2:20
2. Teaching to Fornicate
3. Teaching to Eat Sacrifices Made to Idols
4. Teaching to Focus on Works 2:23, 24
5. Teaching Possessed 2:24
6. Teaching to Experientially Know the Deep Things of Satan
F. The Treatment of Those Who Deny the Incarnate Son 2 John 9, 10
1. Deceivers in the World System 7
2. Deprivation of Reward 8
3. Doctrines for Practice 9
a. Concerning Christ
b. In Place of Christ
4. Departure from Such Teachers 10, 11
TRANS: The teachers of the Satanic world system religion infiltrate the church with teaching that is similar to Christian truth or that misapplies non-Christian truth from the Bible. Sometimes they mix the Mosaic Law, Kingdom Law and human doctrine that seem to come from the Bible and God and teach these doctrines either as a premise for practice or for practice itself.
© by David K. Spurbeck
Valley Baptist Church
P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119