Articles
With Doctrine Comes Deeds
With Doctrine Comes Deeds
The word doctrine means teaching. Doctrines that we receive are teachings that we believe. And if we are people of honesty and integrity, we do – we practice – what we believe. If we don’t, our conscience condemns us, and we know that we need to deal with the malpractice of our beliefs.
The order is doctrine, belief, then deeds. Doctrine then affects our deeds, our practice, the things we do.
To the church in Pergamos Jesus said, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” (Revelation 2:14-15). Is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans harmless? No, it is contrary to truth. And from doctrine comes deeds. Hear Jesus’ commendation to the church in Ephesus: “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6). They hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. But from where do such deeds come? They come from holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. With the doctrine of the Nicolaitans came deeds that were aligned with that doctrine. God hated not only the deeds but the doctrine.
Doctrine matters! Doctrines different from the doctrine of Christ must be identified, rejected, and opposed. The doctrines are not innocuous; they affect beliefs which affect deeds.
The doctrine of salvation by faith-only comes with deeds consistent with it: no baptism or baptism that is not for the remission of sins. The doctrine is not harmless.
The doctrine of once-saved-always-saved comes with deeds consistent with it, whether admitted or not: living in a way that indicates we can “continue in sin that grace may abound” (Romans 6:1). The doctrine is not harmless.
The doctrines of men on divorce and remarriage come with deeds consistent with them: proliferation of divorce and adultery. The doctrines are not harmless.
Yes, it matters what you do, for we will be judged according to our works – what we do (Revelation 20:13). But we do what we believe. And our beliefs come from the teaching – the doctrine – we receive. So doctrine matters.
No wonder we are instructed, “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).
