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“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 Timothy 4:16 NKJV)
Even though you profess to belong to Christ Jesus, if you fail to abide in His word or teaching, the Lord Jesus does not regard you as one of His disciples.
The Lord Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31 NKJV).
It is, therefore, crucial for you to understand what it means to abide in the word, teaching, or doctrine of Christ and how you can abide in the doctrine of Christ.
First, it is crucial to understand that the doctrine or teaching of Christ has been once and for all delivered to the early apostles of Christ.
This is why the Bible often called it “the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42) or “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3).
The body of teaching Christ delivered to His early apostles included the things He taught them while He was physically present with them and that which He taught them through the Holy Spirit after He had returned to heaven.
That is what is compiled and presented to us in the New Testament. It is divine, authoritative, supreme, perfect, and final! The New Testament’s body of doctrine or teaching is divine because God is the source.
The Lord Jesus said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.” (John 7:16 NKJV).
“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” (John 12:49 NKJV).
The word or teaching of Christ on any subject is the divine, authoritative, supreme, and final authority. It is superior to any words or teachings of any patriarchs or prophets in the Old Testament on the subject, for the Lord Jesus Christ is the radiance of God’s glory and the very expression of God’s person. Only Jesus Christ perfectly revealed God’s mind, will, view, or perspective to us (John 1:18, Heb. 1:1-3).
The doctrine of Christ is also perfect and complete. Nothing is missing that needs to be added or something imperfect that needs to be corrected.
The doctrine of Christ is the objective standard for judging every new vision, revelation, prophecy, or teaching that anyone may claim to have today.
Second, we shall only be able to fully comprehend Christ’s doctrine if we are willing to obey Christ fully or unreservedly.
Jesus said, “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” (John 7:17 NKJV).
One of the primary reasons why many people don’t understand the teaching of Christ is because they are not willing or prepared to obey the Lord Jesus implicitly. We often fall into errors or false doctrines because we choose not to accept the written truths in the Bible.
When you deliberately set aside the written word or teaching of Christ on a subject and then begin to seek a new revelation on the same topic, you may become vulnerable to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. This is why many ministers of God today have fallen from the truth into heresies.
Third, abiding in the doctrine of Christ goes beyond mere knowing or believing the truth. It is sticking with or holding fast to Christ’s teaching and wholly conforming to it.
Abiding in the doctrine of Christ implies living out the teaching of Christ, obeying or keeping the word of Christ, continuing in the word of Christ, following the teaching of Christ, and remaining faithful to the teaching of Christ.
Abiding in the word, teaching, or doctrine of Christ is the only good safeguard we have against strange and demonic teachings that carnal ministers are passionately fabricating and broadcasting through various media these last days.
This is why the Scripture warns, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” (Heb. 2:1 NKJV).
We are now in the latter times when the Bible warns that “some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:1-2 NKJV).
Therefore, it is imperative for you to know, keep, hold fast to, continue, and remain in the teaching of Christ. You must accept, hold fast to, and seek to defend Christ’s teaching, perspective, view, or verdict on every issue or subject.
You must regard Christ’s word, teaching, or doctrine as divine, ultimate, final, supreme, and superior to any ruler, angel, prophet, or pastor.
Beloved, your unwillingness to obey Christ’s word or teaching implicitly will open your mind to the manipulation, deception, or seduction of demons, false prophets, and teachers.
Therefore, “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 NKJV).
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to hold fast and continue faithfully in the teaching of Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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