(Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina, meaning "teaching", "instruction" or "doctrine") is a codification of a given branch of knowledge or in a belief system. The etymological Greek analogue is "catechism".
Christians love the doctrine of Christ and rightly so the teaching of the creator deserves being honored.
The Apostles doctrine is also considered with great respect because it comes from those who lived with Jesus. Pauls doctrine likewise is honored because he was a tremendous man of God.
Doctrine is important and not all doctrine is good, therefore we need to take care and search in the word of God and bring all under the light of the holy scripture. People are identified by their doctrine. By doctrine, we can determine what denomination or religious sect one is from. For Christians, the importance is being with people who live according to Christs` teaching.
Unfortunately, the ability to discern what group you come from has been used of the enemy of our soul to bring disunity in the Body of Christ.
Jesus warned of this
³ But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
⁴ For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
⁵ But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
⁶ And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
⁷ Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying.
⁸ This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
⁹ But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Ma. 15: 3-9
The Master taught us you shall know them by their fruits. He didn't say you will know them by their doctrine because some may teach the right doctrine and not bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Jesus said:
¹⁹" Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Ma.7: 19-23
The apostle Paul taught:
¹⁴ For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
¹⁵ Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
¹⁶ In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Ro.2: 14-16
The thing about doctrine is it brings understanding or knowledge. According to Paul, we must beware of the fact that knowledge puffeth up.
“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” 1 Corinthians 8:1
It is easy for the one who has a "good" understanding to have his trust in what he knows. Rather than his trust in the Lord. Some will say we need to follow after good doctrine, now that sounds good and it is good but good is not always good enough. It is best to follow after Jesus Christ and He may lead where you have never gone before. This will require you to trust him and not your own understanding. We must bear in mind our understanding is limited, His is not. The one who has a good personal relationship with his Lord because of his experience is learning to trust Him, realizing He will never lead us astray.
⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Pro.5: 5-7
King David is a good example of a man who followed after God which gave him liberty to do what those who followed after the law were not allowed to do.
David had a heart after God. The law of the Spirit of life enabled him.
Jesus spoke of him, obviously giving this as an example that we can learn from.
¹" At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
² But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
³ But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
⁴ How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
⁵ Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
⁶ But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple." Ma. 12: 1- 6
Is “good” doctrine all you are looking for in a leader or brother in Christ? It is important, but not enough. We need to be and teach others to be people who are after God’s own heart. These are the people who produce the fruit of the Spirit.
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