Christ and His Doctrine



Salvation is found only in trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.  

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). 

Let us not think, however, that salvation is in believing Christ to the exclusion of believing His doctrine.

“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” (II John 1:9).

What is “the doctrine of Christ”? The doctrine of Christ is the teaching which the Lord gave to His apostles of which He is the sum and substance. It concerns who He is, the work He did and the reason He alone had to do that work. He is truly God and Man, the Surety and Mediator of the everlasting Covenant; He is our Prophet, Priest and King.

His work was that of Substitution, Satisfaction, Reconciliation and Redemption. He suffered, bled, died and arose in the stead of His sinful people to make reparation to divine justice which demanded death for sin, thereby restoring us to God. He paid the redemptive price owed to divine law which held us for ransom. One cannot separate believing Christ and believing the doctrine of His finished work on the cross by which He put away the sins of and established righteousness for ALL THOSE THE FATHER GAVE HIM.

He who is the Savior of sinners is now enthroned in heaven where He appears at the Father’s right hand on the behalf of His brethren and carries on His work of Advocacy and Intercession. He sends His Spirit to quicken those He redeemed and bring us to believe Christ and His doctrine. As our Advocate, the Savior presents our worship and works to the Father which are made acceptable through His person and perfections.

“The doctrine of Christ” is also called “good doctrine” (Proverbs 4:2; I Tim. 4:6), “the doctrine of the Lord” (Acts 13:12), “sound doctrine” (I Tim. 1:10; II Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:9 & 2:1), “the doctrine of God our Saviour” (Titus 2:10) and “the doctrine which is according to godliness” (I Tim. 6:3). Notice that in each of these passages “doctrine” is singular, whereas “doctrines” is used five times in the Word of God (Mat. 15:9; Mark 7:7; Col. 2:2; I Tim. 4:1 & Heb. 13:9) and always in association with error. “Doctrine” points to ONE BODY OF TRUTH which is found in ONE GLORIOUS PERSON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. You cannot and must not endeavor to divorce Christ and His doctrine.


-Gospel report by preacher Jim Byrd




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