Immutable Doctrine With a Gentle Spirit

We as Christians are always criticized even by other Christians when we take a firm stance on doctrine. Biblical doctrine for many is harsh, inflexible, graceless and antiquated. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without Holy scripture as our guide, we are in a tangled theological wilderness with no light to illuminate our path. This ignorance opens the door to numerous vain philosophies that twists our minds and perverts our purpose. 

Sadly, these vain philosophies run rampant in Churches today. Why? 1) False teaching from the pulpit. When the blind (inept preacher) leads the blind (naive parishioner) as Jesus said they will into fall into a ditch - an abyss of ignorance shame and disgrace (Matthew 15:4). 2) Baby Christians ape what they hear from their Pastors as divine revelation so they merchandise these messages to those they know instead of being like the noble Berean to search the scriptures daily to prove what they are hearing is true, or false (Acts 17:11). I know what I am talking about. In my naïveté I aped false teaching for years.

So, how do we strike the absolute necessary yet delicate balance with God’s unchanging word with those who need to hear it? We have to be firm and loving at the same time. No wiggle room is allowed when dealing with God’s absolute truth. We have to tell like it is. This approach seems to many ruthless, arrogant and unloving. What about all the other religions out there? Certainly they have truth too don’t they? Why do you Christians think you’re the only ones that have it right?

Christians didn’t author the Words of God. Did you read that statement carefully? God authored His own words. He supernaturally inspired or breathed out His words out to a few select men throughout antiquity (2 Timothy 3:16). In second Peter we read these words, "the word of prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). God told them what to write and they wrote no more or less than what He commanded.

And the by the way, these men were either eyewitnesses or associates of eyewitnesses of what they wrote.

Other religions / cults do not understand or teach the gospel. Other religions / cults do not have an answer for the atonement of sin. That is the problem of all mankind. The prophet Isaiah told the nation of Israel that yours sins (italics mine) have separated you from your God (Isaiah 59:2). In order for our sins to be washed away and forgiven, we need a mediator, an intercessor, a vicar. Someone who can advocate on our behalf and absorb the punishment for our transgressions that we owe to God (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus Christ was/is now that ongoing perfect sacrifice for mankind's sin. Despite the erroneous view of some who believe that God the Father punishing His Son was "cosmic child abuse" do not understand God's love for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16). No greater love is there than this that a man would lay down His life for His friends (John 15:13). 

Mankind's sinfulness is so egregious and offensive to God that it took the necessity of the spotless, sinless Son of God to be sent from heaven to come and die a sinner's death on our behalf. Sin is a debt owed to God. The payment for sin is bloodshed and death (Romans 6:23). It had to come from someone who was sinless in order for God's wrath to be appeased. Jesus was the only one qualified to fulfill this vicarious sacrifice. He who knew no sin became sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is what scholars call double imputation. We placed our sins on Christ when we believed. He in turn grants us His righteousness like He did with Abraham (Genesis 15:6).

Here is tremendous wisdom from Paul, "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised for of our justification" (Romans 4:25). Did you catch the import of this one verse? We are the reason salvation is necessary. Ours sins were in the way of having a relationship with the Father. But, because of Jesus Christ being the bridge that we had to cross in order to get to the Father provided the only way for our broken fellowship with the Father to be repaired. Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6).

Immutable doctrine yet with a gentle spirit.

This is the unequivocal gospel we MUST preach to the nations. It is the only gospel that saves the soul.

The Bible is full of grace and truth. Love is never absent from grace and truth, please remember that. The problem is not with the message, but many times with the messenger - the one delivering the message. Why our good is often spoken of as evil is because the person delivering the truth is malicious- they are speaking the truth, but NOT in love like the Bible commands (Ephesians 4:15). This makes God look bad to the world because of the way we sometimes misrepresent him. Those who share the gospel MUST be humble, never looking to condemn a person. The word of God will do that to a guilty sinner on its own. We have to be a mouthpiece of kindness and truthfulness with a burden for the lost person's soul.

Another way to say Immutable doctrine with a gentle spirit is speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). If you want to see these virtues in action, read the gospels that portray the life of Jesus. Read the books of Paul where he explains how to live the Christian life doctrinally. Read the books of Peter, James, Jude and John that also teach how we are to live as Christians in a world that is under the influence of Satan (1 John 5:19).

Contrary to contemporary popular opinion, the gospel is not hate speech, its truth and love speech. Man is dead in sin that is why his thinking is backwards. The gospel is a living breathing organism full of the Spirit of God. God desires to give man life - eternal life, but sinful man is seeking death - everlasting death. How do I know? How about some Old Testament wisdom: There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). King Solomon talking about righteous wisdom personified: "For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:35-36).

Concluding, the opposite of Immutable Doctrine with a gentle spirit is what the writer call a flabby doctrine with a deceptive spirit -i.e. a person that rejects Biblical truth will turn to fables. Because they are in a church atmosphere, the music is loud and melodic. The person on stage is quoting Bible verses out of context because they are anemic on doctrine, the layperson is emotionally caught up. For them, this is a visitation from the Lord. Their mind is disengaged and the "feel-good" is all that matters to them. They have reached their euphoria for a couple of hours, and they go back home having learned nothing about God's word; even more spiritually deficient than before they entered the building. Friends, we need to care way more about our growth in the Lord than a lame pathetic experience like that! On top of that they are going to beg for your money and lie about the cars, houses, healing and riches you're going to receive in return.

Paul commanded Timothy to:

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, will all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

- 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Why Are You Here?

I would imagine most of us have asked ourselves that question. The inquiry started for me as a young child. When I ask the question, I am specifically asking, “Do you know what your purpose is in the very brief life that you have? For those who are in government they are convinced they would spend their lives as public servants, community advocates, council men and women, senators,  house members, first responders. Then there are doctors, lawyers, athletes, entertainers, humanitarians, etc. God has given us all talents and gifts to make this world a better, safer and healthier place to live. 

Sadly, many have and continue to abuse the gifts and talents given to them in lieu of helping others. Those that have perverted their gifts have caused irreparable damage to countless lives - not just human life, but wildlife as well. Human flourishing MUST always be the goal.

But that is not always the case.

If you don't know why you’re here, I have the answer for you. The Word of God tells us. In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, The end of the matter: all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.

We have been created to give glory to God our whole lives long. That is the beauty and wisdom of the scriptures, it gives a singular all encompassing purpose, give glory to God! 

So, where do we start?

Proverbs 1:7 tells us, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Similarly  Proverbs 9:10-11 tells us, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and the years of life will be added to you.

I’m claiming those promises for myself, but in order to make good on that claim one MUST fear the Lord.

When Jesus began His public ministry He declared these words, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). In case you do not know what repent means, it is defined by changing one’s mind - about our sins in the Biblical evangelical context. You see Jesus came to earth on a rescue mission, to seek and save those who are lost - to save His people from their sins (Luke 19:10; Matt 1:21). The Father God's love for us is what compelled Him to send His only begotten Son to come and die for us (John 3:16). 

The main problem with man is that he has foolishly and hopelessly chosen to be at war with God - a battle he can never win. It's our sin that drives this insidious rage against our Maker. Listen to these penetrating words from King Solomon: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12;16:25).While man lives just to die, God desires to raise the dead to life!

What do I mean?

The Bible declares that we are dead in our trespasses and sins prior to the Spirit of God regenerating us to new life in Christ (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). That is why Jesus told Nicodemus you must be born again (Italics added for emphasis John 3:3). Jesus has to come and give us the truth because without the Lord, we are dead while we live. John the Baptist said, “He that has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life, but the wrath of God abides on Him” (John 3:36). 

Without Jesus you are an empty shell. Although you may appear beautiful on the outside, inwardly you are a corpse, a casket spiritually (Matthew 23:27). No one should want that to be their legacy. To live your life apart from the Lord is a life wasted no matter how successful you are. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul, or what can a man give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:26)?

I realize that this is a hard word for many people, but it is the truth. Consider how brief life really is. Even if you lived to be 120 years old, what is that compared to eternity? Do you care enough about your life to turn it around for Jesus’ sake, or does He cramp your style? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Or perhaps you’re mad at God because you prayed for a sick loved one to get well and they died. Perhaps your spouse or child died all of a sudden. Why would a loving God allow that to happen? Here’s a very hard truth friends: 

Because of the sin of Adam the world since the dawn of time has been under a death sentence (Romans 6:23). All of us have an appointment with death. All of us are guaranteed to meet that appointment (Hebrew 9:27). What frightens the world is that we do not know or have control of when and how we will die. But God knows. He’s the only one that knows.

Here is another frightening thought, most do not know for certain where they will end up - heaven or hell. These are realities most do not want to talk about. I get that. But as each day comes and goes, we are getting closer to closing our eyes and waking up in eternity - with or without the Lord. These are the only two realities any of us will face. If there are other options, then God is a liar and the Bible is not true. 

Not even the devil is that stupid.

We were made to love the Lord our God with our heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). At the end of the day nothing else matters. Sure, God made this planet for us to inhabit, to train it, subdue and enjoy its numerous benefits and blessings. We should have fun, joy, love and peace and laughter as much as possible in this brief life of pain and sin. But that cannot and should not be the sum total of our lives - to enjoy God’s creation without giving Him praise for it. As beautiful as this planet is, it's defiled because of mankind’s sin. God will destroy and re-create it to the paradise it once was before the fall of mankind that brought sin into the world (Isa 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1).

So you see unregenerate man is a prisoner to his evil. That is why he can never have lasting peace. Unredeemed man is a savage. It starts in his youth. He is the most untamed beast the world will ever know. Peace only comes from Jesus, the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). Only the Lord can find and save wretches like us. Only then will you know why you’re here - to conform to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29). That will take your whole life long (Ephesians 2:10).

The Bible commands us that whatever we do, do to glory to God (Matt 5:16;1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17).

Without the Lord you’re only born to die - eternally without him in hell.

Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth (Galatians 4:16)?