Watch your life and doctrine closely.
Persevere in them, because if you do,
you will save both yourselves and your hearers.
(1 Timothy 4:16)
Persevere in Doctrine
People cringe when they hear the word "doctrine." "Doctrine divides," they say. They say it like it's a bad thing. But what if it were actually a good thing. Let me give you a list of things that doctrine divides and tell me whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. It divides:
- The ones just wanting to be fed from the ones willing to take up their cross.
- The false conversions from the true conversions.
- The ones under law from the ones under grace.
- The swine from the pearls.
- The profane from the holy.
- The tares from the wheat.
- The goats from the sheep.
- The wolves from the flock.
- The hirelings from the shepherds.
- The “other gospels” from the one true Gospel.
- The false christs from the one true Christ.
- The darkness from the Light.
- The lies from the Truth.
- The myths from the facts.
- The wicked from the righteous.
- The wide gate from the narrow gate.
- The broad road from the narrow road.
- The many paths from the only Way.
Doctrine divides because God wants it to divide. That's why He tells us to persevere in it so that we stay in the proper group with all His saints. Amen.
