The Purity of Doctrine - David Scott

It was a pleasure to welcome Pastor David Scott back to Listooder, with a message on the importance of having a Pure Doctrine. David began by defining the word doctrine as simply 'teaching', explaining that Christ's doctrine which He brought while on this earth was simply a revelation of what God had to teach us through His word. "My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me." (John 17:6) Our doctrine and teaching, therefore, should come from the Bible itself, where "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16). Before going into some of the specific doctrines of Scripture, he warned against the dangers of bad doctrine, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). THE DOCTRINE OF GOD God is eternal. He had no beginning, and He will have no end. Psalm 90:2 - "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." There is only one God. 1 Timothy 2:5 - "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" God never changes. Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I change not;" THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST Christ is both God and man. Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:' A child is born - Born of a virgin, unlike any other birth, without sin - Humanity A son is given - The Son of God - Deity Christ was born sinless and lived sinless. 1 John 3:5 "In Him is no sin" 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin." If He had known sin, He could not have taken our place, as the substitute for sin. Christ died in our place, and of His own will. 1 Peter 2:24 "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." John 10:17 "I lay down my life, that I might take it again." Christ rose from the dead, and will live and reign forever. Revelation 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore." Christ ascended into Heaven Acts 1:9 "He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." Christ will return again to the earth - the second coming. Acts 1:11 "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Christ represents us in Heaven. Romans 8:34 "Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is a gift to every believer. Romans 5:5 "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." The Holy Spirit is given to guide us. John 16:13 - "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:" The Holy Spirit is given to comfort us. John 15:26 "The Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth." By keeping our doctrine pure, and Biblical, we gain assurance of our salvation, assurance of our eternal rest in Christ, and assurance of the guidance of the Spirit. Without these doctrines we have no assurance and our faith is in vain. Pure doctrine helps us to understand why we do the things that we do. As believers then, we are expected to live out this purity of doctrine in the form of The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5), so that others might see the truth of God's Word in us.