CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE-CHARACTERISTICS

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

1. Doctrine is Revealed in the Bible Progressively:

The doctrine of the church found in the Bible was progressively revealed to the church in various councils of the church and to the Christian leaders who studied the Bible to know the truth.

Jesus Christ said that the doctrine comes from God. “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me...” (Jn. 7:16, 17). God gave the doctrine to the church progressively, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little...(Isa. 28:9, 13). It had taken over a period of about 2000 years through the authors of the Bible. The OT authors received this doctrine from God ‘little a little’ but in NT the doctrine was revealed to us through Jesus Christ and the apostles (Jn. 1:1-3; Ephe. 3:1-6; Heb. 1:1,2).

2. Doctrine is the Faith that was Revealed Once for all:

The Bible says that the revelation of the doctrine for the church is complete in the Scriptures and there is no need for extra revelation now. It is revealed once for all (Jude 3). The doctrine in the Scripture is complete and there won’t be any addition other than the Scriptures. There will be God’s curse on those who add or taken away from the teaching of the Bible (Rev. 22:18, 19). Since the word of God is final.

3. Doctrines are the Truths that are Declared and surely believed:

Christian doctrines are the basic truths that are present in the Word of God in a systematic order and are the truths that are surely believed (Luke 1:1). So the doctrine is the truth that is declared and surely believed by the church. Paul wrote to Timothy to ‘continue in he things” (2 Tim. 3:14).

4. Doctrine contains the certainty of truth that are to be instructed.

Doctrines are truths that are real and are taught to the people to enable them to know the truth. So the doctrine is the truth which is genuine and factual, and is teachable to others (Lk. 1:3,4).

 5. Doctrine is Inspired and it Equips believers for Good Works:

The Bible says that the doctrines are Scriptural truths which are given by the inspiration of God to equip the believers for good works (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).  It equips us at the same time it encouraged us and corrected us too.

6. Doctrine is Sound, Pure and Good:

The word ‘sound doctrine’ is used in the Pastoral Epistles four times (1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:2-4 and Titus 1:9; 2:1). It means ‘wholesome’ or ‘correct doctrine’. Paul urges Timothy and Titus to teach sound doctrine in order to avoid errors and build believers. The ’sound doctrine’ is good (Prov. 4:2), pure (Job 11:4) and according to godliness (1 Tim. 6:3).

7. Doctrine is from God and it is Powerful:

In Deuteronomy 32:2, the doctrine is compared to rain which comes down from heaven in drops and nourishes the earth. In the same manner Word of God is also referred to us rain which makes the earth to give fruits (Isa. 55:10). It is also powerful (55:11). It comes from God (Jn. 7:16, 17).