Does the bible matter?
You bet!
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Tim. 3:16
Does truth matter?
Eternally so!
But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. Rom. 2:8
But does doctrine save you?
What about right doctrine? Does it save you?
When I started pursing faith, I heard a lot of lessons in church on the rights and wrongs of:
- Faith alone
- Water baptism
- Church denominations
- Names of churches
- Use of church funds & property
- Types of Worship
During those years do you know what I learned? Nothing about Jesus. Nothing about the passionate love he has for me. Nothing about his face-the-devil courage that left heaven for me. Nothing about the sin-shattering sacrifice he offered. Nothing about his counter cultural miracles, condemnation of the religious establishment or his promises of resurrection and coming of the Holy Spirit. I learned nothing about how much he wants me to just walk with him and love him.
In my own pursuit I discovered a crazy truth, no doctrine will save me. Salvation only comes from one source.
His name is Jesus.
For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
“The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Acts 4:11-12
He is our propitiation.
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
He is salvation.
So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation…” Luke 2:27-30
The saved follow the doctrine of their Savior.
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity... Heb. 6:1
If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing… 1 Tim. 6:3-4
The unsaved reject the doctrine of Christ.
Whosoever rebels and does not abide in the doctrine of the Christ, does not have God. He that abides in the doctrine of the Christ, the same has the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9
So please don’t make the same mistake I did and rest your hope of salvation in your right doctrine. Put your hope of salvation in Salvation himself, Jesus the Christ. He is the only one and the only thing that can save.
And then, live in Him and abide in his teaching.
