The topic of doctrine

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Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,666
2,788
113
#61
If someone is genuinely seeking these, the important things, then God reveals the truth to them as they are able to receive it, but none of us gets there completely in this lifetime. The Bible speaks of this in 1st Corinthians 13:8 through 12. Verse 12 says:

[12] Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a foggy mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face. What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NIrV
So for someone who hungers for the truth they can only be given so much no matter how much they desire it?
like if say I want to see the word of God clearly would that be possible in this life time considering how deep the word of God hoes?
 

Wansvic

Well-known member
Nov 27, 2018
5,294
1,111
113
#62
If someone is genuinely seeking these, the important things, then God reveals the truth to them as they are able to receive it, but none of us gets there completely in this lifetime. The Bible speaks of this in 1st Corinthians 13:8 through 12. Verse 12 says:

[12] Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a foggy mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face. What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NIrV
Thanks for clarifying. I thought you were referring to something such as purgatory.

And I would disagree that God does not care about doctrine. The teaching from scripture provides man with instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,666
2,788
113
#63
Thanks for clarifying. I thought you were referring to something such as purgatory.

And I would disagree that God does not care about doctrine. The teaching from scripture provides man with instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16
God cares about doctrine but the doctrine division is the issue, with all the different denominations all the different doctrines and interpretations and how scripture is misused cherry picked and even used to attack that is the issue you see it in this forum all the time.

A good friend of mine told me there is such division of truth that he has a hard time with the whole idea of what is actually truth it confuses him as a new believer and he actually left this forum because he saw how doctrine is highly spoken of but it is a my truth vs your truth snf he saw the slandering and mocking and the endless arguing and left

Doctrine is important yes but my friend is a hood ecample of how our words have influence how we handle ourselves and how doctrine is used can confuse or scare people away
 

Ballaurena

Well-known member
May 27, 2024
428
286
63
#64
So for someone who hungers for the truth they can only be given so much no matter how much they desire it?
like if say I want to see the word of God clearly would that be possible in this life time considering how deep the word of God hoes?
There is great capacity for growth in this life, and if you are seeking God about a specific question He will generally seek to answer as He is able to give it to you (the limiting factors being your willingness and ability to receive it), but God is so far beyond us, and the spiritual world so very different from anything we know in this life that we are unlikely to ever understanding the complete depth or breadth of what God knows, at least in this life.

Verses of note:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
9 'For as heaven is higher than earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.' "


Isaiah 55:8-9


7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him."

Matthew 7:7-11 (Compare with Luke 11:9-13)
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,463
3,705
113
#65
The Lord teaches us to hunger and thirst for righteousness; however, God can open anyone's heart and mind to the truth even if they're not looking for it at all. The apostle Paul is a prime example.
 

Beckworth

Well-known member
May 15, 2019
716
259
63
#66
The Lord teaches us to hunger and thirst for righteousness; however, God can open anyone's heart and mind to the truth even if they're not looking for it at all. The apostle Paul is a prime example.
And Lydia. Acts 16:14. However, I’m not sure I believe God did it supernaturally. There are 2 things we know for sure. 1) God knows our hearts.. He can read hearts. And 2) God is not a respecter of persons. So, in Exodus when it says God “HARDENED” Pharoah’s heart, but He “OPENED” Lydia’s heart, wouldn’t that make God a “respecter of persons? The only way I can explain this is to think of God’s word as neutral, the same for every person, but the kind of heart a person has is what makes the difference. That puts the responsibility on the person and not God. A good example is the “sun”. When the sun shines on “clay”, it HARDENS it; but when that same sun, doing nothing differently, shines on “butter” it melts it. That makes the “sun” impartial. This is substantiated by scripture in the parable of the Sower. One of The points of that parable is showing that there are different kinds of hearts (soil). The same “seed” is sown into each one but the outcome is different for each one. The “seed” in this parable is the word of God. It is neutral. It doesn’t change. It is all the same seed (not different kinds of seed) that is sown into different hearts; but because the soil” in each of those hearts is different ( clay or butter) the results are different. So, Pharoah’s heart must have been a soil of “clay” because when he heard God’s word his heart was hardened. And it can be said that God hardened his heart because it was the word of God that did it. But Lydia’s heart must have been made out of a soil of “butter” or as the parable teaches, good soil. When she heard God’s word taught to her by Paul, it “opened her heart”; we might say it melted her heart so that she obeyed Christ in baptism. And again we can say that God did it because it was His word that caused her to obey. At least this is what I believe the Bible is teaching.
 

Edify

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2021
1,596
671
113
#67
God reveals truth to us when we're able to receive it.
You wouldn't feed 12th grade trigonometry to a first grader would you?
Paul told one church he could say more but they weren't able to receive it because they were still babies.
 

Beckworth

Well-known member
May 15, 2019
716
259
63
#68
Thanks for clarifying. I thought you were referring to something such as purgatory.

And I would disagree that God does not care about doctrine. The teaching from scripture provides man with instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16
I agree that God cares about “doctrine” because of 2 John 9–“ whoever transgresses and does not abide in the DOCTRINE of Christ does not have God.”
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,666
2,788
113
#69
I agree that God cares about “doctrine” because of 2 John 9–“ whoever transgresses and does not abide in the DOCTRINE of Christ does not have God.”
The doctrine of Christ yes that is one true doctrine so why is it so in your opinion what is the doctrine of Christ I respect your views so I am interested to know
 

Beckworth

Well-known member
May 15, 2019
716
259
63
#70
The doctrine of Christ yes that is one true doctrine so why is it so in your opinion what is the doctrine of Christ I respect your views so I am interested to know[/QUOT

Thank you. I’ve never tried to define it before so I may not do very well with this. Doctrine is defined as a “set of beliefs.” So, the doctrine of Christ would be the things that Christ believes. (And teaches). That would include the gospel. Also, 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that we have the mind of Christ ( in the Bible.).To sum it up, the doctrine of Christ would be the things Christ believes and teaches in the Bible. It would include His commandments, His teachings, His warnings, His promises, His parables. It seems to me they would all be part of his doctrine. To abide in His doctrine (2 John 9) is to abide in his teachings; his beliefs. His commandments. We understand what the doctrine of the Baptist church means, or the Methodist church, or any other denomination. It means the things they believe and teach. It would be the same with Christ; it’s all of the things in the Bible that He believes and teaches.

The New Testament has been called the last will and testament of Jesus Christ. I would say you will find His “doctrine” in His Will.

His doctrine would include things like how to be saved from our sins, what His church in the New Testament looks like. How He wants us to worship Him, how he wants us to live our lives, his teachings about heaven and hell and death and life. So many things. It’s a system of belief. I don’t know if I have helped or just muddied the water. But I appreciate your interest and willingness to consider all of our answers. Remember, as long as you have book, chapter, and verse, you are on the right track.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,666
2,788
113
#71
ok good I figured you would have a good answer there has been so much confusion and division lately I am just glad to get a straight answer
 
Nov 14, 2024
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#72
The Lord teaches us to hunger and thirst for righteousness; however, God can open anyone's heart and mind to the truth even if they're not looking for it at all. The apostle Paul is a prime example.
Paul was hungering and thirsting after righteousness, but he initially ignorantly sought it through the law. Once he understood that Christ was the one to whom the law consistently pointed, he embraced him.

Phl 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Phl 3:4
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Phl 3:5
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Phl 3:6
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Phl 3:7
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phl 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Phl 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

I definitely would not say that Paul was not looking for the truth at all.

1Ti 1:12
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
 
Nov 14, 2024
667
451
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#73
And Lydia. Acts 16:14. However, I’m not sure I believe God did it supernaturally. There are 2 things we know for sure. 1) God knows our hearts.. He can read hearts. And 2) God is not a respecter of persons. So, in Exodus when it says God “HARDENED” Pharoah’s heart, but He “OPENED” Lydia’s heart, wouldn’t that make God a “respecter of persons? The only way I can explain this is to think of God’s word as neutral, the same for every person, but the kind of heart a person has is what makes the difference. That puts the responsibility on the person and not God. A good example is the “sun”. When the sun shines on “clay”, it HARDENS it; but when that same sun, doing nothing differently, shines on “butter” it melts it. That makes the “sun” impartial. This is substantiated by scripture in the parable of the Sower. One of The points of that parable is showing that there are different kinds of hearts (soil). The same “seed” is sown into each one but the outcome is different for each one. The “seed” in this parable is the word of God. It is neutral. It doesn’t change. It is all the same seed (not different kinds of seed) that is sown into different hearts; but because the soil” in each of those hearts is different ( clay or butter) the results are different. So, Pharoah’s heart must have been a soil of “clay” because when he heard God’s word his heart was hardened. And it can be said that God hardened his heart because it was the word of God that did it. But Lydia’s heart must have been made out of a soil of “butter” or as the parable teaches, good soil. When she heard God’s word taught to her by Paul, it “opened her heart”; we might say it melted her heart so that she obeyed Christ in baptism. And again we can say that God did it because it was His word that caused her to obey. At least this is what I believe the Bible is teaching.
Amen.

Here are some Hebrew insights into the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.

 
Nov 14, 2024
667
451
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#74
God reveals truth to us when we're able to receive it.
You wouldn't feed 12th grade trigonometry to a first grader would you?
Paul told one church he could say more but they weren't able to receive it because they were still babies.
They were babies who weren't able to bear it because they were carnal or because their focus was upon men, and not upon Christ.

1Co 3:1
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
1Co 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:6
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Yep. Man-focused "denominations" were forming even back then. There is nothing new under the sun.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,749
5,943
113
#75
Thanks for clarifying. I thought you were referring to something such as purgatory.

And I would disagree that God does not care about doctrine. The teaching from scripture provides man with instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16
“and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

anen Gods utmost concern is doctrine it can save or destroy souls

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬