Is Doctrine Important?

Is doctrine important to God? Many people presume that doctrine is not important to God as long as a person believes in God and has faith. However, the Bible teaching on doctrine is very clear. Doctrine, defined as “that which is taught” or “instruction”, is very important to God. Without doctrine, there can be no obedience to God’s instructions for salvation. Without doctrine, we could never learn about belief or faith in God.

The inspired writers tell us many things about doctrine in the Bible. Doctrine, used in this sense, is nothing more than the teaching and instruction we receive from the Lord. Paul stated, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. From this passage we see that all scriptures contain the necessary doctrine, among other things, to make the people of God complete and ready to do any and every good work. Without doctrine the negative of this is true; we are not complete and will never be ready to do any good work. Doctrine is important to God.

Doctrine is so important to God that he commands that all men teach and obey the doctrine that has been delivered. Paul stated, “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou might charge some that they teach no other doctrine” 1 Timothy 1:3. Paul thought it important for all men to teach the same doctrine. Paul taught the young minister Timothy, “If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now” 1 Timothy 4:6. Notice the connection between the “words of faith” and “the good doctrine”. Without doctrine, there is no faith, for doctrine is simply the teaching that is brought to us by faith.

Paul taught that God’s doctrine is vitally important because of its relationship with the words of Jesus Christ. Paul stated “If any man teaches a different doctrine, and consents not to sound words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is puffed up, knowing nothing” 1 Timothy 6:3-4. Notice the connection with doctrine and sound words, which are the “words of our Lord Jesus Christ”. If we continue in the doctrine, we are that much closer to godliness. Without teaching the doctrine, we become “puffed up” and show our lack of knowledge. True knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ comes to us by the doctrine that he spoke. Therefore, as Christians, we must strive to fulfill the command Paul gave to Titus; “But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine” Titus 2:1.