371. The Doctrine of Christ

The doctrine of Jesus is in the body of Jesus Christ. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:9-10.

The words Jesus spoke were spirit and life, and the teachings of Jesus contain the same Spirit and life. The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. Wherever Jesus Christ is revealed, there is Spirit and life, for to set your mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

It is written, “Test the spirits, whether they are of God.” We must test the spirits to find out whether the Spirit of life and peace is present. It is quite simple. When you meet people who have a dry doctrine, this is not the doctrine of Jesus Christ. This doctrine breaks fellowship with all the saints who are in the body of Christ. Such a doctrine is false.

We should endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:3.

There is no unity of Spirit in a doctrine where there is no Spirit.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” Eph. 4:4-6.

He is our peace. He is seated as head far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.

Test yourself. Do you have this Man in your heart, this Spirit and this doctrine? Do not immerse yourself in every strange doctrine; just remain in the teachings you have heard from the beginning. Remain in the doctrine that has Spirit and life and gives you joy and happiness.

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 1:7. Everyone who goes astray and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.

We need to distinguish between the real antichrists that deny Christ come in the flesh, and those who do not understand the great mystery of Christ manifest in the flesh.

Carnal people allow themselves to be easily influenced by strange doctrines that lead them astray and away from Christ as the head of the church. They suffer loss because they leave the leadership of Christ—He who speaks from heaven.

When you leave the leadership of Christ through the Holy Spirit, all you are left with is your own reasoning, your own flesh, your own spirit, and your own will. With this and only parts of the Scriptures like the Pharisees had, it is impossible for you to reach the teachings where there is Spirit and life. You have returned to dry human teachings, dryness no man can live on. And if you cannot live on these teachings, you will go astray into sin and damnation.

“Test the spirits, whether they are of God.” Test the doctrines with the Spirit of Jesus Christ and with the Scriptures.

However, it is possible to receive a form of the doctrine without being obedient to it. The following example will illustrate this:

When I was a young boy, I traveled the Baltic Sea and through Holland freighting lumber. One time I was sitting in the forecastle listening to the older sailors tell a story, a story worth taking note of:

“It often happened as a sailing ship was approaching the loading docks in the Baltic Sea, the sailors would begin throwing the ballast overboard and simultaneously cleaning out the hold to make ready for a new load. This method would save them time. However, this particular time the wind became suddenly gusty, making it necessary to close-haul the vessel and tack upwind. The wind intensified and the boat soon capsized.

“The mast and sails lay in the water, the hull was vertical, and the keel, helm, and rudder came clean out of the water.”

Maybe the ship was not in order? Did they not have the course sail, topsail, topgallant sail, and staysail in order? Of course they did. The sea captain agreed, “Yes, everything was in order.” (The doctrine was scrupulously correct). But the ship could not sail. It is like this with new converts who meticulously know the teachings, but lack ballast in their life. Their ship capsizes; we have seen this happen a number of times.

We are built up on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, and we will be built with gold, silver, and precious stones. These things must be put in the hold.

I often receive articles for Skjulte Skatter from new converts who have all their sails trimmed, but have little experience in life and virtually no ballast within. They provide writings about lofty things that are way over their heads. They do not do as the Scriptures say, “Keep yourself in lowliness.” Even if their writings are correct, it is only the knowledge and light of others that they are presenting. Of course, such writings go straight into the fireplace.

It is sin in the flesh that raises people up; up and again up so that all the sails can be clearly seen. A new convert will gladly go straight up to the pulpit the day after being converted as long as he gets carnal respect, even if he is otherwise like an empty barrel.

The hidden life with Christ in God stores all that is glorious down in the ship’s hold. There are treasures hidden in heaven. Over all glory there is a covering. But the fool wants to be a reformer; his heart looks up to what is great in this world. He hastens to say all he has on his heart, but with the wise, wisdom can remain quiet.

When the Lord is near, an individual becomes meek and filled with the spirit of fear. However, when the Lord is far away, the individual suddenly knows so much, and then the ten thousand instructors thrive. But you only find fathers among those who are filled with the spirit of fear. They carefully examine whether they have ballast in the ship, and they do not raise more sails than the vessel can tolerate, because they bear responsibility.