One Life and One Doctrine

One Life and One Doctrine

“Jesus began both to do and teach . . . .” Acts 1:1. Jesus did whatever He heard from His Father, and after He had tested it in His own life, He taught the others to do the same. When Jesus proclaimed the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples, it was a doctrine of life that had already stood the test in His own life.

On the day of Pentecost the disciples began to obey this same Spirit that had led Jesus to all God’s will. John said, “We . . . declare to you that eternal life.” It was the same life that was in the Father, the Son, and in all the apostles, and which later entered all of Jesus’ true followers. They have all had the same life and the same doctrine.

Today there are many doctrines and opinions, and impressionable souls are thrown hither and thither without finding peace or rest. These doctrines and opinions are the result of people having more or less great thoughts about themselves. They champion doctrines that have not resulted in life and happiness in their own lives. What poor creatures who are thrown back and forth in all this confusion.

There is only one Spirit, and everything that this one Spirit reveals to those who obey Him is in agreement with Himself and results in a blessed peace and joy in the heart.

There were many different opinions among the people as to who Jesus was, but the disciples spoke firmly and unshakably on the basis of what had not been revealed to them by flesh and blood, because the church of the living God was to be built on the Rock. God be praised that it is not built on human ideas and opinions.

All these opinions are suited for those who want to argue about them, but there is only one revelation from God, and it is suited only for those who want to live it.

In John 14:21 and 23 we can see to whom God reveals Himself, and God Himself sees to it that all the others are left to their own devices with their changing opinions.

“This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 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. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 6-9.

In Galatians 4:19 Paul writes, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you . . . .” If a doctrine’s aim is not that Christ shall be manifested in the flesh and be formed in the individual, it is a false doctrine and the spirit of Antichrist. The genuineness of a doctrine can be measured by whether it results in godliness in daily life.

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to lead God’s elect to faith and the acknowledgment of the truth which is according to godliness . . . .” Tit. 1:1.

May there be many apostles, prophets, shepherds, and teachers who with all their hearts give themselves to the truth that is according to godliness. All other doctrine must be totally rejected.

The doctrine must be in harmony with a person’s daily life in godliness so that it can be followed. “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance . . . .” 2 Tim. 3:10. “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:9.

This simple and clear doctrine of life was based on a tested manner of life in faith, longsuffering, love, and perseverance. Therefore Paul could speak in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, just as Jesus could speak with power and authority and not like one of the scribes.

Today there is no lack of persuasive words about all kinds of topics, but there is a great lack of those whose lives are examples that can be followed. However, this should be the norm in the church as well as in our homes.

Children are molded and instructed by the things they see and hear in their homes. It is a great thing for all those who have seen and heard a living Christianity at home. If the children have seen a life of godliness, truth, righteousness, patience, thankfulness, joy, love, and goodness, then you can be sure that they have seen the eternal light and the true doctrine, and it will be difficult for them to leave that behind. Everything else will seem empty and poor to them, and sooner or later most of them will be drawn into the same blessed life. They have come to know the true life and the true doctrine and will never be deceived by strange doctrines.