The Form of Doctrine

The Form of Doctrine

What does it help if we have the perfect form of doctrine if we are not formed to perfection by that doctrine? We must be pliable and well disposed in our mind if we are to be formed.

There is only one true form of doctrine on earth—the one that Jesus was perfectly formed by, according to His Father’s image. It formed the apostles and all the saints right up to the present day. We are to be conformed to all God’s Word, but we cannot be formed if we are hard and stubborn.

On the day of Pentecost they were filled with Spirit and fire and a fervent love, and in this Spirit they could continue to be molded according to the doctrine of Christ in the school on Mount Zion. Here they were molded to become humble, true, and good servants according to the mind of Jesus Christ, to be in subjection to each other in order to serve one another. Here they were formed and molded to be apostles, prophets, shepherds, and teachers, in humility and faithfulness. All of them had a mind to be a sacrifice, to serve and to give without thinking of a reward, or the honor of man. All of them had a mind to go down—not to strive to come up and be as visible as possible.

God puts in the church apostles, prophets, shepherds, and teachers—not to give them a title, but only so that they can lay down their lives in order to serve the others. In the church of the living God there is no competition in making fine speeches. The brothers who speak have themselves been helped to a life of victory and godliness; they serve in order to help others come to the same life.

“‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.’ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.” Jer. 18:2-3. Down in the potter’s house is where things happen. The more pliable the clay is, the easier it is to make a fine vessel out of it that is useful to the master and ready for all good work. While the work is being done on the wheel, we can hear words from heaven. There we are raised up and molded to be good servants for the things that are profitable and edifying in the church of the living God. Everything else is ground away. We learn that it is better to speak five words from a life that was formed on the wheel than to make a long speech for its own sake.

We are formed to be a habitation of God, and this habitation is to be filled by His glory. There is no condemnation there, but God’s wisdom rules in light, in life, in joy, and in peace.

Outside the potter’s house one is formed by the spirit of the times with its ideas and opinions according to the powerful workings of Satan. The spirit and fire that is contained in this form mold people into conformity in one sinister spirit.

Now it is vital that we choose in which house we want to be formed. Religiosity does not form us to be one in an eternal and glorious brotherhood. One can take a text and speak splendidly about humility, brotherly love, and submissiveness without having been sufficiently tender in one’s heart of hearts to have really entered into the brotherhood. In spite of great oratorical gifts one remains a little bit on the sidelines. Such people come in order to make a speech, but they have no need of hearing what the others have to say. They feel that they know everything, and that they can do everything by themselves.

True servants listen with great interest to children, young people, and older people in order to learn from them how to serve better so that unity and harmony in the brotherhood can increase.

Jesus and the apostles have given us the only true and good form of doctrine. Therefore we now have the greatest possibilities of being formed and molded to be like Him.