Why is the study of doctrine important anyway? That is the question I have been answering in several posts this week. Allow me to give a few more reasons that studying doctrine is important.
Fourth, studying theology is important and advantageous because it guards us from unbiblical teaching (assuming that we are correct in our interpretation). Only two texts will be needed to prove this point (although the texts are numerous on this topic!). First, let's take a look at Eph. 4:11-14. Paul says, "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by the craftiness in deceitful scheming".
Much could be said about the above verses. Many of you know that if I were preaching these verses, it would take a good 50 minutes to explain them properly (at least). Nevertheless, allow me to make some brief comments that pertain to the main point I am arguing. First, notice that Paul is emphasising several offices (vs. 11). Second, notice that all of those offices have a very common component. The common component is that all of them were concerned with verbally speaking God's word, or we could say God's truth, to His people. Third, the reason for these offices is clear as well. Verse 12 specifically says that it is for the "equipping of the saints". Fourth, this is to take place, as vs. 13 says, "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God". Let me stop here by just reminding you that Paul was writing to believers. Thus, when he speaks of them attaining to "knowledge of the Son of God" he is not speaking about salvation. Rather, he is speaking about their sanctification. Fifth, notice that vs. 14 gives the ultimate goal of the dissemination of doctrine (God's Word/God's truth) to God's people. It is important simply because it guards His people from being "children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine". And notice the end of vs. 14 points to the reality of this- "by the trickery of men, by craftiness and deceitful scheming". The conclusion cannot be escaped- these verses place a premium on the teaching ministry of the church which serves as the foundation to guard against heresy. God desires for His people to be equipped with truth so that when unbiblical teaching is heard, they will not be drawn to it.
Consider also 2 Pet. 3:17 which says, "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness". In this context, Peter uses the word “fall” to refer to apostasy- leaving the Christian faith for good. We know that God ultimately guards and keeps us (2 Thess. 3:3; Jude 24). Those who are “carried away” from the Christian faith never were really in Christ (I Jn. 2:19) showing them that God was not guarding or keeping them in the salvation sense because they never truly placed faith in Christ, though it appeared for a season that they did. Nevertheless, the warning that Peter gives in these verses ought not to be ignored, but should be taken seriously. The warning is given in verse 17 and is “to be on your guard”- being aware of the fact that there are false teachers who distort Scripture and teach heresy. Verse 18 provides the means of being on guard- “growing in knowledge”. In short, knowing doctrine helps prevent succumbing to unbiblical teaching.
Fifth, studying doctrine is important and advantageous because it results in worship and praise of God. This, I think, is a rather obvious point. When we come to worship on Sunday, we do not walk in, sit in a big room and just talk. Nor do we just sit in silence (meditation style). Rather, we come to hear God's Word. The hearing of God's Word (God's truth/doctrine) is central to why we come. And the knowledge of the Gospel is what propels worship, right? It is when our minds are engaged and wrapped up with the doctrines surrounding the Gospel that prompts worship. I do not know how else to put it. I will grant that worship often results from experience. If I am on my way to church in the winter with my family and I hit a patch of ice and spin around thirteen times but end up back on the road and make it safely to church I can promise you that I would be so thankful to God! I would be thankful for his preservation of my entire family because they are precious to me. We would walk into church and I promise you that my wife and I would not be able to stop thinking about God's preservation of us just moments before. Even as I stand singing, readying myself to preach, and even as I preach, I would not be able to get the images of just a few moments ago (in the car) out of my mind. This, no doubt, will prompt worship in my heart. Now that is just an illustration. But my point is that worship can result from experience. I am not denying that. I am simply saying that even worship rooted in experience is ultimately rooted in doctrine. How? Well, in order for me to look back on the incident with the patch of ice and be thankful I must recognize several theological truths: 1) God's power, 2) God's providence, 3) God's grace, 4) God's sovereign plan, etc. So it is inescapable, that is, the notion that worship and praise results from the study of doctrine. Here a few verses you can look up on your own that show that the knowledge of God's "testimonies" and "precepts" provoke praise and rejoicing in the heart (Ps. 19:8; 119:14, 103, 111, 162). Also consider Paul's bursting forth of praise right after giving a synopsis of God's great plan of redemption (Rom. 11:33-36).
Sixth, studying doctrine is important and advantageous because it fulfills the church's mission (Matt. 28:19-20; I Pet. 2:9). Evangelism does not stop with telling someone about the Gospel. Rather, it continues with discipleship. Christ commands teaching as integral to the dissemination of the Gospel. Teaching doctrine fulfills the mission of the church which is to preach the Gospel.
Seventh, studying doctrine is advantageous because it challenges and modifies erroneous beliefs we might hold.
Eighth, studying doctrine is advantageous because it serves to strengthen our faith through the compiling of multiple verses on any given topic. Jesus and other Biblical writers often quoted or referenced more than one book of Scripture as they taught doctrine. The classic example of this is Christ's (apparently long) walk with two men on the Emmaus road in Luke 24:13-27. Luke tells us that Christ "beginning with Moses and with all the prophets...explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures" (vs. 27). In other words, Jesus pointed out several verses (prophecies, promises) in the Old Testament that pointed to the Gospel. He probably mentioned the great promise in Genesis 3:15, the wondrous prophecies of Isaiah, and many more verses. The point is that Christ showed to them that the entire message of the Old Testament Scriptures were all about Him! The study of doctrine seeks to compile multiple verses to explain a certain concept. When these verse are compiled together and explained one richly sees the truth or concept from a number of different angles. This does two things: 1) it leaves us in awe of the complexity and wondrous nature of our God, and 2) it strengthens our faith to know that God's written word (God's truth) is united!
Ninth, studying doctrine is advantageous because it will help us be discerning regarding current and future unbiblical trends of belief.
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