We’ve noted that the church was established by doctrine. Let’s notice, too, that the church continued in doctrine. Go back to Acts, chapter 2, and verse 42. This, of course, is part of the description of what that primitive church—that first congregation of the Lord’s people there in the city of Jerusalem—was doing following the Day of Pentecost. In verse 42 we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Yes, from the very first day of the church’s existence, doctrine was important. Just as Jesus had commanded, the church continued to teach all things that He had taught the apostles. “Teaching them”—you remember those words there in Matthew 28, verse 20—“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Those were Jesus’ instructions to His apostles. He was saying, “No, don’t make up what you want to make up, don’t present things based on emotionalism or upon your experiences. Rather, what you teach, what you present, are the things that I have instructed you. You present My doctrine.”

Years later Paul would write to a young evangelist named Timothy, exhorting him to “Preach the Word!”2 Timothy 4, verse 2. Also, Paul would charge Timothy to charge others not to teach any other doctrine, other than that doctrine that he had been presented, 1 Timothy 1, verse 3 [“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine”].

All aspects of the church are presented to us doctrinally in the New Testament. Therefore, the church today is able and must continue in this doctrine, just as they did in the first century.

We must heed another admonition from Paul to Timothy. In 2 Timothy 1, verse 13, Paul writes again to this young evangelist, his young protégé, “Hold fast to the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Hold fast to the pattern of sound doctrine? Yes, it fits. Hold fast to the pattern of sound words or doctrine, or teaching, or instruction, which you have heard from me.

So, the church was established and the church continues IN the doctrine of the Bible.

Thirdly, doctrine is the basis for faith. You see doctrine—what we believe as it is presented to us in God’s Word—forms the very basis of our faith as Christians. We might consider the question: How does one come by faith—that is, true faith? Well, Paul said, as he wrote to the church in Rome, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God,” Romans 10:17.

Could we say then that faith comes by the doctrine of God? Sure, that fits! Faith comes by the instruction, by the teaching, by the doctrine of God. That takes us back to a point that we made earlier, that doctrine is contained IN the Word of God—IN the Bible.

Faith is what we believe, and we put what we believe into action. One cannot hear the wrong doctrine, believe that false doctrine, and expect to be pleasing to God, or to be saved by God!

Do you ever wonder why there are so many faiths—and I’ll put quotations around that word—so many “faiths” around these days? Well, it’s simple. There are so many “faiths” in the world today because there are so many doctrines. I’m not talking about Bible doctrines. I’m talking about doctrines—teachings, instructions, writings—that have come from the minds of men, and many people are following those to their peril! Only the true doctrine of God can produce an authentic faith that produces the proper works of faith. To believe a lie and act on that false information causes everything else we do to be wrong.

Have you ever heard the statement, “Oh, it doesn’t matter what you believe.” Well, brethren, I’m here to tell you, it does matter what we believe! Our very salvation depends upon what doctrine we hear or read, what doctrine we believe, and what doctrine we obey. Can there be anything more important than that?

Here’s a fourth point about making this impression—Just how important is doctrine? Doctrine is what we will be judged by. Once again, we clarify that by saying that, the doctrine of the Bible is what we will be judged by.

John’s vision of the judgment day, that we can read about in Revelation 20, verse 11 through 15, says in part in verse 12, “the Books were opened” and all were “judged…by the things written in the Books.” [“Then I saw a great white throne and Him Who sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” Revelation 20:11-15.]