The Importance of Doctrine

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
2 Timothy 3:14-17

I’ve just returned from holiday with my family—a much needed break. While away, we were blessed to be with other believers and to fellowship with them around the Word of God. I stopped into a used bookstore in Freeport, Maine and happened to pick up an old book published in 1937 entitled Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible by Myer Pearlman. I have been reminded of the importance of knowing what God’s Word teaches, and more importantly, passing that knowledge on to my children. Paul wrote to remind Timothy of what he had been taught by his godly mother and grandmother—the holy Scriptures (v.15) The holy Scriptures are the inspired Word of God which came to us through men who were guided by the Holy Spirit of God to write exactly what He wanted us to know, without error and without omission. Notice that doctrine is the first item in Paul’s list of things for which the scripture is profitable. We need to know the doctrines of the faith. These include the doctrine of the scriptures, God, angels, man, sin, Christ, the atonement, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the church, and the last times. Let me encourage each one reading this devotional today to pick one of these and begin studying. Get to know your Bible and the God of the Bible through diligent study of the Scriptures (II Timothy 2:15).

Tim Harpur