THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Aug 8, 1906

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.

IN the ninth verse of the second epistle of John we are told that "whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." In the Revised Version, instead of "doctrine" we have "teaching." It is erroneously supposed by many that the teaching of Christ is only to be found in the New Testament. This mistake leads many people to misunderstand, and then to oppose, the truth.

When Christ was a Teacher on earth, He taught the people to "search the Scriptures," yet there were no "holy Scriptures" in existence save those of the Old Testament. Why were they to search those Scriptures?—Because they testified of Christ (John 5:39); they contained the Gospel of Christ (1 Peter 1:24, 25; Isa. 40:6). The spiritual teaching of the church led by Moses in the wilderness was the teaching of Christ. "They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them [margin, went with them]; and that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor. 10:4. And the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets to signify and to testify beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. And this caused the prophets to search diligently for that salvation. 1 Peter 1:10, 11.

There were no "holy Scriptures" aside from the Old Testament when the apostle assured Timothy that the holy Scriptures were able to make him "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." And this was emphasized by the further assurance that "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 Tim. 3:15-17.

The doctrine of Christ in both the Old and New Testaments is that He should suffer for our sins. Isa. 53:4-6; Matt. 1:21; John 3:16.

It is the teaching of Christ that He should rise again from the dead. Ps. 16:10; Matt. 16:21; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; Rev. 1:18. He also taught the resurrection of dead men. Job 19:25, 26; Dan. 12:2, 3, 13; John 5:28, 29.

In both the Old and New Testaments the teaching of Christ is that there shall be a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness shall prevail. Isa. 65:17-19; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1-4.

In both Testaments the teaching of Christ is that the meek shall inherit the earth. Ps. 37:9-11, 22; Matt. 5:5.

Moreover, in the Old and New Testaments Christ teaches the duty of keeping the commandments of God. Eccl. 12:13; Isa. 58:13, 14; Matt. 5:17, 18; 19:17; Luke 16:17; Rev. 22:14.

In both Testaments is taught the natural mortality of man. Gen. 3:19; Job 4:17; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Tim. 6:14-16; Rom. 6:23. In both Testaments we have the doctrine of Christ that the wicked will be utterly annihilated. Ps. 37:10, 20; Mal. 4:1; Luke 3:16, 17; Jude 6, 7; Obadiah 16. The fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was unquenchable, therefore its effect was eternal.

Christ's teaching is that the righteous will be rewarded in the judgment, at the coming of Christ. Job 14:14, 15 with 17:13-16; Ps. 17:15; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 22:10-12.

We have outlined briefly a few salient points in the doctrine, or teachings of Christ, as taught in the Old and New Testaments. All the Scriptures are God's Word, given by the inspiration of His Spirit, and Christ instructs us that we are to live by "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Turning again to the second epistle of John, we read in the tenth verse, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine [or teaching of Christ], receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."