Doctrine is under attack.
Your initial response might be, “Of course it is, heretics have been challenging the foundations of the church since its inception!” and that is true, but today’s attack not only targets particular doctrines held integral to true Christian faith (e.g. the Trinity, the incarnation, the existence of a literal hell, the inerrancy of Scriptures), it also undermines the idea of doctrine itself, labeling it antiquated, irrelevant, and downright divisive. What’s more, this assault on the heart of creedal Christianity is occurring not only from outside the church, but from inside as well.
In God’s Word, it is true knowledge of Jesus Christ that brings transformation: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).1 Eternal salvation depends not just upon believing in Christ, but also in believing accurately in Him: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life…” (John 6:40). We recognize false prophets because they deny a key doctrine about Jesus, namely, that He came in the flesh (1 John 4:2). And Paul’s encouragement to Titus is to appoint elders who will “hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9). Biblically and historically speaking it is difficult to underestimate the importance of right doctrine.
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