Developing Spiritual Momentum: The Divine Mandate to Learn Biblical Doctrine

I have not been shy in my assessment of the average believer’s deficiency as it pertains to scripture. One does not have to look far at all to see the source of a great deal of Christian struggles. The Bible is replete with scriptures that point to the requirement to learn doctrine. We are to engage the Word of God on a daily basis. The first and greatest responsibility of every believer is the constant daily intake, digestion, metabolism and inculcation of Bile doctrine. Irregardless to your calling, your mission, your gifts, no other responsibility can be properly executed without mastering the first.

Although this principle of learning doctrine is taught throughout the Bible, We will center our focus in the New Testament because it addresses the Christian believer in specific. This means that these scriptural passages cannot be explained away through dispensational or covenantal theories. These scriptures directly address Church age believers. (Of Course I will have to toss in a couple of OT classics for good measure)

Let us take a look at the first scripture that we will examine in this study:

I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. (2 John 4 NASB)

2 John is an epistle or letter sent to Lady Nympha (Cyria), a noble woman who opened her home in Laodicea to one of six of John’s nonresident congregations (Col. 4:15-16; Rev. 2-3). It seems that Nympha was committed to learning and teaching doctrine and had applied what she new in rearing her children, several of which had moved to Ephesus and were part of John’s congregation there. John recognized by observing Nympha’s children that she was to be commended and supported for her work in Laodicea. Nympha would read John’s written sermons to the congregation in her home.

John explains that this divine command to walk in and live in truth is only accomplished by knowing truth (Bible Doctrine).

⁵And now I beg you, lady (Cyria), not as if I were issuing a new charge (injunction or command), but [simply recalling to your mind] the one we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

⁶And what this love consists in is this: that we live and walk in accordance with and guided by His commandments (His orders, ordinances, precepts, teaching). This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you continue to walk in love [guided by it and following it]. (2 John 5-6 AMP)

The divine mandate to learn and appropriately apply Bible doctrine is also implied in Paul’s dissertation on the pastor’s professional objectives.

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-13 NIV)

Spiritual momentum is developed as we progress toward spiritual maturity and spiritual maturity is accomplished by the consistent learning and application of Bible Doctrine. In doing this we take on the mind of Christ which allows us emulate the character, integrity and capacity for the complete Christian life He acquired while fulfilling His earthly mission. Full “knowledge” as is connoted here is translated from the Greek word

ἐπίγνωσις

epignōsis

ip-ig’-no-sis

From G1921; recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement: – (ac-) knowledge (-ing, -ment).

Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries G1922

Epignosis in contrast to “gnosis” is full knowledge that a Christian understands and believes. Because this knowledge is learned it is resident in the soul and is readily available for accurate application to life.

Paul continued his treatise on Pastors and their responsibility to study and teach (accurately disseminate) Bible doctrine while under the power of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:14-15 NIV)

Paul brings to life this same truth while addressing the Thessalonians. He iterates with clarity the divine mandate to learn and apply doctrine in order to achieve the capacity to live the Christian life as it is meant to be lived based on the Divine Plan of God.

¹²Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]–your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.

¹³And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 AMP).

Paul is making the point that a pastor should be respected and appreciated for his accurate knowledge of the Word of God accompanied by his effective teaching of this same knowledge. A committed pastor labors hours in the Word each day to be in a place to effectively and accurately disseminate Bible doctrine to his congregation and he is to be respected and held in high regard for this. Why; because sound Biblical doctrine is the foundation for the advancement of the Christian way of life. When bible doctrine is not sufficiently appropriated into the life of the believer he suffers from a spiritual deficiency and fails to advance toward spiritual maturity. It is imperative that each believer be committed to a daily regimen of studying the Word of God. The lack of this commitment leads to failure in purpose and a destructive lifestyle.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. (Hosea 4:6 AMP)

You cannot neglect this great responsibility and advance in the Christian life. You cannot properly and adequately engage the issues of life without emerging yourself in scripture. You will not develop the fortitude to persevere which is a requirement for blessing and attainment without full knowledge of scriputure. Your success is directly tied to accurate apprehension and appropriate application of scripture.

⁷Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

⁸This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good^[b]success. (Josh. 1:7-8 AMP)

Your ability to live this life victoriously is inextricably bound to your knowledge and application of Bible doctrine. Don’t leave yourself vulnerable to the enemy through ignorance, pick up that Word and get to it.

God bless,

Bishop Rick Wallace