16/05/2020
This lesson was written by Pastor E. L. Saunders.
Small editorial changes and some comments "Editor’s notes" were added by Elder Clyde Senger, May 2019.
Note: The Lesson Readings, are meant to be read at home, not necessarily at Sabbath School.
LESSON 1 DATE ______________________
SOUND DOCTRINE
LESSON READING: Matt.24:1-14; Acts 20:17-32; 1 Tim.4:1-16; 2 Tim.2:4-21; 4:1-8
MEMORY VERSE: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Jude 3
INTRODUCTION: Webster's Dictionary defines "Doctrine" as, "That which is taught; a principle or body of principles, in any branch of knowledge; tenet; teaching; principle of faith." In the minds of many people in our modern society the word "doctrine" seems to connote some kind of a bo***ge, a legalism; in fact, to some people "doctrine" is almost a "dirty" word. They do not want to hear anything about "doctrine" because it might disrupt their manner of living.
Well, there may be some truth in that, but really, "doctrine" simply means, as the dictionary defines it, a teaching. And any concept or philosophy is a teaching. There is nothing wrong with the word, but we must be careful to understand how the word is used and what it represents in each case. In Paul's admonition regarding watchfulness with respect to a "departing from the faith" he tells of the introduction of "doctrines of devils". These are false teachings that have been introduced into the "Christian Church". The Bible declares that if the doctrines do not conform to "the Law and the Testimony" they have no truth in them. So we see that the criterion for testing doctrine is the Word of God.
The Bible is replete with warnings and admonitions regarding the danger of false doctrine. Jesus said "Many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many." Paul warned of the "Falling away from the faith," etc.
If, as some people say, it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe that Jesus is the Saviour, why all the warning about false teachings? Why are we admonished to. "Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good." You see, what one believes is important because it will determine his manner of conduct. Furthermore, a man's belief will also determine whether he understands God's plan of salvation and thus his eternal destiny.
Satan, the enemy of all truth, has set out to dilute God's truth with error, thus preventing man from understanding God's plan for man's salvation and the restoration of all things that were lost through the entrance of sin.
Therefore, it is important for us to be able to identify error and to reject it. It is just as important to seek to know all the truth which has been revealed and preserved in the Bible. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
May the Spirit of God, the Author of truth, lead and guide us into all truth!
QUESTIONS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION
1. What is the meaning of the word, "Doctrine"?
2. Does it make any difference what we believe? Prov.23:7; Acts 18:24-26; Rom.10:17
3. Were the believers in the Early Church particular about what they believed? Acts 17:11
4. What was Paul's admonition regarding what we believe? 1 Thess.5:21
5. What did Peter say about what we believe? 1 Peter 3:15
6. What did Jesus say about the same thing? John 5:39
7. Did Paul consider it important to teach doctrine?
8. How are we to interpret the meaning of the Bible passages? 2 Tim.2:15
9. Is it important that the doctrines we believe are scripturally sound? Titus 1:9; Rom.6:17; 1 Tim.1:10
10. What does the Bible say about false prophets and false doctrine? Matt.24:11; 2 Cor.11:13-15; 2 John 7; Acts 20:29,30; 2 Thess.2:3; 1 Tim.4:1,2; 2 Tim.4:2-4
11. Are we at liberty to believe only certain portions of the Bible and can we add doctrines that are not in the Bible? Deut.4:2; Rev.22:18,19
12. How is the true church described? Eph.5:25-27; Rev.14:12; 19:7-9
13. DOES HISTORY PROVE THAT THERE WAS A FALLING AWAY FROM-THE PURE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE?
Ans. From "The Growth of the Christian Church" by R. H. Nichols, p. 87 we quote the following: "Thus within the Church there was a great mass of paganism, or pagan ideas about religion and morals, and pagan ways of action, carried over by these people who were Christians only in name and form.
"Saint worship is the chief example of this tendency. The saints became to be regarded as something like lesser deities whose intercession availed God. Places connected with their lives were considered especially sacred. Pilgrimages to such places naturally followed. To venerate relics or maternal objects connected with the saints, parts of their bodies or properties, and to believe that in them was the power to perform miracles came easily to these in whom superstition still remained." Ibid. p , 61
"The distinction between clergy and laymen, unknown in the first century, was gradually marked. The office of the bishop was magnified and authoritative power was centralized at the imperial capital, Rome. Ibid. p. 41
"More liturgies and forms of prayers were produced. Church buildings became larger and more decorative... Church walls were covered with paintings and mosaics and embroideries. Dignity and impressiveness was sought in the services as well as stately ritual and solemn music." Ibid. p. 59,60.
"In worship, the central feature was the mass, as the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was now usually called. Christianity became a religion of fear, the world was thought to be full of devils who sought to injure men's bodies and souls.
"Thus charms became to be worn and an awful sanctity was attributed to church buildings, the Mass, Relics, and the persons of the clergy. Stories were told and believed how disrespect to the clergy was followed by calamity and death. Christianity took such a form that was far removed from the simplicity and spirituality and joyful trust of the religion of Jesus." Ibid. p. 93.
"In the first century the churches were independent; there was no government having authority over more than one church. In the second century also there was no such government. But by the third quarter of this century there had arisen what was called the Catholic Church, "catholic" meaning universal. This was a federation or association of churches which were bound together by agreement in three formal ways. The churches that did not have the form of government just described.. were regarded as heretical." Ibid. p. 40
"The central feature of worship was the greatest of the sacraments, the mass. This was celebrated, in the case of high mass, with much splendor. By imposing ceremonies, striking vestments, and solemn music, seen and heard in great, beautiful churches, a powerful impression was made on the spirit through the senses. In the thirteenth century, after it had long been believed that the bread and wine of the sacrament was miraculously changed into the flesh and blood of Christ, the church adopted as one of its dogmas an explanation of this belief in the teaching of transubstantiation. So the sacrament was an actual repetition of the sacrifice of Calvary. Every time it was celebrated, Christ's body was broken and His blood was shed for the sins of men." Ibid. p. 135
