Does doctrine matter? (Doctrine – didachē – teaching) Is it important? Do our souls depend on an accurate understanding of “doctrinal matters,” and an adherence to them? Many who claim to be believers in Jesus would answer with a negative to the former questions. We are familiar with mantras like, “The Man, not the plan,” or, “Relationship over religion.” These, and others, imply that Jesus can be separated from doctrine. Can He? Can you believe in Jesus but not be “nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6)? Let us consult Jesus Himself:

“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” (John 6:45)

“The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”(John 6:63)

“Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught…Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.’”(John 7:14, 16-18)

Evidently, Jesus Himself considered doctrine to be important. In fact, Jesus said doctrine was essential to salvation, or eternal spiritual life. Believing Jesus’ doctrine is a part of believing Jesus – that He was sent by God. In fact, one could not know about Jesus to believe in Him without the good message revealed concerning Him (cf. Romans 1:16). And the gospel of Jesus is not to be differentiated from the sound doctrine He has revealed (cf. 1 Timothy 1:10-11).

Doctrine matters!

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