27 July 2015
Ken F. Miller
We live in a world characterized by religious confusion and ecclesiastical drifting, what did the first century church believe, and experience is a very important subject that must be studied, and copied in today’s churches. Today, there are thousands of different denominations and over 450 different interpretations of the Biblical text, now more than ever, it is easy to get lost and forget about simplicity of believing in God following our baptism into Christ.
The final solution to the quest lies not on tradition or opinion but the Word of God. In particular, we need to listen to, obey, and teach the preaching of apostles, who were the only ones selected to receive the inspired Word of God and instructed to write it down.
Identifying the Doctrine of Christ in Scripture
The New Testament, Acts thru Revelation, represents the record of what the apostles taught. In the Gospels to epistles, we have a full description of what the apostles taught about salvation, repentance, baptism, holiness and the use of spiritual gifts, the structure of the church and many other subjects.
Some of the dominant themes of the Doctrine of Christ are:
- Repentance and New Birth
According to the apostles, true repentance, turning away of sin and turning to God was the first step towards salvation. After telling them not to despair, Peter says in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
- Baptized into Jesus
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:21-29 (KJV)
- Receiving the Holy Spirit
Indwelling of Holy Spirit which was accompanied by gifts of tongues, prophesies, and healings as seen in the book of Acts was given to a select few of the local church which ended when “that which was perfect “ (the Bible) came.
- One God in Christ
The apostles rose to say that Jesus was the fullness of God in human flesh (Colossians 2:9). They preached that the Trinity (God the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit) was one in Spirit and Truth, yet they are three (3) separate beings with distinct separate missions to accomplish.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26
All these aspects are not only located in a single verse but throughout the message of the New Testament. When they are combined they make a whole picture of biblical Christianity.
Ephesians 4:1-16 (KJV)- Comparing Marriage to the Church and God
- I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
- With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
- Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
- One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
- One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
- But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
- Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
- (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
- He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
- And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
- For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
- Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
- That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
- But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
- From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Rebuilding the Right Foundation
Then how can Christians today be so sure that they are walking in valid faith?
- Commit to Scripture Over Tradition
Make the Bible your final authority. Study it deeply and prayerfully. Don’t interpret it through the lens of modern Christianity, let God speak to you thru scripture and the Holy Spirit. - Test Everything by the Word
Be it the sermon, the podcast or the book, compare it to Biblical teaching. Do they align with each other? If not, it may not be truth. - Teach Others Faithfully
- Spread truth in a gentle and transparent manner. It is not about winning debates, but becoming a disciple of Christ; capable of loving and obeying Christ.
A Resource for the Journey
To help believers dig deeper into this essential topic, Ken F. Miller’s upcoming book, Understanding the Doctrine of Christ, will offer a practical and in-depth exploration of biblical foundations for the Christian life. Scheduled for release in August 2025, the book will provide a Scripture-based framework for rediscovering and applying apostolic truth in the modern world.
Stay tuned for updates and further resources here at TheDoctrineOfChrist.net, where returning to biblical doctrine is more than a mission, it’s a calling
