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Doctrine of Godliness vs Doctrines of Men

One Doctrine vs. Many Doctrines

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words….”
—1 Timothy 6:3-4

1. Christ’s Teaching — Singular, Clear, Expels Sin

2. Doctrines of Men — Plural, Complicated, Excuses Sin

Doctrinal labels multiply—moral depravity, dual nature, TULIP, faith-alone (without works)[3], penal substitution, prevenient grace, fractured -isms (Calvinism, Wesleyanism, hyper-dispensationalism, etc.)

They differ on details, yet share one refrain:

“You can’t really live a holy life, so relax.”

In other words, Practical holiness, true righteousness, genuine purity, and biblical perfection are "impossible" in this life, and get relegated to "positional" truths (a.k.a: theological, theoretical, philosophical—anything but actual lived reality).

They preach liberty, yet boil down to the same original lie:

"You can disobey and still have life."
"Ye shall not surely die."

Measure Doctrine of Jesus Doctrines of Men
Scope One Many
Source “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
(2 Peter 1:16-21)[4]		 “Private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20)[4:1]
Effect Self-denial, dead to sin, daily cross
(Luke 9:24-26)[5]		 Daily sin under "grace."[6]
Fruit “Peaceable, gentle, easy to be intreated … the fruit of righteousness.”
(James 3:17-18)[7]		 "Envy, strife, hypocrisy" (James 3:15-16)[7:1]
End "Eternal life"
(Romans 2:5-11)[8]		 "Perdition"
(1 Timothy 6:9-12)[9]

Scripture’s Warnings

Yet God’s word still pierces:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword … a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
—Hebrews 4:12

And He still searches:

“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
—Jeremiah 17:10

How to Stay Safe

  1. Test every teaching by the words of Christ. (John 7:17)
  2. Reject any message that makes obedience optional: “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20)
  3. Remember the seal: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19)
  4. Lay hold on eternal life and “avoid profane and vain babblings.” (1 Timothy 6:12, 20)

Choose the narrow way.
Doctrines of men lead to ruin; the doctrine of Christ leads to life.

See also:

FOOTNOTES

  1. Titus 2:7-12 — "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" ↩︎

  2. 1 John 1:5-7 — "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." ↩︎

  3. We are saved "by grace through faith, not of works." But also: not without works—we are saved "unto good works." This is why a "faith without works is dead," and dead faith does not result in eternal life. (See: How Is This NOT Works-Based Salvation? & Why Works-Based Salvation Doesn't Work) ↩︎

  4. 2 Peter 1:16-21 — "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. Luke 9:23-26 — "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." ↩︎

  6. Once you identify a sin in your life, God offers you the grace to put it away. It does not always happen overnight, but neither is it a lifelong or impossible struggle to put away. There is no sin that is greater than God's grace. Biblical grace is "teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:10). Continuing in known sin is forbidden (Romans 6:1-2) and is called rebellion. Continuing in known sin is not "under grace," but a refusal of grace, or "receiving the grace of God in vain." (See: Grace In The Scriptures & Grace Hijacked) ↩︎

  7. James 3:17-18 — "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." ↩︎ ↩︎

  8. Romans 2:5-11 — "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." ↩︎

  9. 1 Timothy 6:9-12 — "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." ↩︎

  10. Jude 1:3-5 "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. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not." ↩︎

  11. Acts 20:28-31 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." ↩︎