THURSDAY March 24, 2022

Doctrines of Men

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2:20-23

Understand this, self-imposed religion and doctrines of men will bring a person into bondage––there will be absolutely no freedom. Believers in Christ need not keep religious rituals that have no value. Men who are proud, are religious, and teach false doctrine have no true humility. They believe they are right in adhering to their legalism and contesting the deity of Christ. Those who deny the deity of Christ are liars––heretics.

I believe religious men like these have become jealous of our Christian freedoms. Jesus has set us free to love and worship Him. Christians are free agents of God. Serving Christ is not burdensome, for there are no restrictive Laws. We are excited to serve Him out of love because our sins have been forgiven. There is no longer any condemnation.

The Holy Spirit convicts a person of sin. Regeneration is a spiritual work. Sinners who humbly repent and accept Christ are born again. They receive the gift of salvation and will go to heaven when they die. The Holy Spirit is working in them––He sanctifies them––sets them apart.

There are three important questions to ask when discerning true doctrine: Did Jesus teach it in the Gospels? Is it taught in the book of Acts? Is it taught in the Epistles? If it is, then it is sound doctrine. If it is not taught in all these places in Scripture, then do not accept those teachings.

Make sure you understand the doctrine of salvation because you never know when your end will come. Be ready to meet your Maker.

A man must be able to affirm, I know for certain, that what I teach is the only Word of the high Majesty of God in heaven, his final conclusion and everlasting, unchangeable truth, and whatsoever concurs and agrees not with this doctrine, is altogether false, and spun by the devil.
~Martin Luther~

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