Myth: Doctrine Doesn’t Matter

by Vince Finnegan For more information visit lhim.org Matthew 22:36-40 Love is the most important; doctrine is not as important. 2 John 1-4 Truth and love must have an inseparable connection. Our love must be in truth, in right doctrine. Truth is the foundation and thrust of love. Love is the aim of truth. 1 Timothy 1:3-5 The goal of right doctrine is love. 2 John 4 Why did John and all the other Christians love the members of this church? Because of the truth which lives in us. Truth is the ground of reciprocal Christian love. 1 Peter 1:22 Obedience to the truth → sincere love of the brethren 2 John 5-11 Truth should make our love discerning. There can be nothing inconsistent with the command to love one another and the clear instruction to refuse fellowship with false teachers, who are deceivers and antichrists. Our love for others is not to undermine our loyalty to truth. On the other hand, we must never champion the truth in a harsh or bitter spirit. Those who are “walking in the truth” are exhorted to “love one another”. So, the Christian fellowship should be marked equally by love and truth, and we are to avoid extremism which pursues either at the expense of the other. Our love grows soft if it is not strengthened by truth, and our truth hard if it is not softened by love. Scripture commands us both to love each other in the truth and to hold the truth in love. 1 John 3:18-19 In contemporary movements towards church unity and growth, we must never compromise the very truth alone on which love and unity depend. 2 John 1:7 Already in the first century, “deceivers” regarding the identity of Jesus went out into the world. We are not just talking about dissenting opinions, but those determined to spread the wrong doctrine about our Lord. 1 John 2:22, 23; 4:2; 5:1, 5 – this false doctrine could influence the listeners’ eternal life. Big deal! 2 Corinthians 11:3-4; 13-15 Wolves in sheep’s clothing – Matthew 7:15 Ephesians 4:13-15 1 Timothy 1:3-5; 4:1-3; 6:3-6; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9-11 The post Myth: Doctrine Doesn’t Matter first appeared on Living Hope.