THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST Devotion 13 of Some will be tempted to view John's words as harsh and inconsiderate. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God." That is not, however, the case. They are gracious words, designed to alert us to God's provision for safety and instruction. God has spoken to us through His Son, and He insists that we listen!
The "doctrine," or "teaching of Christ" is HIS teaching, not that of one of His followers! This is a technical, yet necessary, point. Much of the theology of our day is nothing more than modified Deism. It purports to follow an inactive and uninvolved Jesus. Such a Savior is nowhere declared in Scripture. In fact, the concept of such a Redeemer is a flagrant contradiction of all that is revealed of and in Christ Jesus the Lord!
It is true that He uses means, or ways, to facilitate His instruction, and we must not despise those means. The Gospel is God's power to salvation, and Jesus speaks to us through that marvelous message. The Scriptures themselves contain the language with which Christ teaches us. He opens the promises that are contained there, and personalizes its solemn warnings. No person abiding in Christ's teaching will neglect the Scriptures, or the glorious Gospel of the blessed God! The Scriptures, Jesus affirmed, "testify of Me" (John 5:39).
I distinguish between Scripture and the Gospel. The Gospel is the heart of Scripture, which also contains the Law. However, neither are neglected by the believer. It is needful to say this because of the inclination of sophists to claim communication from Jesus apart from His Word. Often, such communications are in sharp conflict with the Scripture in general, and the Gospel in particular. I will go so far as to say the teaching of Jesus cannot be comprehended where there is a fundamental ignorance of Scripture.
Stay within hearing distance of Jesus! Do so by placing your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth (Col 3:1-3)! Do so by refusing to love the world, or the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15-17). By the grace of God, you have been called to another world. Your Savior is there (Mk 16:19. Your Father is there (Matt 5:16). Your inheritance is there (1 Pet 1:4). From that very real world, your Savior is speaking, and you are summoned to hear Him (Heb 12:25). He will speak peace to you, and reveal the greatness of the salvation that will soon be revealed in all of its fulness and glory.
Abide in the doctrine of Christ by choosing to meditate on and speak of things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3).
Those who choose to dwell on lesser things shut themselves out from Jesus, and become unfruitful. Those that, like Mary, choose the "better part," will hear from Jesus. No one will be able to take from them the presence or power of Christ's reaching! Those who cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart will not be disappointed! With joy they can recall nothing is able to separate them from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, the Lord (Rom 8:37-39). Believe that, and abide in the teaching of Jesus! You will be blessed in this world and the one to come, all the while kept by the power of God unto the salvation that is "ready to revealed!"
PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You for a Savior who cannot only hear me, but One whom I can also hear, follow, and enjoy in rich fellowship.
– Tomorrow, New Series: