Why Knowledge of Doctrine is Not the Enemy of the Gospel

The Apostle Paul counted all things to be loss, in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus, the Lord (Phil 3:8). What is the value of knowing Christ called? It is eternal life, as opposed to eternal damnation. The Apostle John wrote Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (Jn 17:3).”

Later, the Apostle John wrote to believers in Jesus, “so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 Jn 5:13).” It was the Son of God who came from heaven, from the Father (Jn 3:16), to give us understanding, so that we might know Him who is true (1 Jn 5:20).

It is important for us to highlight the relationship between eternal life and knowing God in Christ. Eternal life is for the righteous (Mt 25:46). Thus, it is utterly essential for us to know what it means to be righteous. Moreover, it should be every man’s singular pursuit to obtain righteousness (right standing) before God. In case you have not noticed, people are occupied with other matters.

Eternal life is an inheritance, however (Lk 18:18, 30). This means it is for the one who does not work for it (Rom 4:5). Christ died as the testator of God’s will (Heb 9:16), to execute redemption on behalf of the heirs of God (Rom 8:17). Our undefiled inheritance is reserved for us in heaven (1 Pet 1:4), but God has given a token of His love (2 Cor 5:5). The Holy Spirit is that token of His love in our hearts (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 4:6).

It is the indwelling Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Jas 4:5), who gives us the knowledge of Christ (2 Pet 3:18), which is the Gospel knowledge of our salvation. Many spirits have gone out to deceive men, so the Holy Spirit first gave the Scriptures, to validate whether a sprit was from God or not (1 Jn 4:1).

Any spirit that brings another gospel than the one revealed in the Bible is not to be believed (2 Cor 11:4). Thus, the Christian recognizes whether a teaching is sound doctrine or not, by whether it comes from the Bible, given by the Spirit (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21), and it is the Spirit who guides us into all truth (Jn 16:13).

We must stand against any who claim a special, local, and contemporary revelation from God. We have His Word, and the Bible is safe and sufficient for us to know God and His will. If one says “We have the Spirit’s revelation to us, today,” and He is not referring to the Bible, he is in error.

Jesus Christ is the Gospel, and we need the Spirit and the Word to understand His Person and work, which are the revelation of our salvation. To know Christ is a gift of God’s gracious revelation. Thus, we see and hear Jesus (the Gospel) from the sound doctrine of the Bible.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

December 20, 2022