Keeping the Heritage II

Text: Mark 7:6-13
More lessons: Col.2:6-8
Bible Reading in one Year: Ezekiel 4-7

Today, we will like to find out how we can know when a doctrine is truly Biblical in order not to be deceived or lose the Christian heritage given to us. A doctrine to be passed on to the younger generation can be said to be truly biblical when it is explicitly taught in the Bible. An issue could be unbiblical meaning it opposes the teachings of the Bible; it could be extra Biblical meaning it is outside of the bible or not mentioned in the Bible, it could be Biblically based meaning it is connected to the teachings of the Bible. We must do all we can to be firm and unchanging about Biblical doctrines to preserve and keep the Christian heritage. I must avoid unbiblical teachings which are any teaching that opposes the Bible's clear teaching, for example a teaching that Jesus sinned is unbiblical opposing Heb.4:15. An extra Biblical teaching can be either good or bad. We must weigh such in the light of the Bible or go for counsel from sound church leaders: example to observe holidays is neither good nor bad, each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.Rom.14:5. Teachings can also be based on Biblical teachings for example it is not written in the bible that “thou shall not smoke” but we can assert that the practice should be avoided based on I Cor.6:19-20 that says we should glorify God in our body which is His temple. Biblical doctrines are explicitly taught in the Bible; example -the infallibility of the Bible, that the Bible is the final authority for Christian conduct and work II Tim. 3:16-17. All other claims of authority must be thoroughly scrutinized in the light of the Bible; - God created the heaven and the earth Gen.1:1; -the sinfulness of man. Rom.3:23; -the virgin birth of Jesus Matt.1:20-25; death and resurrection of Jesus I Cor.15:3-1 1 and several others.

One must not confuse these categories to be able to preserve and keep the Christian heritage. To teach that the virgin birth is an optional doctrine a Christian is free to believe or not to believe is to reject a core teaching of the Bible. It is heresy to present a Biblical teaching as non-essential. People's opinion and preferences must not be given the weight of God's law as warned against in the reading of today. Every true Christian must speak and teach firmly when the scripture is plain, be careful to avoid dogmatism in extra Biblical matters as many have said in essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity and in all things charity. We must do everything to preserve the Christian faith that the Lord Jesus can meet faith on earth when He comes again. Luke 18:8.

Prayer/Action
* I will abide in the truth continually in Jesus name.
* I will not be shifted out of the faith by any falsehood in Jesus name.
* The Christian heritage will be preserved in my time in Jesus name.

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