Acts

SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR CONTENT THREADS.

Prior Book \| Prior Chapter \| Prior Verse \| Next Verse \| Next Chapter \| Next Book \| Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015
NASB	Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
AMPLIFIED 2015	Acts 2:42 They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.

SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR CONTENT THREADS.

Subject: DOCTRINE: Why Needed? II

Bible Note: DOCTRINE: WHY IS IT NEEDED? Part 2. ......The second reason doctrine is necessary is that it communicates the Christian faith. Christians are called upon to be witnesses, not merely to an inner experience, but to the whole truth about Jesus Chris and His redemption for men (Acts 20:20,27; Eph. 4:14). As a witness it is important that the Christian believer know and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It thus makes a big difference what our doctrines are and that we know what they are. ...... Third, Christian doctrine is necessary in order to defend the Christian faith. It is common today to assert that the gospel needs no defending, it only needs preaching. There is a great deal of truth in this, but it is not the whole truth. Neither is it in agreement with the teaching and example of the New Testament. Paul was set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:17). The Christian is exhorted to contend for the faith (Phil.1:27; Jude 3). Believers are enjoined to "know how to answer every man" (Col. 4:6), and to "be able to give an answer of the hope" that is in them (1 Pet. 3:15). In order to do this we must know what the "faith" is. ...... Finally, doctrine is necessary in order to preserve the faith. Paul exhorts Timothy to be faithful to the things that he had been taught, and in turn to commit them to others who would be faithful (2 Tim. 2:2). The obvious concern of Paul here is the faithful preservation of the faith. ....... There is a faith "once delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). The apostles were true to this faith and faithful in transmitting it to the next generation. Many generations since have been true to this faith. It has finally reached us. Now we are to be true to its teachings and faithfully pass it on to the next generation. The need to know and understand the doctrines of the faith is still an imperative in our day. (Adapted and extracted from "Christian Doctrine for Everyman", Dr. J.A.Millikin, Gateway Publications) --Hank