Biblical & Doctrinal Ignorance & the Need to Study Scripture

It seems that there’s been a growing ignorance these days about the great truths of Scripture. What’s worse is that this is coming from professing Christians. Back in August, Shane Rosenthal, producer of “the White Horse Inn,” surveyed a little fewer than 100 professing Christians at an Evangelistic crusade led by Billy Graham’s son in St. Louis. The results were rather disturbing.

96% agreed with the statement: “God is like a helpful coach who’s there to help us when we need Him; He wants us to be happy.”

Rosenthal also asked the question: “Which of the following do you think is the best summary of the Christian gospel,” with multiple choice answers.
14% answered: “God changing me”
12% answered: “Making a decision for Jesus”
36% answered: “Living for God”
3% didn’t know
Only 35% regarded “Christ’s life death and resurrection,” as the best summary of the Christian gospel.

66% felt that “Christianity is primarily about my personal transformation”
39% have never heard of the doctrine of Justification
And perhaps, the most startling was that 67% DISAGREED with Romans 3:10-12, which states: “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good,
not even one.’"

(To read more of the results, click on the link)


There was also a Pew Research forum survey which revealed that 37% of white Evangelicals believed that there was more than one religion that leads to Eternal Life, which flies in the face of Jesus’ words in John 14:6 and the proclamation of Peter before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4:12.

Now, a lot of this, I would say, is a reflection of the shallowness of a considerable amount of American Evangelicalism. In fact, Mike Horton, in his 2008 book Christless Christianity: the Alternative Gospel of the American Church, noted: “my argument in this book is not that evangelicalism is becoming theologically liberal, but that it is becoming theologically vacuous.” (Horton, pg. 23)

Now, we read that Paul wrote to Timothy that: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2nd Timothy 4:1-2)

That being said, however, those of us who aren’t pastors have a duty, too. We have a duty to study Scripture.

After the death of Moses, we read that God told Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

In Psalm 1:2, in the description of a blessed man, we read: “his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Now, clearly, we have something of a distinction between JUST the Old Testament Law, and the Gospel as well. However, there is a precedent set down for us on the importance of studying Scripture.

When confronted by the Sadducees regarding the marital state of a woman who was married 7 times and was resurrected, part of Jesus’ response was: "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scripturesnor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)

Acts 17:11 commends the Jews at Berea, “...for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

We read in Paul’s letter to Timothy: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2nd Timothy 3:14-17)

Paul notes that one sign of spiritual maturity is that “…we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14) And, clearly, one main way is through the studying of Scripture.

Paul also notes in his letter to the Romans that “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 16:17-18)

Charles Spurgeon once had this to say about Bible study, which I find to be AWESOME: “We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the hidden meaning of the word. Holy Scripture requires searching — much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men…. No man who merely skims the book of God can profit thereby; we must dig and mine until we obtain the hid treasure…They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur — who shall dare to treat them with levity? He who despises them despises the God who wrote them….Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye it glows with splendor of revelation, like a vast temple paved with wrought gold, and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all manner of gems…Happy he who, searching his Bible, discovers his Saviour.”

What Is the Gospel?

It seems like there’s an increasing ignorance on what the gospel is. Recently, the “White Horse Inn” released the results of a survey done in St. Louis, Missouri, at an event held by Franklin Graham. One of the questions was: “Which of the following do you think is the best summary of the Christian Gospel?” 14% felt that it was “God changing me,” 12% answered that it was “Making a decision for Jesus,” and 36% said that it was “Living for God.” This past summer, Emergent guru, and teaching pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, said that we are the gospel.

But, like I said, is this true? The Apostle Paul writes: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Now, we also read from Romans: “What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’" (Romans 3:9-12) Furthermore, because of our sin, we deserve hell.

We all deserve God’s wrath, and our good works certainly won’t save us. But, this is where the good news, the gospel, comes in.

We clearly have references of the coming good news in the Old Testament.

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2)

God states: “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Now, taken in light of the fact that our sin deserves our eternal damnation in hell, this is no small thing that God will blot out our sins. Now, how was this accomplished? Through Christ and His substitutionary atonement for our sins on the cross at Calvary.

This is pointed out in Isaiah 53.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all…. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:5-6 & 10-12)

In the New Testament, we read.

In the context of talking about Abraham, Paul writes: “But the words ‘it was counted to him’ were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:23-25)

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified…. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:29-30 & 34)

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1st Corinthians 6:9-11)

So, what we can clearly read by Scripture, is that the Gospel is Christ’s atonement on the behalf of those who believe (the elect), to pay for their sins. Now, I say the elect, in full knowledge that we are to preach the gospel to everyone, and in fact, we won’t know the full number of believers until His return.

Happy Reformation Day: A Lesson for the 21st Century

Today is "Reformation Day," the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church at Wittenburg Cathedral in Germany, which occured on October 31st, 1517.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was originally a law student at the University of Erfurt to become a lawyer, in accordance to his father's wishes. However, in 1505, he entered an Augustinian monastery. It was in 1517 that he came to blows with the Roman Catholic Church, after Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar, came to Germany to sell indulgences in order to raise funds for the building of St. Peter's Basillica in Rome. In protest, he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Wittenburg Cathedral, and in 1520, he was excommunicated via a papal bull from Pope Leo X.

He also realized that we, as Christians, are justified by faith alone in Christ alone. This contradicted Roman Catholic teachings on justification, which taught the we are justified by faith plus works.

It was in 1521, that Luther was called before the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V at the Diet of Worms, and upon being urged to recant, he made this famous speech, recreated here in this classic film.


After the Diet of Worms, Luther was protected by Duke Frederick the Wise, by being held at Wartburg Castle until 1522, during which time he translated the New Testament into German. In 1525, he married Katharina ("Katie") von Bora and the couple had six children: Johannes (John), Elisabeth, Magdalena, Martin, Paul and Margarete. He penned the Augsburg Confession at the request of Charles V in 1530, in the wake of the seige of Vienna. Luther died in the early mornng hours of February 18th, 1546.

This "Reformation Polka" celebrates the life of Luther.


Looking back, I praise God for His raising up people like Luther who called us to return to the Scriptures. In about a decade it'll the the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and this summer was the 500th anniversary of the birthday of French theologian Jean Cauvin (John Calvin).

The Roman Catholic Church was an apostate church which had held people in bondage to false hopes and works-righteousness. Luther himself wrote of Catholic Church: "Since the papal church not only neglects the command of Christ but even compels the people to ignore it and to act against it, it is certain that it is not Christ’s church but the synagogue of Satan which prescribes sin and prohibits righteousness. It clearly and indisputably follows that it must be the abomination of Antichrist and the furious harlot of the devil." (What Luther Says, II: 1019)

"What kind of a church is the pope’s church? It is an uncertain, vacillating and tottering church. Indeed, it is a deceitful, lying church, doubting and unbelieving, without God’s Word. For the pope with his wrong keys teaches his church to doubt and to be uncertain. If it is a vacillating church, then it is not the church of faith, for the latter is founded upon a rock, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Matt.16:18). If it is not the church of faith, then it is not the Christian church, but it must be an unchristian, anti-Christian, and faithless church which destroys and ruins the real, holy, Christian church." (Luther’s Works, vol. 40, Church and Ministry II, The Keys, p.348)

Now, I say this not to bash Roman Catholics. However, like I said, I praise God for people like Luther who stood up to false teachings in the Roman Catholic Church. Today, I say that we also must confront false teachings that are running rampant. I find Luther's boldness to confront the heresies almost a call for us today, in the 21st century to stand up to false doctrine.

We have a lot of people such as the Emergents, liberal denominations like the United Methodists, the United Church of Christ and the Episcopalians who have clearly denied sound doctrine. Our duty, as Christians, are to procliam the truth found in Scripture and to urge them to repent of their sins. I remember hearing a quote from Charles Spurgeon who basically said that beleiving wrongly is just as sinful as doing wrongly.

We read this in 2 Peter: "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." (2nd Peter 2:1-3)

Now, in American Christianity today, it seems like the most popular "pastors" are the false teachers, be they prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen or T.D. Jakes, Emergent gurus like Brian McLaren Shane Hipps and Rob Bell, or those who don't properly preach God's word, let alone mention sin, like, again, Joel Osteen, and folks like Robert Schuller, Rick Warren, and others.

Our duty, therefore, is to preach the true Gospel, which not only proclaims the wrath of God upon unrepentant sinners, and the fact that we're sinners who cannot be saved by our own works, but also the forgiveness of sins found in Jesus Christ. In fact, we read "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret." (Ephesians 5:11-12)

I leave you with this video.

"Lordship Salvation"

This past summer, I was having a discussion with a friend of mine. Apparently, the father of one of my friend's friends implied that Paul Washer was a false teacher, or, at least, had some wacky theology because he believed in what's termed "Lordship Salvation." In this video, Pastor Jim McClarty explains what Lordship Salvation is.



According to Todd Friel, in the video below, a lot of the controversy came about 20 years ago, from those who were not only light on repentence, but who also believed that a person could be a "carnal Christian."



Now, I don't remember who said it, but apparently, the doctrine of carnal Christianity came from a rather liberal theological seminary. But, as Paul Washer once, quite right pointed out, "the doctrine of a Christian living in a continuous state of carnality is absolute heresy."

Paul Washer on the Centrality of Christ

In this video, Paul Washer shares on the centrality of Christ. Apparently, this is from the his message "A Sermon on Christ for Atheists."

Now, Paul Washer makes a wonderful point that everyone in heaven is focused on Jesus Christ.

"Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.'
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'"(Revelation 5:11-13)

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'" (Revelation 7:9-10)

Furthermore, he also remarks that our eternal state depends on what we do with Jesus. Islam has a "Jesus" who's just a prophet. The Mormons have a "Jesus" who's Lucifer's brother and is the son of God via God the Father's sexual relations with the Virgin Mary. Many believe that Jesus was just a good teacher. But, the Jesus of Scripture is the eternal God.

Our Relationship With the World

It seems that there has been a confusion concerning our relationship with the world. Now, on one hand, we have groups like the Amish who try & isolate themselves from the world. However, on the other hand, it seems that there has been another approach to the world, by professing Christians: embracing the world and worldliness. However, is this approach Biblical? Well, we have no other way to know than to go through the Bible itself.

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you."
(John 15:18-19)

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:11-14)

"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1st Peter 2:11-12)

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." (1st John 2:15-17)

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1st John 5:3-5)

So, we see in Scripture that we are not to live a worldly life, but we read that we are to live a lifestyle contrary to the world. Furthermore, we will be hated because of our lifestyle being contrary to the world. Yet, rather interestingly, it seems that too many professing Christians live a lifestyle no different from the world. We also see this trend in many professing Evangelical churches today, when these churches use worldly methods to draw people in.

However, we read, though, in Scripture, that it will be impossible for us to avoid the world, nor is it our place to judge the world.

"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges." (1st Corinthians 5:9-13)

Does Doctrine Matter?

There’s been this tragic trend in American Christianity that we shouldn’t be too hung up on doctrine, or doctrinal differences. In fact, it’s gotten to the point that some “Christians” are willing to have inter-faith “dialogue” with other religions. There’s been this notion, especially amongst liberals and Emergents that sound doctrine just divides and provides problems. Sound doctrine, in my opinion, actually does divide; it divides the true Christians from those who believe in another gospel and another Christ.

But, unfortunately, we’ve entered, what I’ve come to call, a “doctrinal free-for-all.” What I mean by that, is the idea that it doesn’t really matter what professing Christians hold to, doctrinally, because, so long as they confess Christ as Lord, they are our brothers and sisters-in-Christ. The lines between orthodoxy and heresy have been blurred. We see that Rob Bell denies the inspiration of Scripture. Brian McLaren rejects the traditional and Biblical concepts of hell and the second coming of Christ, along with the substitutionary atonement. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has decided to allow the ordination of practicing homosexual clergy. I remember coming across this Episcopal site, and one priest once stated that one doesn’t have to believe that Christ physically and literally raised from the dead in order to be a Christian, and another is a universalist. The book The Shack has become a popular book in Christian circles, despite the fact that it contains, if I remember right, by one person's estimation, thirteen different heresies.

Now, admittedly, I would say that doctrinal ignorance has been a problem, particularly within American Christianity. With pastors not preaching sound doctrine from the pulpit of many American churches, there is a lot of spiritual immaturity. Although, the Apostle Paul writes "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming..." (Ephesians 4:14) Although, this seems to happen quite a bit.

But, on the other hand, the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy that: “…the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…” (1st Timothy 4:1)

He also charges Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” (2nd Timothy 4:2-4)

Yet, Paul writes to Timothy: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (1st Timothy 4:16)

Now, let us go to Scripture to see what the Bible itself says about the importance of doctrine.

“In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” (1st Timothy 4:6)

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1)

“Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8)

Furthermore, we also read in Scripture of those who do not hold to sound doctrine.

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-9)

“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.” (1st Timothy 1:3-4)


“If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” (1st Timothy 6:3-5)

“For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.” (Titus 1:7-11)

“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.” (2nd John 1:9-11)

So, evidently, according to Scripture, particularly in the writings of Paul, doctrine is extremely important. I believe that while doctrine cannot save you, it can determine if you’re saved. Therefore, we must, as Christians, be vigilant against these false teachers who are denying cardinal doctrines. We must not receive their teachings, because they are not of God.