Jean O’Fee
Theology 201-B-16
Final Essay
Final Essay
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2nd John
1:9) This paper will attempt to show how important it is that as Christians, we believe
God is actively involved with His creation, and how this affects the way we interact with
the people around us.
After looking up the synonyms for the word doctrine, it is easier to give the
antonyms to make a point. The antonyms are: Ambiguity, disbelief, heterodoxy,
skepticism and unbelief. Once you read these words, you know what you should not feel
or think when reading doctrine. A Christian’s way of life is his or her doctrine or belief. If
you do not believe in the teachings of God, then it is not possible to spread the Gospel.
Without belief and the doctrine of belief we would not be fulfilling Christ’s Greatest
Commission, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28: 19) Also to be
actively involved with God and His creation on a daily basis, as a Christian you have to
believe in Christ’s Greatest Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law
and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 37-40) As Billy
Graham said in a speech at a Christian conference, “God said it; I believe it; that settles
it.” [1]
Knowing that God is actively involved in His creation is not new to the Christian
today. He was present in Abraham’s life in Genesis, chapters 12 – 25. David understood
God was with him through His creations as seen in Psalm 19: 1-4. If as a Christian you
have no belief in doctrine then how could you spread the “Good News?”
First and foremost you must understand what the Doctrine of Christ consists of. The
God Head or Trinity, Jesus as God became flesh; Christ is the only Begotten Son of God,
Christ’s virgin birth, Christ’s death and the resurrection, Christ’s ascension into heaven,
and His Second Coming. With the belief in these things we offer as a gift from God to
others in our lives, the “Blessed Hope.” “This expression describes the rapture of the
church. [2] God in our daily lives offers the hope of salvation and eternal life. The
“blessed hope” in Titus 2:13 can be translated as “joyous anticipation.” [3]
The whole purpose of a Christian’s life is to believe that God is actively involved in
His creation. We are born into a sin nature, but our salvation is our fellowship with Christ
and our brethren. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
(John 10:27) Every day in your life in all things, you must put on,” God’s whole armour.”
(Ephesians 6:11) You must do this because Jesus said, “It is written, man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew
4:4). This is another reason to believe and teach.
Then we have the arguments for the existence of God, The existence of God is
the most important question of human philosophy. [4] There are three arguments for the
existence of God. First the priori approach that states God is so perfect His nonexistence
is inconceivable. Second is the posteriori approach that gives evidence from the world,
from the observable and empirical universe that God exists. And third, the existential
approach that asserts direct experience of God through personal revelation. [5] There are
so many things physically and metaphysically that cannot be explained away by non-
believers. You must, as a Christian, have a strong belief in order to keep spreading the
Gospel. Within your belief is doctrine and doctrine is knowledge. Knowledge is power. In
order to have any power to transform hearts you must have knowledge to speak within
your fellowship. This knowledge or power comes through the Holy Spirit. Anything done
for God comes through his or her belief and the Holy Spirit guides us and fills us with
His ability to learn and teach.
You cannot have a belief that God is actively involved in His creation, without
acknowledging the anti-christ. You must realize how real this threat is to keep your belief
strong and your fellowship with people stronger. “By this you know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every
spirit that confesses Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the anti-christ, which you
heard was coming and is in the world already.” (John 4:2-3) Again your knowledge
through Christ and the Holy Spirit will keep you strong.
To sum up the belief that God is active in His creation and is an essential part of
the interaction you have with people on a daily basis, must be deeply rooted in your
belief of Jesus being the Son of God, His virgin birth, His acceptance of mankind’s sins,
His death on the cross for these sins, His resurrection, and His Second Coming. This
belief in doctrine will always allow the Christian through the Holy Spirit to live, teach
and share in fellowship. I have not applied this paper to a specific vocation because that
door has not yet revealed itself. I await God’s guidance in this. In all things I remain
prayerful, knowing He will call upon me at the time He needs me and the needs at that
time.
Word Count: 955
Footnotes:
1. www.dictionaryof christianese.com
2. LaHaye, Tim, The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, (2004, Eugene,
Oregon, Harvest House Publishers), pg. 47
3. LaHaye, Tim, The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, (2004, Eugene,
Oregon, Harvest House Publishers), pg. 47
4. Elwell, Walter, A, Edited by, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, (2001, Grand
Rapids Michigan, Baker Academic), pg. 488
5. Elwell, Walter, A, Edited by, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, (2001, Grand
Rapids Michigan, Baker Academic), pg. 488
Bibliography:
Towns, Elmer, L, Theology for Today, (2001, Mason OH, Cengage Learning)
