Articles
The Apostle's Doctrine
After the three thousand obeyed the gospel of Christ in Acts 2:38 it is revealed “And they continued stead- fastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). The conquests of Christianity have been made by teaching. Jesus commission to the apostles was for them to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mk. 16:15).
The teaching of the apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, constituted their doctrine. This doctrine was Christ centered (I Cor. 2:1-5). Paul preached the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:1-3). The fact that Jesus died for our sins was what Paul called the “word of the cross” (I Cor. 1:18). Although it was and remains foolishness to the world, it constituted the wisdom of God.
What kind of doctrine was preached by the apostles? It was an inspired doctrine. Scripture rests on the fundamental claims that the Bible is an inspired revelation of the mind and will of God (2 Tim. 3:16). The Apostle Peter makes a similar claim in 2 Peter 1:19- 21. Here Peter declares special emphasis on the fact that prophecy did not have its origin in human initiative. The source of prophecy lies with God, but God used the instrumentality of man to produce scripture.
Secondly, it was a convicting doctrine. Paul said the gospel was a power to save (Rom. 1:16). The power of God to save is not human philosophy or theology. If people are going to be saved the saving power of the gospel must be applied. No other power will do. When this power is applied its inevitable result will be the moving of sinners to repentance. When Peter preached the gospel on Pentecost, three thousand cried out in desperation, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). There is a moving power to the doctrine of the apostles.
Thirdly, it was a saving doctrine. Salvation demands first a conviction of sin, followed by proper instruction on what to do to be forgiven. The conviction is just the preliminary step. If the gospel’s power was only able to convict men that they are in sin and in need of God, it would only be accomplishing half its needed work. The gospel contains the requirements or the plan for saving men. The Jews on Pentecost were convicted and wanted to know what to do about it. If Peter had been unable to tell them it would have shown that the gospel was lacking in its power to save. But the apostle’s doctrine gave men the knowledge of the requirements of God to be saved. When their faith was strong enough to lead them to obedience, they met the requirements of the gospel by having re- pented of their sins and being baptized for their remission. They could only then come up from the watery grave rejoicing. Their sins were washed away (Acts 22:16).
Men need to know the character of God that they may praise Him for His power, wisdom and goodness. Men need to know the will of God that they may learn how to live to please Him and be acceptable in His sight. All of this can be learned in the apostle’s doctrine.
