Doctrine is under attack. You initial response might be, “Of course it is, heretics have been challenging the foundations of the church since its inception!” But there is a powerful difference regarding the challenges of today: not only are particular doctrines under attack (e.g. the Trinity, the incarnation, Hell, the inerrancy of Scriptures), but the idea of doctrine itself is increasingly being considered antiquated, irrelevant, and downright divisive. And these challenges are not only from outside the church, but from inside as well.

In God’s Word, true knowledge of Jesus Christ is what brings transformation: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).  Eternal salvation depends upon believing accurately in Christ: “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life…” (John 6:40). We recognize false prophets because they deny a key doctrine about Jesus, namely, that He came in the flesh (1 John 4:2). And Paul’s encouragement to Titus is to “hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9). Biblically and historically speaking it is difficult to underestimate the importance of right doctrine.

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