Doctrine: The Foundation of Authentic Christian Experience

I wondered if the great cost of becoming a Christian believer would be the loss of friends, and if there is a promise of the Lord Jesus that has certainly been fulfilled in my life, it is the promise that you give up nothing for Him, but He restores it a hundredfold in this life, even if there are persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life. [00:01:54]

It helped me to understand that if Christian people are to be led into the riches of the gospel, then confusion may be their first experience. They need to be deconstructed from the things they have believed sometimes to go through a period of confusion about what they believe before they’re anchored in what the Scripture teaches them to believe. [00:08:12]

And of course the reason for that is simply this: it’s our doctrine that shapes our experience. It's impossible to read the pages of the Scriptures without coming to understand that it's the doctrine of the Scriptures that shapes the experience of believers whose life story we are founding in the Scriptures, and that ranges from the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, to the doctrine of the providence of God, to the creative work of God, to the redeeming work of God, to the indwelling of Jesus Christ and the believers indwelling in Christ, to the life of sanctification, to the prospect that we will be enabled to persevere, to our anticipation of glory from beginning to end. [00:11:23]

And Schleiermacher comes along as many of you know, and he says “No, no,” he says, “you've completely misunderstood the reality of the situation. True religion, true Christianity does not lie first and foremost in a series of doctrinal propositions, but in a deep sense of dependence upon God that we have. And sometimes that sense of dependence on God seeks to become independent of God, and that's what we call sin. [00:20:00]

And it’s so fascinating he even includes in it the use of the Sabbath day, doesn’t he? Why? Because God is that great legalist in the sky? No. Because He wants His people to live within the rhythm of working and resting that will make them stand out from every other community round about them. Doctrine transforms experience. [00:37:40]

And you see his doctrine of God has become distorted. What's the solution? What's the remedy? What’s the divine pharmaceutical? Well, he tells us in verse 12, “But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations. You will arise and have pity on Zion. What’s the solution? It’s the knowledge of the absolute sovereignty of God. [00:40:26]

And here I am and I'm tempted to be hypocritical because I know I'm not meeting mark or alternatively I’m tempted to be very anxious and nervous because I don't know what's going to happen to my life. “Ah,” says Jesus, “I need teach you the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God.” If I teach you the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God then you'll know you don't need to pretend. [00:45:48]

You don’t know Christ by all the things you’re able to do. You know Christ when the fullness of His grace is exhibited before you in the proclamation of the gospel, and you find yourself embraced by and embracing Him. And then I said “And I am by nature a very shy and reserved person.” I said “If you’ve given me two hours, and I've said nothing about what you are to do, you need to wait for the next two hours, because you are going to find Jesus Christ telling you many things that you do not want to do.” [00:48:43]

What is that if it's not, Christian, glorious, mind-stretching, heartwarming, affection transforming, life-changing Christian doctrine teaching about Christ. And if all you’re interested in is finding Waldo, then go and buy the book and find Waldo. But if your life is longing for a real transformation, then you need to understand and have your mind filled with Christ. [00:50:23]

Systematic, expository preaching is not what the Reformers did. What the Reformers did was systematic expository preaching plus catechizing. And however we do it there are many different ways of doing it. We don't need to go to the Shorter Catechism. There are many ways of doing it. If we are pastors and leaders, we need to have at least two approaches to teaching the gospel, because when we do that, the Velcro strips that are provided by bringing out the doctrine of Scripture provides people with places where they can more and more absorb the doctrine of Scripture. [00:51:25]

And I’m going to open that door, and the moment we step through that door, you are going to discover that there riches of Christian doctrine taught in Scripture way beyond what anyone has ever suggested to you.” I guess you can hear Professor Murray somewhere on the web. You need to find a place. It may be a book, it may be a person. Please God it will be your own minister who will take you by the hand and lead you through the paneled door and there you will discover in Christian doctrine an entire world that will bring most glorious, glorious blessing to you. [00:55:27]

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the riches of the gospel again, and for the way in which and every hand in Your Word that teaches us Christ, makes us more like Christ, leads us to glorify Christ. So we thank you for your goodness in Jesus’ name, amen. [00:56:22]