“The New Creation” Day 16: The new creation needs sound doctrine.
Paul warned his spiritual son, Timothy, that in his ministry, he would most likely come across people who did not want sound doctrine.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”
1 Timothy 4:1-3 ESV
Now, bear in mind, Paul is not referencing teachers in the world, but rather within the Church itself. Yes, these teachers would deceive and lie, and there would be ignorant people who would devote themselves to them. Why? Because these people, in resisting words of correction, are easily deceived by those who speak words that appeal to the carnal mind.
The Lord has given giftings within the Church body, to help the new creation in individuals, as well as the body (the Church), to mature into the image of Jesus.
Now, of course, we must pursue a private relationship with the Lord through personal prayer and study of the Word. But we also need those who God has given within the Church, in order to grow by what they have been given to impart. And, we may find that the Lord will bring us to operate in one of these ministries as we mature.
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV
Notice, the five-fold ministry, when operating as the Lord intended, can make the new creation immune to deceit and doctrinal whims.
“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”
Ephesians 4:17-18 ESV
Spiritual maturity does not “just happen.” We must pursue a knowledge of God’s word, allowing it to form us into the image of Christ.
“So abandon every form of evil, deceit, hypocrisy, feelings of jealousy and slander. In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life — especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of Yahweh and have experienced his kindness.”
1 Peter 2:1-3 TPT
We must abandon foolishness, and accept with humility, the sound doctrine the Lord has provided through His word.