Introduction: Does it really matter what you believe? Ask Paul. Ask John. Ask Jesus.

1. Ask Paul! (1Tim 4:12-16; 6:3)

“12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery……16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee…. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness.”

Did you notice all the times Paul mentioned the word “doctrine”?

It (doctrine) is the word διδασκαλία,(did-as-kal-ee’-ah), which means instruction, or teaching.

Then again, Paul writes in his last letter before his execution these words.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2Tim 4:2)

2. Ask John! (1John 4:1; 2John 7-10)

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Obviously, there are false teachers who will teach false doctrine.

“7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9Whosoever 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. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.”

John is saying study your bible! Otherwise, you will not be able to tell what is right and what is wrong.

3. Ask Jesus! (Matt 23:1-3)

“1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

Jesus spoke the TRUTH! (John 1:14)
Jesus is the TRUTH! (John 14:6)