What is the doctrine of Christ and what is our responsibility towards it?

The doctrine of Christ is comprised of His death, burial, and resurrection. Read I Corinthians chapter 15 and Romans chapter 1:1-6. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin. (Eph. 1:7) He was offered once to bear the sins of man. (Heb. 9:28) He did this in accordance with the will of the Father, ‘Behold I have come to do your will O’ God. (Heb. 10:9) By that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Heb. 10:10) And through that will, God remembers our sins and lawless deeds no more. (Heb. 10:17) Once this offering was made and received by us, there is no longer an offering for sin. (Heb. 10:18) We have been perfected forever by the will of God. (Heb. 10:14) And we are held by the authority of Christ. (John 17:1-2) His work is finished. (John 17:3) We are new creations. (II Cor. 5:17) We are the righteousness of God in Christ. (II Cor. 5:21) We were made righteous through the righteous obedience of Christ. (Romans 5:19) We have been reconciled in the body of His flesh through death; that we are holy, blameless, and above reproach in God’s sight. (Col. 1:21-22) We are children of God. (John 1:12) We are heirs of both God, and the kingdom of God. (Romans 8:16-17) We are God’s elect. (Romans 8:33) And nothing shall separate us from His love. (Romans 8:39)

In short, the point should be clear by now! The doctrine of Christ is all about the 100% redemption of man. If you are in Christ, you are a forgiven person and you are eternally secure! And His death, burial, and resurrection are that assurance. Our only responsibility being that of belief; i.e. obedience to faith in regards to the finished work of Christ. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Col. 2:11-15)

Authors note:

If a particular preaching or teaching does not sound like this, look like this, bring life like this; then it is not the doctrine of Christ..period! Here is what the apostle John said in reference to us concerning those who do not preach and teach the doctrine of Christ: ‘Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.’ (II John 9-11) Having both the Father and the Son means that one understands the fact that he has been completely reconciled to God in Christ; and as a result, fully comprehends from the heart the ministry he has been entrusted to preach and teach; which is of course the ministry of reconciliation through the life-giving spirit of Christ. Not that which is of the letter of the law,(Romans 8:2) but that which is of the spirit. For the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

(II Cor. 3:6)

Commentary by:

George L. Miller

P.S. This is not to say that I wouldn't invite someone into my house that had an a skewed view of the gospel. It is to say however that I would not repeatedly invite someone into my house to wrangle over the unprofitable use of the law. ‘But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.’ (Titus 3:9-11)