Please Help Us Keep These Thousands of Blog Posts Growing and Free for All

$5.00

The apostles’ teachings serve as core metrics for Christian belief, comprehending an array of key doctrines, such as the divinity of Christ, salvation by grace, the resurrection, Christ’s future return, the authority of scripture, the role of the church, moral guidelines, and ordinances. Believers are urged to examine and validate their beliefs in accordance with these teachings, ensuring their views resonate with the New Testament, early church traditions, and a wider community of believers. These teachings are seen as more than just guidelines; they are transformative, with a profound impact on believers’ lives.

As we navigate this article of this spiritual journey, we turn our focus to the fundamental tenets of Christian belief. The apostles’ teaching serves as our benchmark, a standard against which all doctrines should be measured. In the book of Acts, the early church is described as devoting themselves “to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42, UASV), which underscores the critical role of apostolic doctrine in the life of the believer.

Why the Apostles’ Teaching? The apostles were chosen by Christ and given the commission to teach (Matthew 28:19-20). They were entrusted with the Gospel message and empowered by the Holy Spirit to remember and communicate the teachings of Jesus accurately (John 14:26). Their teachings, encapsulated in the New Testament, have been preserved through the providence of God and are the doctrinal foundation of the Church.

Validity of Apostolic Doctrine To understand why we consider the apostles’ teaching our benchmark, we must acknowledge their unique position. They were eyewitnesses to Christ’s ministry, death, and resurrection (2 Peter 1:16). Paul, as an apostle “untimely born” (1 Corinthians 15:8), received direct revelation from the risen Lord. These men did not propagate cleverly devised tales but proclaimed what they had seen and heard (1 John 1:1-3). Their teaching carries the authority of Christ Himself.

Examining Key Doctrines The faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) consists of key doctrines that the apostles emphasized, which we are to examine and hold fast to:

The Deity of Christ: Central to apostolic teaching is the recognition of Christ’s divine nature (John 1:1, 14). Any teaching that undermines His deity is antithetical to the apostolic doctrine and is to be rejected (1 John 4:2-3).
Salvation by Grace Through Faith: The apostles taught that salvation is a gift of God’s grace, received through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). This stands against any system that suggests salvation can be earned or merited.
The Resurrection: Without the resurrection, our faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:17). The apostles were witnesses of the risen Christ and boldly proclaimed His victory over death as the cornerstone of our faith.
The Return of Christ: The apostolic doctrine affirms Christ’s future return in glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This blessed hope shapes our worldview and undergirds our ethical conduct.
The Authority of Scripture: The apostles consistently appealed to the Scriptures as the ultimate authority for faith and life (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Any belief or practice must align with biblical revelation to be considered true.
Inerrancy of Scripture: A true mark of true Christianity is the belief in absolute inerrancy of Scripture. (2 Peter 1:21) Scripture is the foundation of our faith and the faith. To not hold to absolute inerrancy is a mark of not being a true Christian.
The Church: The apostles established the church as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27), with Christ Himself as the head (Ephesians 5:23). The structure, purpose, and mission of the church are delineated in their teachings.
Ethics and Morality: Apostolic teaching provides clear moral directives (Romans 12:1-2). Our conduct should be in keeping with the transformative power of the Gospel, showcasing the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper were instituted by Christ and practiced by the apostles (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 2:38). These are to be observed by the church in remembrance of Christ and as expressions of faith.

Testing Our Beliefs In the process of examining our beliefs, we must engage in testing them against the apostolic teaching. This involves:

Scriptural Examination: Comparing our beliefs with the New Testament writings. For example, the Bereans were commended for examining the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul preached was true (Acts 17:11).
Historical Continuity: Assessing whether our beliefs are consistent with the historical Christian faith as taught by the apostles and preserved in the early church.
Theological Soundness: Ensuring our beliefs are coherent and systematically aligned with the whole counsel of God’s Word.
Practical Implications: Evaluating the fruit of our beliefs in our lives. Do they lead to holiness, love, and service?
Community Affirmation: Consulting with the wider body of believers to confirm that our interpretations and applications of Scripture are not idiosyncratic but are affirmed by godly counsel.

Real-life Application Let’s consider the doctrine of salvation. The apostles taught that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. This is not merely a theological point to be debated but a truth that transforms lives. A person who truly grasps this apostolic doctrine will exhibit trust in Christ rather than self-righteousness, humility instead of pride, and a heart that overflows with gratitude and love for God.

In counseling, for instance, the application of this doctrine offers profound hope to the penitent sinner who may struggle with feelings of guilt and shame. By understanding that salvation is a gift and not based on personal merit, the believer is assured of their standing before God, which brings comfort and encouragement to persevere in faith.

In summary, the apostles’ teaching forms the benchmark for our faith and practice. By rigorously examining our beliefs in light of their teachings, we secure ourselves in the truth and safeguard against error. Our beliefs should not only withstand scrutiny but also demonstrate their power in our daily lives. This benchmark is not a static yardstick but a living witness to the transformative power of the Gospel as delivered by those who walked with Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit to guide the Church throughout the ages.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).