Matthew 7
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Our life group just completed a study on faith. Next year as we gather again we will be studying doctrine. I have suggested that we look at doctrine from a framework which is based from these verses. The reason I do so is because of faith. In verse 24 and 26 both hearers heard the Word. What defined their foundations, since both received instruction, teaching, which is the definition of doctrine, has to be related directly to doing or not doing. Faith is hearing, believing and doing.
If you could see a house as being security, cover, perhaps even a sanctuary, then both men are building what they believe to be protection from the elements. This would be supported by surrounding verses speaking about rain, floods and heat. So both men are building houses. One builds with faith, one not so much.
The man who builds upon sand, where does he get his design, his blue print for construction? Since it is seen without faith, then would not his instructions be false? Once again we return to the issue of instruction, doctrine. Is this not false doctrine?
2 Peter 2
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. …
But….. to be continued