Obey The Doctrine

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (Romans 6:13-18)

Thought For Today:

If someone asked you about your church's doctrine, would you be able to explain it? Consider also whether you could describe the doctrine taught by Jesus and the apostles. Doctrine plays a vital role for every believer and serves two primary purposes: first, to ensure that you are following higher instructions, and second, to ensure that you are upholding the established standard.

Doctrine and the Early Church

Paul addressed the church in Rome, emphasizing that they, like all people, were once sinners. However, they experienced transformation because they had obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine delivered to them. As a result of their obedience, they were freed from sin and became servants of righteousness. Their obedience to doctrine marked a change in their identity—they were no longer identified as sinners, but as saints of the Most High God.

The Gospel They Obeyed

So, what doctrine did the early church obey? It was the gospel—the gospel of Jesus Christ, specifically his death, burial, and resurrection, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5. Their response to this gospel involved repenting of their sins, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and rising to walk in newness of life.
What shall we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may increase? God forbid. How can we, who are dead to sin, live any longer in it? Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4). If you truly want to understand the doctrine of Jesus Christ and the apostles, read the book of Acts, and then you can evaluate whether you are living according to that standard.