The grace provision for learning doctrine

1. The formation and the preservation of the canon of scripture. This includes the mechanics of inspiration as well as God’s faithfulness in keeping and protecting the written canon. The Bible has always be subject to many attacks and yet the Bible today is the best seller throughout the world. The 20th century has an intact canon of scripture preserved in the original languages so that the meaning of any passage is as perspicuous today as it was in the day of the autograph. This is the principle of grace. We have more information today about the original languages of scripture, more papyri uncovered, more MSS, which tell us exactly what the autographs said. So that today we are in a better position to know exactly what the original said than ever before in history.

2. The divine authorisation of the local church. The local church is a classroom for learning doctrine, the place of assembly of all believers in a specific geographical location, and it is a classroom which is under very strict discipline.

3. A right pastor. The spiritual gift of pastor-teacher provides both the ability and the authority to communicate doctrine via monologue.

4. The royal priesthood of the believer. In this dispensation there exists a universal and royal priesthood among believers. The purpose of this priesthood is for privacy of reception of doctrine. This prevents the intrusion of some legalist with his own ideas telling you how to live your life. To have the privilege of growing up spiritually you must have privacy. The royal priesthood is a grace gift that has many privileges — to ensure privacy, to avoid bullying, to give a chance to learn doctrine when you enter the congregation for instruction. Every royal priest must construct his own altar which is Bible doctrine resident in the soul.

5. The ministry of God the Holy Spirit. The aristocracy of the believer’s priesthood is related to this ministry. The Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation enters the body of every believer, He enters every believer into union with Christ — “I in you and you in me.” The Holy Spirit not only is indwelling the body of the believer for protection in the angelic conflict but He controls the soul of the believer under conditions of the filling of the Spirit. This is God’s grace provision for learning doctrine and for having the ability for fulfilling the objectives and to enjoy the blessings that God has for us. For the first time in history, and throughout the entire Church Age, the believer’s body is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the royal escutcheon of the Church Age. The sealing of the Spirit is the security of the royal family. He makes every believer a royal ambassador. In addition, the filling of the Spirit provides the means by which we learn doctrine.