Masterpiece Number 32
Going beyong the
doctrine of Christ?
November 12, 2005
Pastor, Brian
Kocourek
This morning I
would like to address the thought of “Going
beyond the Doctrine of Christ”. Now, you might be thinking why would anyone think of going beyond the doctrine of Christ.
Especially after what
Now, remember in, MATTHEW 10:32 Jesus said, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I
confess also before my Father which is in heaven. And in LUKE 12:8 we also read the same thing. Also I say unto you,
Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess
before the angels of God: Now, the word confess here was translated
from the Greek word Homologeo which is two greek words “homo” which means “the same” and “logeo”
which means “word” and these are combined together make one Greek word homologeo which means “to say the same word” or to say the
same thing. So Jesus is saying, He that says the same word about me to men, I
will say the same thing to my father about them.
And brother
Branham said in many places, but I’ll read from you just one, from his sermon, , God's covenant with Abraham 56-0428 P:35 What is
confess? "Confess" is "to say the same thing." That's what
a confession is. Confess is to say the same thing, and say the same thing He said. Say what He said; don't say what your
feelings say; don't say what your neighbor says; say what God said. Confess it
and believe it.
Now let’s read how this promise of
God given to us through His Son was put to the test.
JOHN 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the
Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he
should be put out of the synagogue.
And again from JOHN 12:42 ¶
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but
because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out
of the synagogue: So do you think that their believing Him in secret
did them any Good? That is not what the promise was about. He said, confess me
before men and I will confess you before my Father. And then what is it that
you will say to men that He will say to the Father about you? You say before
men that Jesus is your brother, and He will say before The Father that you are
His brother
Now, we are looking at this thought
of what it means to go beyond the limits of the doctrine of Christ and we have
shown you that there are limits to the doctrine. You can’t say just anything
and stay within the limits. The Doctrine of Christ has limits and if you do not
stay within those limits you do not have God, and neither do you have the Son
of God.
I JOHN 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:
[(but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father
also. Now, here we
see that to deny the Son, to say he is not the Son of God means that you must
also deny that God was His Father. To say that Jesus was His own Father denies
the Father and denies Jesus being the Son of God. 24 Let
that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that
which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall
continue in the Son, and in the Father. And what was that which you
heard from the Beginning? In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was God.
Therefore to deny what God said denies both the Father and the Son and that
relationship between God and His Son. How can God have a relationship with His
Son if His Son is Himself? Such foolishness being taught in
the pulpits today. But to say the same thing brings Life, God’s own Life
into the believer. Jesus said my words are spirit and truth. 25 And this is the promise that he hath
promised us, [even] eternal life.
Therefore, to deny
is not saying the same thing but is actually calling God who said it to begin
with a Liar. 1 John 5: 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a
liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
And
again in 1 John 2: 22 we read, Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the
Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth
the Father and the Son.
And we
even find Jesus saying to those who did not believe his relationship with God
as His Father, John 8: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him:
and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I
know him, and keep his saying.
And he
said, John 8: 44 Ye are of
your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye
will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and
the father of it.
I JOHN 4:1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that
spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now
already is it in the world.
So that brings us to the place of
saying the same thing God said about His Son.
1 John
5: 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he
that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son.
Therefore, God is on record
concerning His relationship with His Son. When God took Him up to the mountain
and adopted Him at Mount transfiguration he said, “This is my beloved Son, hear what he has to say.” And God publicly adopted His son and
acknowledge Him to the World up on that mountain.
Now this morning we are speaking
about what it means to go beyond the limits of the doctrine of Christ.
John
said, 2 John 1: 9
Whosoever transgresseth (which
means to go beyond the limits), and abideth not in the doctrine
of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Now, I want you to notice that He is
telling us here, that who ever goes beyond the limits of the doctrine of Christ
and notice he adds, and abideth not, which means to
remain not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. So if you go beyond the
limits and do not remain in the doctrine of Christ, then you could never say
what God says, and it shows that you not only do not have God, but you are
incapable of echoing God, you are incapable of saying what God says.
Then if we are “not”
to go beyond the doctrine of Christ, what did the Apostle Paul mean when he
said in Hebrews chapter 6, Hebrews 6: 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and
of faith toward God.
Leaving the doctrine of Christ to
go on unto perfection? Is that what Paul is saying? No, that is not what the Apostle Paul is
saying at all. But if you read the Bible carelessly like most people read it,
you would have read just that, and you would have been thrown into a
misinterpretation of the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul did not say we are to
leave the doctrine of Christ in order to go on unto perfection. He said leaving
the “principles” of the doctrine of
Christ we go on unto perfection. So you see it is the principals first, and
then going beyond those principles that brings us to perfection.
Now, I know you may not be
following me right now, because you may be saying in your mind, what could be
beyond the doctrine of Christ? I mean the same Apostle John that said, 2 John 1: 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in
the doctrine of Christ, does not even have God, and neither can heecho God or say what God says. (Then he adds,) He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath (he
echoes) both the
Father and the Son.
Well, if you are paying close
attention to my words you will notice that I never quoted the Apostle Paul as
saying we must go beyond the doctrine of Christ but he said, leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on into perfection.
Not leaving the doctrine, but
leaving the principles of the doctrine. Now, the word principles
was translated from the Greek word arche,
which means the first part or the beginning part. So you see Paul is not
suggesting that we leave the doctrine of Christ in order to enter into
perfection, but rather he is telling us that we must not stay and dwell on the
first part of the doctrine of Christ, but rather if we are to go unto perfection,
we must go beyond that fist part of the doctrine of Christ.
Therefore the Apostle Paul is telling
us that perfection does not end with the Doctrine of Christ but begins with the
Doctrine of Christ. The Apostle Paul is giving us a clue here that perfection
lays within the boundaries of the doctrine of Christ, but to get there we must
not stop when we come to the Doctrine of Christ as though we have arrived, but he
is telling us that we must enter fully into the Doctrine of Christ and not stop
at the first understanding we have concerning the doctrine of Christ. He is
telling us that in order to reach perfection we must go further into the
doctrine than the mere principle of that Doctrine which is the first or basic
part of the doctrine.
He is telling us that
perfection lays within the limits of the Doctrine of
Christ, but you must go beyond the very first principles concerning the
Doctrine of Christ in order to go on into perfection.
So we must then ask our
selves what does this mean and what is the principles
of the doctrine of Christ. What is the first part in understanding the doctrine
of Christ. And
we get our answer from a vindicated prophet of God to this last age.
In his
sermon on Hebrews 6 Brother Branham said, Hebrews Chapter 6 57-0908E P:10 Now.
Leaving… Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go
on to perfection;...I like Paul saying those things.
Paul never was a person that liked to stay too long in one place; he liked to
move on deeper. One time in the Scripture he said, "I... Forgetting those
things which are in the past, I press towards the mark of the high
calling." See, he keeps pressing on. Here he said: Now forgetting the
principles of the doctrine of Christ... (Who He was, What He was),... let's go on to perfection;...
And
again in his sermon from Hebrews Chapter 5 and 6
57-0908M P:25 Brother
Branham said, Now notice. But strong meat belongeth to
them that are of full age, even those who by reasons of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil. (Know what's right and what's wrong by
the discernment.) Now, notice, starting now on our lesson.
This great background now, let's go for the 1st verse: THEREFORE leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ,...What's he
saying? All these first five chapters has been laid on
Christ to show Who He is. Now, we're leaving those principles of the doctrines
of Christ.
And
what does Paul do in Hebrews? Notice Hebrews chapter 1 tells us the son of God
was made in the exact image of the Father.
HEBREWS 1:3 Who being the
brightness of his (The
Father’s) glory,
and the express image of his (The Father’s) person, and upholding all things by the word
of his (the Father’s) power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on
the right hand of the Majesty (God) on high; 4 ¶ Being made so much better than the
angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5
For unto which of the angels said he (God) at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I
begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a
Son?
Now, in Chapter 2 the Apostle Paul
tells us that we had better not let so great an understanding as this slip from
our grasp. HEBREWS 2:1 ¶ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed
to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2
For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was
confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Then as the Apostle Paul moves
from the birth of Christ and His relationship to the Father, he then begins to
show us that we also have relationship with God a as our Father and with Jesus
Christ the Son of God.
HEBREWS 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was
made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should
taste death for every man. 10
¶ For it became him, for
whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons
unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Now, what Paul is telling us here is
that Jesus was crowned with Glory and honor, and the glory is the doxa of God which is the very opinion, assessment and
judgment of God. In other words the very mind of God.
Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Now, notice the relationship
between Jesus as a Son and the fact that God has others children
is mentioned in the next verse.
Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are
sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them
brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, (and remember that Jesus came in His Father’s name) in the midst of the
church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him.
And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. So you see Paul was talking about
family here.
Now, that the Apostle Paul has
established the relationship between the Father and the Son and then sons, he
now turns our attention in the next chapter, chapter three, to our partaking of
the role that we have to play in the family.
HEBREWS 3:1 ¶
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the
heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus;
Then the Apostle Paul speaks of the faithfulness of the Son of
God to His Father. HEBREWS 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses
was faithful in all his house. And then the Apostle Paul makes
comparisons between this son Jesus, and other sons like Moses, etc. Then about
half-way through this third chapter the Apostle Paul begins to show how that we
also are made partakers with Christ if we hold fast to the end. HEBREWS 3:14 For
we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Then in chapter 4 of
Hebrews we are told that this relationship between the Father and the Son was
based upon the Father’s Word, and the Son’s obedience to it.
Now, when we get to chapter 5 where
we are told no man can enter into this role as a son without being ordained of
God to it. HEBREWS
5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was
Aaron. 5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son,
to day have I begotten thee. (Now, I want you to stop here for a
moment to read what the Apostle Paul is saying here. He is telling us that no
man can honor himself with this role of a son. But it is something that we are
either ordained to or we are not.
Now, notice that Christ did not play
out his role to honor himself but to honor the Father, ) 6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec. (Now the word
after means in the same manner or expression) 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had
offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that
was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though
he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he
suffered; (Now the focus is not that he suffered, but rather that he
learned obedience, he learned his place as a son.) 9 And being made perfect, he became the author
of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Now, notice then
that Jesus was made perfect, which means finished or capped off. And notice we
are also given a promise that through obedience we shall be made perfect.) 10 ¶ Called
of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Now, let’s read on about this
doctrine of Christ… HEBREWS 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,(that
means those who are fully mature. ) even. those who by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. And
here we come full circle to what the apostle is telling us to begin with. 6:1 ¶
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on
unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,
and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 6: 1 Therefore
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God,
Now, this word perfection comes from a Greek word that
means the state of completeness mentally and morally. In other words, the very
nature of a son in us finished off to perfection or completion. Fully grown sons in the image of the Father. That is what
the Apostle Paul is telling us here. Paul is telling us that we can not just arrive
at the doctrine of Christ, but must fully immerse ourselves into the doctrine
of Christ and in so doing we will come to completion of our character, and we
shall reach the stature of a manifested son of God. In other words, the very
Life of God that came from God entered His Son, and through the understanding
of that relationship between God and His Son that Life comes alive in us as
sons.
JOHN 5:26 For
as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in
himself;
Now, look at these promises that we
have concerning the God life that is in the Son coming into us and how it comes
into manifestation in sons.
1 JOHN 5:12 He
that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life.
Jesus told us that JOHN 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:
and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him.
JOHN 20:31 But these are written,
that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that
believing ye might have life through his name.
JOHN 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the
Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will
raise him up at the last day.
MATTHEW 11:27 All things are delivered
unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither
knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will
reveal [him].
John 5: 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is
coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. And
we know that to hear means to understand. Let’s bow our heads in prayer.