Chapter 1

Lesson One
UNITY THROUGH DOCTRINE

Don Iverson
The purpose of this lesson is to help us understand the distinct

nature of the church. The church is a “holy nation” (I Pet. 2:9), but
our spiritual nation is not a democracy. We do not choose the
church’s government or methods of worship. We do not legislate
right or wrong. Jesus Christ is “Lord of lords, and King of
kings…” (Rev. 17:14). He is the sole authority (Eph. 1:22).
In free civil governments, the majority rules. This is another way in

which the church is different from earthly nations. God is a God of
righteousness. Members of the Holy nation are determined
according to obedience and humility.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth
the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8)?
God accepts men who live justly according to his Word, who
“follow the Lamb withersoever he goeth” (Rev. 14:4). God is not
impressed with masses. Men who judge according to numbers
remain in confusion. They look about at so many men in
counterfeit churches and wonder if Christ’s church is truly the right
church. But God has warned that the majority will not be saved.
The path to salvation is narrow rather than wide (Matt. 7:13, 14).
This is seen in God’s example of saving only eight righteous souls
in the time of Noah (II Pet. 2:5), as well as delivering only
righteous Lot and his family from the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrha (II Pet. 2:6). Salvation is not determined by large
numbers of men.
If all men would simply obey God’s Word, casting aside manmade
doctrines, we could have total unity among those who claim to
believe in Jesus Christ. This scriptural viewpoint stands in strong
contrast to the religious world’s view of unity. Various
denominations agree to shake hands and pretend no variation exists
in doctrine among their churches. They agree to disagree and call
the agreement religious unity. But such is not the unity as
described in the Bible. God expects his followers to be
“likeminded.”
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,

being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).
Can we say men are “likeminded” who disagree on the woman’s

role in the church, who hold separate doctrines on the method of
baptism and even disagree on the day on which believers should
attend the worship assembly? That is not unity. Jesus prayed that
believers would be united even as he and the Father were united.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on me through their word; That they all may be one;
as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be
one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”
(John 17:20, 21).
It is unthinkable that God and his Son would disagree on doctrinal

matters. “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the
Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the
Son likewise” (John 5:19).
Let us all “renounce the hidden things of dishonesty” (II Cor. 4:2).
JESUS WANTED ALL BELIEVERS TO BE UNITED
Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:14-21). Note the strong connection
between unity and the Word. (a) Verse 14 teaches that Jesus gave
the apostles the Word. (b) Verses 17 and 19 say men are sanctified
through the Word of Truth. (c) Unity among believers whom the
apostles taught would come through the Word (v. 20). Religious
unity comes through doctrine. We must act in the spirit of Jesus’
prayer.
DOCTRINE
We are taught clearly from II John 9, 10 that without doctrine we
have nothing. If God is not part of our religion, why be religious at
all. If we do not have the doctrine, we do not have God.
“Whosoever transgresseth, 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. If there come any unto
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your
house, neither bid him God speed” (II John 9, 10).
In Acts 19:14 a group of seven men gathered to cast out of an evil

spirit. They had observed Paul as he had successfully performed
many miracles. The difference between Paul and these seven is that
Paul was blessed by God in that he obeyed and served God
faithfully. The seven were mere imposters, and the results were
disastrous. The evil spirit leaped on the men, and they fled out of
the house naked and wounded. Men imitating that which God’s
followers do does not mean they are God’s followers. They must
also abide in God’s doctrine. Truth determines whether we are
God’s disciples.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye

continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John
8:31).
A faithful minister of God remains true to God’s doctrine. To the

child of God doctrine is essential to spiritual life just as oxygen is
necessary for physical life. By it one is reproved, rebuked and
exhorted (II Tim. 4:2). Note the definition of a good minister as
recorded by the apostle Paul.
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou

shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the
words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast
attained” (I Timothy 4:6).
From the following verses, we learn many things which are

accomplished by “Holding fast the faithful word.”
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he
may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince
the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers
and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose
mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching
things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake” (Titus 1:9-
11).
1. Exhortation (v. 9)
2. Ability to convict the gainsayer (v. 9)
3. Stand against vain talkers and deceivers (v. 10)
4. Pure doctrine stops the mouths of false teachers (v. 11).
Doctrine is more than mere words and knowledge. It demands a

response. Doctrine is more data, it is the way we conduct our lives,
our faith and our worship.
“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” (Romans 6:17).
Doctrine is our anchor. By it we are stabilized. Without truth we

are like ships without a rudder (Eph. 4:14). Knowing the truth will
keep us from being “led away with the error of the wicked,”
remaining steadfast (II Pet. 3:17).
When imprisoned as a result of the Saducees (Acts 4:1), Peter and

John did not have to wonder in what direction they should go.
Their path was clear, and though other religious teachers would try
to force them to obey men, the doctrine of God remained their
anchor. Hear the words of these two fishermen as they stood before
the Sanhedrin.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none

other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must
be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The Sanhedrin marveled at the boldness of Peter and John,

especially in view of their level of education, they were considered
in worldly understanding as “unlearned and ignorant men” (v.
13). They exemplified men with a clear path, dictated by the
doctrine of God. A determined simple man with the understanding
of God’s Word is powerful (I Cor. 3:19).
You are to be commended for your study in this lesson of God’s

doctrine. You are showing an attitude of eagerness to know God’s
ways rather than man’s. In Acts 17, the apostle Paul tried to teach
God’s doctrine in the synagogue of the Jews. Many rejected God’s
truth for the teachings and traditions of men. Envious men with
dishonest hearts created turmoil and Paul had to be sent away from
the city by night. His travels then brought him to Berea, where it
was said of the men in that city, “These were more noble than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those
things were so” (Acts 17:11). All who hear God’s doctrine have a
choice. We can choose, like many of the Thessalonians to close our
ears to the truth, or, we can determine to search and receive God’s
doctrine like the Bereans.
IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE SPEAK THE SAME THINGS
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Cor. 1:10)
“For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my

beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into
remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every
where in every church” (I Cor. 4:17).
All believers, “through patience and comfort of the scriptures” are

to be “likeminded one toward another…That ye may with one mind
and one mouth glorify God” (Rom. 15:4-6). This is a far cry from
men who agree to disagree. Through God’s Word, we should all
speak the same things with the same mouth.
True unity comes through doctrine as revealed by the one Holy
Spirit (Eph. 4:4). He is the guide as promised by Jesus, the Word
(John 1:1), to the apostles (John 14:26; 16:13). The Word was
revealed to men (II Pet. 1:21; Gal. 1:11, 12) and recorded for our
benefit (Eph. 3:3-5). Paul recorded, “We speak, not in the words
which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost
teacheth…” (I Cor. 2:13). The teachings of men divide and bring
destruction. The revealed doctrine of God brings unity and life. We
must continue in the apostles’ teachings (Acts 2:42), the Bible.
OUR AUTHORITY
FROM GOD (John 8:29;17:4)
THROUGH JESUS
(Matt. 28:18; John 1:1;
Heb. 1:2)
THROUGH
HOLY SPIRIT
(John 14:26; 16:13)
THROUGH
APOSLES/PROPHETS
(II Pet. 1:21; Eph. 3:1-5)
WRITTEN WORD
FURNISHES COMPLETELY
(II Tim. 3:16, 17)
MEMORY WORK: I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 2:19, 20
STUDY QUESTIONS FROM LESSON ONE
1. From II Corinthians 4:4, state a reason why some are blinded to

the gospel.
2. What does one not have who does not abide in the doctrine of
Chris? (II John 9)
3. What does II John 10, 11 say that we do in receiving one who

does not abide in Christ’s doctrine?
4. List the scripture reference of Jesus’ prayer for unity.
5. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,

rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and _______________.”
(Reference:____________________)
6. In what two things is Timothy instructed to be nourished? (I

Timothy 4:6)
7. How is the bishop instructed to be able by sound doctrine to
exhort and convince the gainsayer? (Titus 1:9a)
8. Would it be scriptural term to say that we obey doctrine from

our hearts? Please give the reference _________________
9. Is there a verse in the Bible which actually says that we are to

speak the same things? __________ (Reference _____________)
10. List two principles which showed the Bereans to be more noble
than those of Thessalonica. (Acts 17:11)
11. “Howbeit when He, the_____________ of _____________ is
come, he will guide you in _____________________.”
(Reference:______________________)
12. How have we received Bible prophecy? (II Peter 1:21)

13. Please give the reference for the following . . . “And they
continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread and in prayers.” (Reference:_____________)
14. Please write out the key reference to this lesson. (II Timothy
3:16, 17)
15. We are earthen vessels. (II Corinthians 4:7) What is to be our

contents?
16. List two references to show that Jesus is referred to as the

word.
17. Give the description from Ephesians 4:14 of a man who does
not speak truth.
18. In what way must we give answer to others?
19. What will happen to one who causes someone to be lost by

their teachings or influence (Matt. 18:6)?

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Lesson One

UNITY THROUGH DOCTRINE

The purpose of this lesson is to help us understand the distinct

In free civil governments, the majority rules. This is another way in

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,

Can we say men are “likeminded” who disagree on the woman’s

It is unthinkable that God and his Son would disagree on doctrinal

JESUS WANTED ALL BELIEVERS TO BE UNITED

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of

In Acts 19:14 a group of seven men gathered to cast out of an evil

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye

A faithful minister of God remains true to God’s doctrine. To the

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou

From the following verses, we learn many things which are

Doctrine is more than mere words and knowledge. It demands a

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye

Doctrine is our anchor. By it we are stabilized. Without truth we

When imprisoned as a result of the Saducees (Acts 4:1), Peter and

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none

The Sanhedrin marveled at the boldness of Peter and John,

You are to be commended for your study in this lesson of God’s

IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT WE SPEAK THE SAME THINGS

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus

“For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my

All believers, “through patience and comfort of the scriptures” are

FROM GOD (John 8:29;17:4)

STUDY QUESTIONS FROM LESSON ONE

1. From II Corinthians 4:4, state a reason why some are blinded to

3. What does II John 10, 11 say that we do in receiving one who

4. List the scripture reference of Jesus’ prayer for unity.

5. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,

6. In what two things is Timothy instructed to be nourished? (I

8. Would it be scriptural term to say that we obey doctrine from

9. Is there a verse in the Bible which actually says that we are to

12. How have we received Bible prophecy? (II Peter 1:21)

15. We are earthen vessels. (II Corinthians 4:7) What is to be our

16. List two references to show that Jesus is referred to as the

18. In what way must we give answer to others?

19. What will happen to one who causes someone to be lost by

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