Abiding in the Doctrine of Christ...

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name (nature) under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Not that there are no others who can do the good work of Jesus—many, and from various religious traditions, have done this, and are doing this work. The key word is not “Jesus”, but “nature”. Many “abide in the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 1:9) but would not consider themselves “Christian.” Such has the name been contaminated by the “official” Christian church and then projected upon people of other religious traditions.

The above quote is from an essay called Why We Hardly Love God....on Godquest. It got me wondering what it means to abide in the doctrine of Christ. I looked the verse up in several translations.

2 John 1:9

For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son. NLT

Whosoever revolteth and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son. Douay – Rheims

So my question might be…when it talks about the doctrine of Christ….does it mean the teaching ABOUT Jesus (which seems to fit with the standard definition of doctrine) or the teaching OF Jesus? Is it more about praying the sinner’s prayer, acknowledging Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and having all of your theological ducks in a row....or is it about living out the teachings of Christ in our day to day lives?

Robertson’s Word Pictures says the following:

Not the teaching about Christ, but that of Christ which is the standard of Christian teaching as the walk of Christ is the standard for the Christian's walk

Okay…so according to Robertson it is the walk not the talk? Sort of like what the following verse from 1 John points out?

2:6 - the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.  NAS

Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived. Message

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. KJV

So many Christians seem to be so caught up in the right doctrine. Some with such narrow legalistic views it is all about…only about the talk. The walk is secondary to the right doctrine.

"Live Truth instead of professing it." Elbert Hubbard