Setting the Boundaries of the Faith

As a teacher you must learn to teach within the structure that is set forth in the Word. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).

The teacher must first learn what to teach. While learning what to teach, they must be placed inside of a structure and given guidelines that set the boundaries for what they are to know and understand. These guidelines are the boundaries of the Faith.

These boundaries are not just landmark scriptures, but are some of the major doctrines of the Bible that everything we will learn and do in the Kingdom hinge upon. It is so vital that you understand these doctrines in order to be stabilized in the faith. As we study them more closely, we will find that these doctrines set perspective, reveal God’s purpose for man and navigate the church through the Spirit. In other words, they set all the precedence for what the church will do on the earth. It is no wonder the Apostle Paul would admonish the church at Corinth to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).

2 Corinthians 13:5

15 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

If we do not understand the perspective set by the doctrines taught by Christ, we will easily assign a meaning that is outside of the mind of the Kingdom. A very good example of this is faith. If you do not understand faith, you will give an Old Testament definition of faith (which is really belief) to the New Testament dispensational faith. We will totally miss that the Doctrine of Faith is the Holy Ghost in the New Testament.

Another example of a landmark doctrine is that of suffering. If you do not understand that the saints are appointed to suffer, and the scriptures pertaining to it, you will teach that you and those you minister to can escape suffering in the flesh.

When we make reference to “the faith” we are describing the mind of the Kingdom. This is what Jesus taught. He taught the Father’s heart, His love for mankind, and what our relationship should be toward one another. Jesus first taught the doctrine, and the apostles later broke it down and showed us how to walk in it. Some of these landmark doctrines are:

• Suffering

• Contentment

• The Resurrection

• Love

• Purpose

• Perfection

• Baptism

• Dispensational Faith

Below you will find questions that pertain to each of the lesson objectives. You are asked to thoroughly answer each of them in your own words. Once you have done so, compare your answers to those in the section of the lesson entitled “Objectives and Suggested Questions for Class Discussion”.

1. Using scriptural support, explain the importance of having the right perspective and belief in the ‘Life of Christ’.

• What does the word ‘perspective’ mean?

• What is the importance of having the right perspective and belief in the “life of Christ”?

• What should be the posture of the teacher in reference to the ‘life of Christ’?

2. Explain the term ‘landmark doctrine’.

• What is a landmark doctrine?

• What is the purpose of landmark doctrines?

3. Give two examples of a landmark doctrine and show where they are found in the scriptures.

4. Explain what is meant by the term ‘setting boundaries with landmark doctrines’.

• What is meant by the term ‘setting boundaries with landmark doctrines’?

• Why is it so important that landmark doctrines are set?

SELF-EVALUATION

The Self-Evaluation is designed to serve as a tool for you to examine how you are applying that which is taught in the lesson to your own individual life. Please answer honestly and thoroughly.

1. Describe your experience with “the Life of Christ”.

2. Give one example of how you would share the Doctrine of Contentment with a student who believes that the Life of Christ is given to add to a person’s own life.

3. Give one experience of how God used a situation in your life to reveal the Doctrine of Suffering.

3. Give one experience of how God used a situation in your life to reveal the Doctrine of Suffering and Love in order to present Himself to someone. What was the outcome of that situation?