K049. If doctrine doesn't save, why did Jesus teach doctrine?

The above would be the same question I would ask the preachers who say that doctrine doesn't save and therefore they will NOT teach any doctrine; but only grace. This may sound weird. But I have heard many preachers giving this kind of impression to their believers.

Many of those who are brought up in the so called 'radical grace' environment have been indoctrinated by their pastors that preaching of grace is the only true doctrine and all other doctrines are the doctrines of the Pharisees. So, naturally they think that any repentance teaching, commandments, doctrine, or principles, are legalistic rules like the law which will always do policing on them. They think that doctrine of grace is more superior than all other doctrine because "grace is not a doctrine; grace is Jesus Christ." So, they thought that grace can replace all the doctrine.
But what is doctrine? Doctrine is simply teaching of something. It can be the teaching of a truth, a law, or God. Can there be teaching of grace too? Of course, grace can be a doctrine too; grace is also a gift of God. Hence, we can say that Jesus is grace or Jesus is love, but Jesus is not all about grace or love. Jesus is more than all the gifts of God.

Now, let us go back to the first question: Can doctrine save? If not, can we teach doctrine or is there still a need to teach doctrine? I will say, Why not? Jesus taught many things in His doctrine too:
Mar 4:2-3 KJV  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,  (3)  Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
Joh 7:16-17 KJV  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  (17)  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Mar 12:38 KJV  And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
Mat 7:28-29 KJV  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  (29)  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Yes, of course, we can teach like Jesus Christ. We do not teach false doctrine or teach like the Pharisees. We can certainly teach sound doctrine.

What is sound doctrine? Sound doctrine is simply good doctrine. It may not save directly, but it can certainly save indirectly. For example, if we were about to be drown in the sea, someone came to  rescue us by throwing the rubber ring to us. Are we saved by him or by the rubber ring? It would be ridiculous to reject the rubber ring and say to the man, "We just want to be saved, we do not want your rubber ring."
Similarly, we are saved by Jesus Christ (by grace). But we are also saved through faith, love, and sound doctrine too. It would be ridiculous to tell God, "We just want to be saved by Jesus Christ (by grace), we do not want your doctrine, laws, or commandments".

1Ti 4:16 KJV  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
There are many Bible verses about sound doctrine which 'saves' too. In fact, they show us why there is still a need to teach doctrine. But now I would just want to focus more on the doctrine of Christ in Heb 6:1-3 and break the myth taught by some radical grace preachers who say that doctrine is not important in God's salvation under the New Testament:
Heb 6:1-8 KJV  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,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.  (4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  (7)  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  (8)  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

I have to show almost the full Bible text on the doctrine of Christ here because we must read it with the full Bible context as much as possible. Just before this chapter, Paul wrote and said that many believers were still babes. Therefore, now he hoped that every believer will grow and leave for higher principles or doctrine. Hence, he has shown us that there are 1.) fundamental doctrine and 2.) higher (advanced) doctrine.

1.) What is the fundamental doctrine?
Paul listed about seven principles of the doctrine. I heard radical grace preachers preaching that these are elementary doctrine or old doctrine which should be cast away and replaced by their 'grace' doctrine. They claimed that grace doctrine is of a higher doctrine and therefore it can replace all other doctrine. Besides, they said, repentance and laying on of hands is Jewish tradition passed down from the old covenant.
I will tell them, I thought you said that "grace is not a doctrine; grace is Jesus Christ" before. If grace is not a doctrine, it cannot be a higher doctrine either. If you insist that grace is not a doctrine, how can you say that it can replace other doctrine and become a higher doctrine now. Don't you find that it is contradictory to argue vehemently that grace is not a doctrine and now it will become a higher doctrine for your believers? This is so confusing, and it cannot be sound doctrine.
Next, you said that the doctrine of repentance and laying on of hands is Jewish tradition and therefore all the doctrine in Heb 6:1-3 is elementary doctrine which should be cast away. But do you know why Paul named it as the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST? How can you twist it to become the old covenant or the old law practised by the Jews? Do you still baptise your believers with the water baptism? Yes, if you think that it is also a Jewish tradition because John the Baptist and the Jews had done it, would you say that all the churches (including yourselves) who do it are under the law too?  One of the seven principle of the doctrine is the doctrine of resurrection. Do you think that it is also a doctrine under the law too? That is ridiculous.
Next, you said that the Bible translators or the Bible scholars had made a mistake to translate the seven elementary doctrine as the fundamental doctrine or foundational doctrine. You give people the false impression that the doctrine is elementary (not important) and old, and therefore inferior to your grace doctrine. No, this is a lie. The seven foundational principles or doctrine may be basic; but they are important. Of course, we do not build on the foundation, the ground level, or the same level forever , but we will never cast away the foundation. We must still build on the foundation and build up from it ('level by level' like building a house). Hence, we do not think of the doctrine as something that do policing on us; but something that build us. I can think of another illustration which is quite close to the illustration of the building and foundation: Do you know that we are not supposed to teach the adult to learn 'A, B, C ..' ? It is ridiculous if we have to do that to the adults. But can we tell the people that teaching of 'A, B, C' is obsolete and that it must be abolished? No, it is equally ridiculous to tell the believers that doctrine is obsolete too. No matter how basic is the doctrine of Christ, it is still the doctrine of Christ and it must be taught until they are ready to go for higher things.

I will tell the preachers, especially the radical or hyper grace preachers, How can you preach grace as everything to replace the doctrine of Christ, just because you do not like the commandment or the judgement part of the doctrine? You cannot deny that the doctrine of Christ is based on the seven principles which were summarized for us in Heb 6:1-3. But, do you realize that, strictly speaking, the seven principles were based on the words of God which proceed from the mouth of God? Yes, you know that the God that we believe is a triune God; but do you know that The Word that we believe is a triune Word too? It was shown to us metaphorically in the form of the manna, tablets, and rod in the ark of covenant. It means that the words of God consists of God's life, commandments, and authority too, on which all our doctrine will based.

2.) What is the higher doctrine?
I don't think I have time to expand on this. If we have the correct fundamental doctrine, I don't have to worry if we have the higher doctrine in Christ. Please feel free to share it if God has called you to do the higher doctrine.
I deliberately showed the Bible verses about those who fall, after showing you the foundation principles of the doctrine of Christ in Heb 6:1-3. It is because I wanted to show you that there are links on different passages for different groups of believers in the same chapter. For example,
a. Heb 6:1-3 is about the foundation of doctrine for the believer, but
b. Heb 6:4-9 is a warning to those who do not have good foundation or who cast away their foundation even if they can experience all the goodness of God.
c. Heb 6:10-12 is an encouragement to those who grow with the fruits or the works which are based on good foundation, and the diligence that accompany their salvation: Heb 6:9-12 KJV  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.  (10)  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  (12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

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