HEAVENLY
DOCTRINE
"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will
speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the
rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender
herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the
LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect:
for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and
right is he."
-- Deuteronomy 32:1-4
The doctrine of God's free and sovereign
grace in Christ is heavenly doctrine. It is the doctrine of Holy Scripture. In
these four verses of his song, Moses describes the doctrine of the gospel by
seven distinguishing characteristics. By these seven things, true, gospel doctrine
may be identified.
1.
IT
DROPS AS THE DEW AND THE RAIN FROM HEAVEN. Like the rain and the dew from heaven, the gospel of grace is
from God. He is the Origin of it and the Revealer of it. The only way any man
can know it is to be taught of God. Like the rain and the dew, it is
refreshing, delightful, reviving, and vital.
2.
THE
DOCTRINE OF GOD DECLARES THE NAME OF THE LORD. That is to say, it publishes all the
character of God as his character is set forth in his names: Jehovah-jireh, the
Lord who provides (Gen. 22:14), -- Jehovah-rapha, the Lord who heals (Ex.
15:26), -- Jehovah-nissi, the Lord our Banner (Ex. 17:15), -- Jehovah-shaloam,
the Lord our Peace (Judges 6:22-24), -- Jehovah-tsidkenu, the Lord our
Righteousness (Jer. 23:6), -- Jehovah-shammah, the Lord who is there (Ezek.
48:35), and -- Jehovah-Jesus, the Lord who saves (Gen. 43:3; Matt. 1:21).
3.
HEAVENLY
DOCTRINE ASCRIBES ALL GREATNESS TO GOD AND CALLS FOR ALL MEN TO DO SO (Ps. 115:1). It ascribes greatness to God
in his Person and in all his works. Any doctrine that ascribes greatness to man
is not of God.
4.
THE
DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE ASSERTS THAT GOD IN CHRIST IS THE ROCK, not a rock, but "THE ROCK!"
That God who is the Rock is our Savior, the man Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 10:4). He
is the foundation Rock, the Rock of refuge, and the Rock of hope. Build on him.
Hide in him. Hope in him.
5.
TRUE
DOCTRINE DECLARES THAT ALL God’s
WORK IS PERFECT.
When rightly understood, all God's work is one work, and it is perfect. His
work is the salvation of his people for the glory of his name (Isa. 63:12, 14;
Eph. 1:3-14).
6.
GOSPEL
DOCTRINE AVOWS THAT ALL GOD'S WAYS ARE JUDGMENT. Everything he does in creation,
providence, and grace reveals his righteousness, his wisdom and his justice.
7.
HEAVENLY
DOCTRINE REVEALS THE TRUE GOD WHO IS "A GOD OF TRUTH." He cannot lie. He is without iniquity or
deception. He is just and right in all he does. Justice and judgment are the
habitation of his throne. He is light. In him is no darkness at all.