Doctrine

We read this about the first church of Christ: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2: 42).  To really be Christians and churches of Christ, we too must continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.  What is the apostles' doctrine? It is what the apostles taught by the authority of Christ through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in the New Testament.  Jesus said to Peter and the others: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16: 19).   

The apostles were ambassadors of Christ led by God's Spirit.  When Jesus gave them prophetic power and sent them out to preach, He said: "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me" (Luke 10: 16).  False teachers claim we must listen to the words of Jesus in the Gospels only, and not the teaching of the apostles.  But Jesus says we must listen to His apostles and that we reject Him if we reject their words.  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for very good work." (II Timothy 3: 16-17)   

Only a portion of Christ's doctrine was made known during His ministry on earth.  After His ascension He revealed many additional teachings to the apostles through the Holy Spirit, as He had promised. Shortly before His death He said: "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come" (John 16: 12-13). " But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14: 26).  The Holy Spirit revealed all truth to the apostles, He taught them all things, including things Jesus had not yet made known during his life on earth. 

When people claim that the words of Jesus in the Gospels are authoritative but the words of the apostles are not, they are rejecting the words of Jesus in the Gospels because He says that we must obey the apostles doctrine or we reject both Him and the Father.  The church is built on the teaching of the apostles, which is nothing other than the teaching of Christ, made known through them and subsequently recorded in the New Testament.  Together with Christ, the apostles and prophets form the foundation of the church: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone" (Ephesians 2: 19-20).   John wrote: "That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (I John 1: 3). 

The Promised End time Outpouring 

There are those who believe the time of the Holy Spirit has passed, but God said "Then Peter said to them 'Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'" (Acts 2: 38-39)

Acts 2: 16-21:  "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:  And it shall come to pass in the last days; says God that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams and on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.  I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath:  blood and fire and vapor of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord.  And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."