“DOCTRINE” – A Nasty Word?

MF Blume

 In the late 19th Century, a movement began forming amongst various Church Denominations concerning the issue of “doctrine.”  It began to be said that since doctrine divides denominations from one another, there should be an avoidance of standing for doctrine so that the “Body” of Christ might get together.

 Charles Spurgeon spoke up and noted that such a movement was liberal and was simply ridiculous, since “doctrine” is a very important issue.  Soon, Spurgeon was derided and made into a mockery for his stand against the removal of doctrinal concern.

Today, the idea that doctrine is a negative influence is pretty well common amongst most Church Denominations.  “Doctrine” is a nasty word to the liberal movement of today.  People are often encouraged to not attend any church that is “doctrinal” or that preaches the importance of “doctrine.”

 Is “Doctrine” something that the early church felt was important, or was doctrine likewise considered separative and divisive, leaving one to shun anything to do with “doctrine”?
 
 

DEFINITION OF DOCTRINE

 The Oxford English Dictionary defines “doctrine” as this:  "That which is taught. In the most general sense: Instruction, teaching; a body of instruction or teaching. That which is taught or laid down as true concerning a particular subject or department of knowledge, as religion, politics, science, etc.; a belief, theoretical opinion; a dogma, tenet.

 So, let me ask again, is doctrine something we should not concern ourselves with?  From the definition of the word, is "that which is taught, a teaching or body of instruction" something that we should shun?  Should we disregard any concern over something "that is laid down as true concerning a religion"?
 
 

A NEW TESTAMENT CONCERN?

First of all, let us see whether or not doctrine was a subject of concern in the New Testament Church.
Matthew 7:28-29  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 16:12  Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

The first two references to doctrine in the New Testament show Jesus having doctrine that He preached, and His warning against the doctrine of the Pharisees.  Although Jesus gave warning to people about doctrine, He had His own doctrine.  Doctrine was enough of an issue and concern for the Lord to promote what would obviously be considered true doctrine versus the false doctrine of the Pharisees.
Matthew 22:33  And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

Mark 1:22  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1:27  And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 4:2-3  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Well, the list goes in just such references to the doctrine that Jesus preached.
 
 

THE EARLY CHURCH AND THE MATTER  OF DOCTRINE

When we move into the Book of Acts, we see the first reference to Doctrine here:
Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Here we read that the Apostles had a doctrine.  And the three thousand people who were baptized on the day of Pentecost adhered to and continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doctrine.  They "persevered," as Darby's translation put it, "in the teaching of the Apostles."
Acts 2:42  [DARBY] And they persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers.
You see, "doctrine" simply is "teaching."  So what people are saying when they say you should avoid any church that preaches doctrine and makes doctrine a matter of concern, is that you should not attend any church that makes teaching a concern.  Shocking as it sounds, that is what these people are trying to tell others.

Teaching is a very important aspect of the ministry of the Church.  In fact, it is one of the main ministries of the Church.  Paul noted in Ephesians 4 that there are some called to be prophets, some Apostles, some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers.  So the modern idea is actually doing away with one of the five main ministries of the Church, -- teachers!
 

OPPONENTS OF DOCTRINE IN THE EARLY CHURCH

There were those of the Early Church years who also opposed doctrine as modernist Christians do today.  But you will be surprised to see who they were.
Acts 5:27-28  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine {your teachings}, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
How did the Apostles respond to this encouragement to disregard doctrine and to stop preaching it?
Acts 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
In other words, to continue to preach doctrine and to teach is to obey God.  And Peter insisted that to do otherwise would be to obey man, and that is not something Peter was willing to do.  He contended that it was God's will that he preach the doctrine first referred to in Acts 2:42.

I don't think anyone of us honestly would want to be associated with the ones who forbade Peter and the Apostles to preach their doctrine.  But that is actually what modernists are urging today upon the Church.  I say like Peter, "We ought to obey God rather than man and continue preaching the Apostles' doctrine."  I say, "Apostles' Doctrine" because the High Priest urged Peter to stop preaching "your doctrine."  And Peter, as Apostle, and the other Apostles, responded they would obey God and not the high priest.  Clearly God wanted them to preach doctrine.

Doctrine is mentioned 34 times in the New Testament alone.  It is only mentioned 6 times in the Old Testament.  Something to think about!
 

DOCTRINE AND DIVISIONS

Doctrine indeed does separate.  There Modernists are afraid of divisions, so they urge people to not concern themselves over doctrine.  But notice that this was a positive separation.
Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Divisions are wrong only if they are contrary to the doctrine.  Doctrine causing division is good division if it is the Apostle's doctrine that is causing the division.  But the wrong division is the one that is contrary to "the doctrine."

Notice this interesting verse above.  Paul warned the people to mark the individuals who caused divisions, but yet he noted doctrine in such a way that it was the means by which they would determine who and who should not be marked.  In other words, we are not to mark those who make doctrine a means of division, but rather, look at the people who work against the doctrine of the Church who divide the people of God by promoting understandings contrary to that doctrine.  Certainly, doctrine is a means of separation, but it was a means of separating those who taught error from the Body of Christ, so that the Body would remain doctrinally pure of false doctrine.

Paul said we should "avoid" those who do not preach the doctrine of the Apostles.  Now, if Paul were around today, he very well would have been labeled as one to avoid, since he encouraged people to look to their doctrine and avoid those who taught contrary to it.  Of course everyone will say that the doctrine that Paul taught was the proper and good doctrine.  But that changes nothing.  The fact remains that Paul made an issue out of doctrine.  In fact he encouraged people to avoid those of different doctrine.  Today the popular word is to disregard doctrine for that very reason!  People do not want anyone to be avoided today!  It doesn't matter what difference we have about Jesus Christ, they say.  So long as we believe in Jesus Christ, we should fellowship together and ignore those doctrinal differences.  Paul thought otherwise!

2 Corinthians 11:3-4  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Paul taught the Corinthians that it is possible for people to come and preach Jesus, alright, but in actuality another Jesus that the Apostles did not preach.  The differences in our doctrines about Jesus Christ make Jesus to be different in each of our hearts.  And there was a particular Jesus whom the Apostles preached.  So there was a particular doctrine they taught.

Paul was afraid that the Corinthians would accept a person who taught another Jesus, and bear with him.  He was afraid that their lack of doctrinal concern might allow anyone at all to come and preach to them, including people teaching another Jesus.  This would be no concern if the Church made an issue out of exactly what should be taught about Jesus, or, in other words, adhere to the doctrine of the Apostles concerning Jesus.

Do you see how urging people against doctrine is a dangerous scheme of Hell, compared by Paul to the serpent beguiling Eve?
 

SOUND DOCTRINE

Titus 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
There is sound doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

1Timothy 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Titus 1:9  Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Notice the last verse listed.  If we disregard doctrine, then we disregard the opportunity to convince the gainsayers or opposers of the Church and win them to the Lord.
 

NO OTHER DOCTRINE

Paul taught Timothy to ensure himself that he taught no other doctrine than what Timothy received from the Apostles.
1Timothy 1:3  As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

1Timothy 4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Contrary to modern opinion, Paul told Timothy to be very much concerned over doctrine.
1Timothy 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1Timothy 4:16  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.

In fact, true doctrine saves a person!  To avoid people who have anything to do with doctrine is to avoid people who very well might be the ones who teach truths that are necessary for salvation.  And to disregard doctrine altogether, as modernists are trying to do in all our churches, is therefore to disregard the need for salvation!  Paul connected doctrine with salvation.
 
 

COMMENDED DOUBLE HONOUR FOR LABOURING IN DOCTRINE

Paul did not speak against people who promoted doctrine, but rather commended the ones who promoted the true doctrine of the Apostles.
1Timothy 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Paul stressed doctrine to such a degree that he urged Pastor Timothy to keep in mind that those who did not believe the good doctrine of godliness ought to be considered as proud and knowing nothing.
1Timothy 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Paul put his doctrine right up in the front of what made him a true preacher.
2 Timothy 3:10-11  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

What will we talk about if there is no doctrine to teach?  Perhaps Paul gives us a clue:
2 Timothy 4:3-4  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
If we should not preach or teach doctrine, then we are only left with fables or children's stories that do not offend anyone.  Let me say that what we ought to avoid in looking for a Church to attend is a Church that shuns doctrine and teaches fables instead!  What we ought to look for in a Church is  Church that preached the Apostles doctrine that was stressed throughout the entire New Testament.  The first time it was mentioned was immediately following the first sermon in Acts Chapter 2 preached by Peter in obedience to Jesus words in Luke 24:47-49 before He left them.  And interestingly enough, Peter preached about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as being predetermined by God.  And when the people realized what God actually did in Christ, they asked Peter how they should respond.  He replied that they must be repent, be baptized in jesus' name for the remission of sins and that God would then give them the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He added that this promise was to everyone whom the Lord would ever call.  And after that we read that Peter said many other things concerning their needs ot be saved.  But the end of Peter's quotes is shown in Acts 2:38-39.  And then we read that the people continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine.

The modernistic idea that urges people against doctrine is exactly what the Apostles foretold for which we should watch.
 
 

JESUS COMMANDS A SPECIFIC MESSAGE TO BE PREACHED

Let me stress once again, that Jesus gave the Apostles the directive to preach a certain message.  And by comparing Jesus' words with those first noted by Peter in the book of Acts, we find that the Apostles certainly did preach Jesus' doctrine, and it became known as the Apostles doctrine.
Luke 24:45-49  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Notice the timing of the initial preaching of the message.  It was to be after they were endued with power from on high.  ANd after they received that power they were to incessantly preach the message of repentance, and remission of sins in Christ's name.  They were told it would begin after they received the power and in the city of Jerusalem.

We go to the Book of Acts, also written by Luke, and read the very same instruction.

Acts 1:4-5  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
The promise of the Father was the power mentioned in Luke 24.

They asked Him about Jerusalem's restoration, to which Jesus took them back once again to the issue of receiving power.

Acts 1:8-9  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

DID THE APOSTLES PREACH WHAT JESUS COMMANDED?

Since Jesus left them, they proceeded to Jerusalem as He instructed -- the City where they would receive the power and begin to preach the message.
Acts 1:12  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
They cast lots to replace Judas who hung himself after betraying Christ with another Apostle.  And then we read the exciting news of the day when the power came upon them, as Jesus promised!
Acts 2:1-4  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
All Jerusalem soon heard about the goings on and gathered around the upper room.  In the midst of confusion, Peter began to preach, leading up to the great command of Jesus Christ to preach the message.

Peter explained what the city was witnessing in the 120 in the upper room was actually what Joel prophesied about in the Old Testament.

Acts 2:14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
After quoting Joel, Peter then explained Jesus' death as being predetermined by God to occur.  And He said that this Jesus was resurrected.
Acts 2:22-36  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Having finished this exhortation, the people asked Peter what it was that they should do about this death and resurrection of Jesus.  Was it a story to simply add to one of many?  Why was all of this accomplished?  What must they do about it?

And then Peter for the first time in New Testament History, preached the very message that Jesus gave to them to preach.  The time was right!  They received the power of the promise, and they were in Jerusalem, just as Jesus demanded the setting be before He left.  So Peter proceeded to preach the very words that jesus gave to him and the others.

Acts 2:37-39  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
The two notes of Jesus when He told them to preach
  1. repentance and
  2. remission of sins in His name,
was what Peter preached when he told the people to
  1. repent and
  2. be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
Notice that baptism in Jesus' name was the manner in which the second note of doctrine, "remission of sins in His name," was preached by Peter.  In other words, Jesus implied water baptism in His name for remission of sins in Luke 24:47.  Otherwise Peter would not have mentioned baptism.

That is all that we hear Peter preach after Jesus left them.  And this is what is referred to as the Apostles doctrine mentioned here:

Acts 2:41-42  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Notice the language and grammar used here.  The people received "his word" gladly, and continued in "the Apostles doctrine."  In other words, the word that Peter preached was regarded as "the Apostles doctrine".
 
 

APOSTLES PREACH SAME DOCTRINE EVERYWHERE

From that day forward, the Apostles preached the same message to others everywhere, for Jesus said it would be preached to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 5:30-31  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
The two notes of repentance and remission of sins was again stressed in verse 31.
  1. Repentance and
  2. Forgiveness of sins.
"Forgiveness" in this verse is the same Greek word used in Acts 2:38 for "remission".

aphesis {af'-es-is}
Also translated as - remission, forgiveness, deliverance, liberty

  1. release from bondage or imprisonment
  2. forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty

  3.  

     

    Acts 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness {APHESIS} of sins.

    Acts 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission {APHESIS} of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We find that the elements of repentance and baptism in the name for remission of sins, and the Spirit Baptism were stressed everywhere they preached.
Acts 8:14-17  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Here we read that people were already baptized in Jesus name, but that was not enough.  The Church sent down Peter and John to see that they received the Holy Ghost.  All of this was necessary, not just part of it.

Paul and Silas were imprisoned for casting the demon out of a damsel who foretold futures, and we read this occurred in the prison.

Acts 16:26-33  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Immediately upon receiving explanation of salvation, we read the disciples baptized the man in the same hour of the night!  No hesitation!  Obviously baptism was part of the preaching the Apostles gave to the jailer, and was part of what Paul explained about the need to believe.  Water Baptism was always connected with BELIEF in the Bible.  When the Apostles preached about believing, they included baptism.

Jesus connected the two together.

Mark 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Jesus made baptism a commandment.
Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Notice that immediately after noting baptism in the name (singular, by the way, and not "names"), He told them that they must teach their listeners to observe ALL THINGS that He commanded them.  So baptism was one of the "all things".

Now in today's modernistic and liberal spirit, people regard baptism as an issue of doctrine, and therefore tell you to avoid anybody who preaches baptism.  However, he Apostles preached it.  And to preach the Apostles doctrine, one is simply going to have to include water baptism.

Peter preached to the Gentiles in Acts 10, and the same elements were stressed as at Samaria and Jerusalem.

Acts 10:45-48  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Holy Ghost, and water baptism in Jesus' name.

In fact , Peter "commanded them to be baptized."  Yet modernism would teach that baptism is not necessary.  It was necessary enough for Peter to "command" it.  However, the reason so many are straying from these things that the Apostles preached is because they are straying from doctrine altogether, including the Apostles' doctrine.  And baptism was part of the Apostles' doctrine.

The same two elements were noted in Acts 19 with John the Baptist's disciples, who did not know about Jesus Christ.

Acts 19:5-6  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
In fact, the very two things Paul noted to them were:
Acts 19:2  He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

Acts 19:3  And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?

He mentioned these two specific points, because the Lord commanded the Church to preach repentance, remission of sins in Jesus name (which occurred through baptism in Jesus' name), and the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost.  But most people today either throw out all of that or at least part of it.  Not many will preach all of it!

Paul explained how that baptism was important in his conversion we read about in Acts 9, when he referred to that in Acts 22.

Acts 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
And in Acts 26 we read the same references stressed once again in the Apostles' preaching.
Acts 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness {APHESIS} of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
To be turned is to repent.  Repent literally means to turn from sin in sorrow and grief that one was involved in.  And they would receive forgiveness {APHESIS} of sins.  How was "aphesis" of sins preached first?  Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the APHESIS -- FORGIVENESS --  of sins.

So the question is whether or not we want to adhere to the Apostles doctrine, and, yes, we will see people avoid us, or to disregard any doctrine including the Apostles' doctrine and go with the modern flow of not preaching baptism in Jesus' name or Holy Ghost baptism that Jesus commanded the Apostles to preach.
 

OBEY JESUS OR MODERN LIBERALISM?

The bottom line is that Jesus preached doctrine and the Apostles preached doctrine, and highly stressed it.  Who will you agree with?  Modern, liberal thinking that urges folks to disregard doctrine and heap to themselves teachers to tickle their ears who do not teach proper doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2-4  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.