Sound Doctrine*

The things coming out of the church world recently have been very concerning. Many comments made on Social Media reflect a lack of knowledge of scripture, and reflect doctrines that are men's doctrines rather than God's. There is a command in scripture to get wisdom and understanding, and to pursue good doctrine: "Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law...He (my father) taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding." (Prov. 4:1-7). The doctrines of God come from the Word of God. However, our culture wants to dictate what everyone should believe: in a one-world system, and in those things that are anti-God. Wisdom is not built upon the culture of the world: "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars...she hath also furnished her table...she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of my wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding...The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Prov. 9:1-10). The wisdom of the Word of God tells us also that the scorner and the wicked will not receive the correction of wisdom, but a wise and just man will not only receive wisdom's correction, but will love it (v. 7-9). As Proverbs 4, above, were words about wisdom and the preservation of life from a father to a son, Paul wrote to Timothy, whom he regarded as "my own son in the faith": "...I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus...that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do...some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling (empty talk); Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say; nor whereof they affirm." (1 Tim. 1:1-7). Paul is writing to Timothy as an apostle, not by his own appointment, but as one commanded by Jesus Christ (v. 1). Although there were those who were teaching the law, Paul wrote, they did not understand the foundation of the law, nor its purpose. The law's foundation, as Jesus also said (Mt. 22:35-40), is love. Paul described the end of the commandments this way: "...charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience; and faith unfeigned" (v. 5). The purpose of the law, Paul said, is not for the righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient man, the ungodly, the sinners, the unholy and profane, for the murderers of fathers, mothers, and men, for whoremongers and menstealers, for liars, and "for any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." (v. 9-10). We see "menstealers" in this list. Today we are seeing people disappearing off of the streets, especially children, stolen for profit. However, "the glorious gospel of the blessed God" saved a man like Paul, who was "a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly and in unbelief...(because) Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (v. 13-15). Christ did this for Paul first, he wrote, that "Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern for them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." (v. 16). Paul was a chief sinner, and a chief example to others of Christ's extension of mercy, so that others could come to this same mercy. In a second letter that Paul wrote to Timothy, after pointing out that Jesus would judge the living and the dead at His appearing and kingdom, he said: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:1-2). Paul warned that the time was coming when people would not endure sound doctrine. They would choose instead to listen to teachers who teach according to their lusts. They will turn away from the truth, and turn to fables (v. 3-4). Paul said: "But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (v. 5). Paul wrote of how fellow believers fell away from him because they loved this world more. Jesus' disciples forsook Him also when He was arrested. Nevertheless, Paul spoke of His assurance of the Lord's strengthening presence, and His power to deliver Paul out of all circumstances, and preserve him for His kingdom (v. 10-18). Paul also wrote to another son in the faith, Titus, as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote of the eternal life which God promised before the world began (Titus 1:1-2). The very first words of Genesis, written in Hebrew, identify the crucified Lord who spoke the beginning of creation. As Genesis begins "B'reshiet Elohim aleph-tav", "In the Beginning, God...", the Hebrew letters used reveal "the Son of God crushed, His hand on the cross, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last". This is whom Paul was called to serve, preaching His Word, and the commandment of God (v. 3). Paul gave Titus the task of ordaining elders, or bishops, in every city in Crete. These elders must be of good character, blameless, sober, holy, not self-willed, and not corrupted by the love of money (filthy lucre): "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers (those who oppose and contradict)." (v. 5-9). Paul wrote of many who were deceivers and vain talkers, teaching legalism for the sake of money: "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth...even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine...In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you...For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men...and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."" (v. 10-16, 2:1-15). As in Paul's day, the truth of the Gospel of Christ that is preached is under continual attack, and even considered to be "hate", because of its acknowledgment of the death caused by sin. The Gospel which we preach is based upon sound doctrine, the Word of God, rather than the word and preferences of men. Knowing the truth, and knowing the judgment that awaits all men, and knowing the merciful forgiveness of sin through Christ, and the promise of eternal life in Him and with Him, it is not hate, but love that causes us to preach. Rather than going along with the wickedness of this world, it takes intestinal fortitude to speak the truth of impending danger, and the rescue that is provided by Christ. *Based upon the 6/25/23 message of Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson to the Church. To hear the full message, or to contact this ministry, look for Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. God bless you.