Sound Doctrine (10-18-12)

Titus 2:1 - "But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine."

The importance of sound doctrine is largely overlooked in the church today, due in part, I'm sure, to the lack of understanding about what doctrine is. Doctrine is what the Bible teaches, and in fact, in some verses where this word is used it is translated with a form of the word "teach." So then, sound doctrine would be a proper understanding, interpretation and application of what the Bible teaches. You'll hear Christians say that they aren't interested in doctrine, and what they're saying, whether they realize it or not, is that they aren't interested in accurately understanding what God desires to teach us in His Word. And that's a sad state for the church to be in, because the Bible talks a lot about the importance of having sound doctrine.
The Greek word that is translated "doctrine" in Titus 2:1 is used 21 times in the New Testament, 15 of those are found in the books of First and Second Timothy and Titus. These three letters were written by the apostle Paul to two younger men who were leaders in the church and Paul was instructing them about the importance of sound doctrine. Because this one area affects every other area of Christian life, whether it be church order or the way one conducts themselves in the world.

In Ephesians chapter 4 we're told that we need to grow up in all aspect into Christ so that we're not "carried about by every wind of doctrine." There are a lot of false doctrines out there, and most of them are very subtle and even sound legitimate because the person who is teaching them is using the Bible. But the problem is that people will distort the Scriptures to make them say what they don't. But the Bible tells us that this will happen. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1 - "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." Every teaching that is contrary to the Bible is a doctrine of demons. It didn't come from God, it came from the deceiver. I think about the big bang theory that students all over this country are being indoctrinated with. That theory is a doctrine of demons because it rejects the straight forward teaching of the Word of God. Paul writes again in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 saying - "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." This is what is happening in many churches. People don't want to hear that the world was created in six literal days. They don't want to hear that abortion and homosexuality are wrong. They don't want to hear that Jesus Christ is the one and only way of salvation. These things are not "politically correct". So men are flocking after preachers who will tickle their ears. Preachers who will tell them fairy tales for an hour on Sunday morning so that they can feel good about themselves. True to Gods Word, the time has come when men do not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they have accumulated for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and have turned away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
And there are a lot of Christians who have been carried away by these winds of doctrine as well. There are a lot of Christians who are not spending adequate time searching the Scriptures for themselves, they're not growing up in Christ and as a result they are carried about by all kinds of false doctrines. This is why it's important to study the Scriptures for yourself. Never believe something simply because you were told, always search the Scriptures for yourself to see whether these things are so. That's what the Bereans did in acts 17. When Paul was preaching to them they didn't take his word for it, they searched the Scriptures for themselves and they were commended for it. 2 Timothy 3:16 says - "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." The Bible is first and foremost profitable for doctrine. Anything we believe must have it's basis in Scripture. This is what the Bible says about those who preach false doctrines: 1 Timothy 6:3-5 - "If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain."

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 - "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." Examine everything carefully. In Titus chapter 1 Paul is stating the qualifications of an elder, and in verse 9 he says that an elder must be one who is - "holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict." He must hold fast to the Word of God, to sound doctrine, because as he does that he will be able to exhort the believers and also refute those who are either teaching or being carried away by false doctrines. Again it comes back to a personal study of the Scriptures. We read in 1 Timothy 4:6 - "In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following." Here we read that we need to be constantly nourished on the words of the faith and sound doctrine. We need to be daily feeding on the Word of God, established in the truth.
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:13 to - "Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." Don't compromise on the doctrines of our salvation, retain the standard of sound words, sound doctrine. Paul was passing these important truths down to Timothy and he told him to pass these things down to others. We read in 2 Timothy 2:2 - "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." We need faithful teachers who aren't afraid to teach the entirety of Gods Word, no matter how unpopular it is. And for those who have the responsibility to teach and preach the Word of God, we read this in 1 Timothy 4:16 - "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching."

Sound doctrine affects every part of our lives. It's not just for those who have the responsibility to teach and preach, but for all of us. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:1 - "All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against." When Christians go out into the workplace, into the world and act like everyone else, or dishonor their bosses, or do their work negligently, that gives a bad name to Christ and His Word. That gives the enemies of Christ cause for blaspheming His name and speaking against our doctrine. He says something similar in Titus 2:9-10 - "Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect." It's important to have sound doctrine, but it's by our good works that we adorn that doctrine. We make the doctrine of God more attractive when our belief is accompanied by obedience, good works. Sound doctrine should bleed into every area of our lives. In Titus 2:7-8 we read - "in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us."

Ephesians 4:14-15 - "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ."