Titus 2:1 NASB
“But as for you, proclaim the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”
When we share the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truths of
Scripture with others, we need to be diligent concerning making certain, as
best as we understand it, that we are proclaiming what is in accord with sound
doctrine.
So, we need to understand the meaning of “sound doctrine.”
For something to be “sound,” it must be pure and uncorrupted
and in good working order, i.e., in the working order for which it was
originally intended. It must be free from any kind of damage done to it. And “doctrine”
is instruction and teaching that is applied to people’s lives in practical ways
to the manner in which they conduct their lives.
I have found in my own life that the best way to know that
what I am teaching is sound in doctrine is to first of all be listening to the
Holy Spirit instead of relying on the opinions of other people. And secondly it
is to be knowledgeable of the Scriptures by studying them in their context.
Many false (not sound) doctrines are being taught today, the
teachers of which cherry pick the Scriptures which support the doctrine they want
to convey. So, they remove the Scriptures from their context and they interpret
them separate from their context, and thus, in many cases, they are
interpreting them falsely and then end up teaching false doctrine.
So, study the Scriptures in their context. Know what the
individual books of the Bible teach overall. Know what the New Testament
teaches overall. Make certain you are being true doctrinally to the context of
the whole book and chapter, and to the other verses surrounding the verses you
are teaching.
Also, when you study the Scriptures, don’t go into them just
to find Scriptures to support the doctrines you already are convinced of. Go
into them with hearts open to hearing what the Holy Spirit wants to teach you
through them with a willingness to be corrected by God if what you have been
believing is wrong.
I had good solid biblical instruction within the gatherings
of the church from the time I came into this world until we began to move
around and we didn’t find church congregations where they were teaching sound
doctrine. But I wasn’t taught everything right. So, I had to relearn many
things.
Titus 2:11-14 NASB
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.”
So sound doctrine teaches us that God’s grace, which brings
us salvation, instructs (teaches, trains) us to deny (to say NO to) ungodliness
and worldly (fleshly) desires (lusts). False doctrine, on the other hand,
teaches us that God’s grace forgives us our sins so that we no longer have to
feel guilty when we sin, and thus it gives free license for lasciviousness.
Some false doctrine goes further than that and teaches that
God makes no requirements of us to say “No” to sin or to obey him or to submit
to his will for our lives. For it teaches that Jesus died to forgive us so that
we can go to heaven when we die and so we won’t be punished if we keep sinning
here on this earth. So, its adherents are still dead in their sins.
Sound doctrine, though, instructs us not only to say “No!”
to sin, but it teaches us how we must live our lives while we are still on this
earth. It instructs us that we are to live sensibly (self-controlled), righteously
(upright), and in a godly manner (in godly lives) in this present age.
Those who are teaching false doctrine are lying to their
followers, and they are giving them false hope of salvation from sin and of
eternal life with God based on a lie, not on the truth, although they can
support their doctrine with Scripture, but it is Scripture interpreted out of
context.
Those who are teaching sound doctrine will teach you the
truth of God’s word, especially as it applies to your salvation from sin and
your eternal life with God. They will teach you that faith in Jesus Christ
results in us dying with Christ to sin and us living to Christ and to his
righteousness.
And they will teach you that if you do not forsake your
sinful practices, but that if you continue making sin your practice (your
habit, addiction), that it will not end well for you. For sound doctrine says
that if we walk in sin we will die in our sins. We won’t have eternal life with
God (Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-6;
Gal 6:7-8).
Titus 2:15 NASB
“These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. No one is to disregard you.”
So, why is it imperative that we are those who are teaching
what is sound in doctrine and that we are not teaching what is false? It is
because people might actually listen to us and believe us, and they may base
their beliefs on what we told them, and if they believe the lie instead of the
truth, they will land in hell, not in heaven.
Yes, you are going to have many people trying to convince
you to soft pedal the gospel, to play it down so as not to offend people, and
to only emphasize the parts that make people feel good. And they call this
being kind, but there is nothing kind about lying to people and sending them to
hell.
You may make a lot of people feel good about you, but one
day they are going to stand before God, and many of them are going to be told
by God that he never knew them because they didn’t do what he said.
So, please know this. Sound doctrine teaches that we must
die with Christ to sin and live to Christ and to his righteousness if we want
to be saved from our sins and have eternal life with God. And it teaches that
if we do not repent of our sins and walk in obedience to the Lord that we will
die in our sins. We will not inherit eternal life with God.
So, teach what is sound doctrine, for people’s eternity
depends on them knowing, believing, and living the truth.
[Lu 9:23-26; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Eph 4:17-24; 1 Jn 1:5-9;
1 Jn 2:3-6; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-6; 1 Co 6:9-10; Rom 2:6-8; Gal 6:7-8; 2 Co
5:10]
The
Lord’s Anointed
An
Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based
off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to wear,
As the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
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