Sound Doctrine - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- 1 hour ago
- 8 min read
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;
Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Intro: Here at Calvary Baptist Church, we are firm believers in God’s people understanding sound doctrine.
In fact, you cannot join our church until you’ve read the doctrinal statement and agree to it.
We emphasize Doctrine in our Wednesday night Discipleship.
We have a Doctrines class every semester of our Bible College, and I teach it myself.
The number one group of new recruits in the Mormon cult is from Independent Baptists.
The word “doctrine” is found in the Bible 50 times.
The phrase “sound doctrine” is found 4 times in the New Testament.
(1 Timothy 1:10 and Titus 1:9 are the other two places.)
· 1 Timothy 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.
SOUND: strong, safe, wholesome, to be in good health; unmixed with error
The reference to this concept is found many other times.
Same Greek word: (SOUND)
· Titus 1:13 Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
· Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
· 2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
We live in a day where theologians and religious leaders are doing their best to minimize the importance of sound doctrine.
One of the biggest traps of this today is the Contemporary Music industry.
Baptist pastor, Abraham Booth - 1734-1806 -"If error be harmless, then truth must needs be useless."
A.W. Tozier - Haziness of doctrine has always been the mark of the liberal. When the Holy Scriptures are rejected as the final authority on religious belief something must be found to take their place. Historically that something has been either reason or sentiment: if sentiment, it has been humanism. Sometimes there has been an admixture of the two, as may be seen in liberal churches today. These will not quite give up the Bible, neither will they quite believe it; the result is an unclear body of beliefs more like a fog than a mountain, where anything may be true but nothing may be trusted as being certainly true.
“If you stray from doctrine, you stray from duty.” - Warren Wiersbe
There are several kinds of doctrines found in the Bible.
A. Strange Doctrines
Hebrews 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.
This refers to doctrines with no biblical basis at all.
Doctrine like purgatory, infant baptism, Satan and Jesus being brothers (Mormons), soul-sleep (Jehovah’s Witnesses),
being slain in the Spirit, (Charismatics), annihilation
B. Satanic Doctrines
I Timothy 4:1-4
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
EXAMPLE: The Catholic church forbids its priests to marry. This is both Satanic and strange.
The Bible says that a man that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing.
Furthermore, the Bible clearly condemns those that forbid to marry.
OTHER STRANGE AND SATANIC DOCTRINES:
The doctrine of Transubstantiation – where they believe the bread and juice at Communion becomes the body/blood of Christ.
The doctrine that Jesus is not God – taught by the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
C. Sound Doctrine
Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Jesus taught, preached and emphasized the importance of doctrine.
Here are just a few references to the times that Jesus placed much significance on doctrine:
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
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 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
John 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
If Jesus were here today, make no mistake – He would not lay aside doctrine for the sake of unity!
· QUOTE: Adrian Rogers - “It is better to be divided by truth than united in error.”
I. The Power of Sound Doctrine
A. It is Absolute
· John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
B. It is Astonishing
Matthew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
Acts 13:12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
C. It is Authoritative
Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
II. The Parameters of Sound Doctrine
A. It is not tradition
Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
B. It is not philosophy
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
C. It is not popularity
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;
III. The Priority of Sound Doctrine
One of the points I would like to make about the early church was the priority of doctrine.
Today, doctrine has taken a backseat to the general philosophy of many churches.
Doctrine is minimized because it is divisive.
Doctrine is ignored because it causes confusion and strife.
We are told to set doctrine aside for the greater good and just love one another.
The early church placed an enormous amount of emphasis on doctrine.
More quotes on the importance of doctrine:
· “Doctrine determines direction.”
· “What you believe affects how you behave.”
· “The church cannot rise above the truth it clings to.”
· “If we lose doctrine, we lose disciples.”
2 John 1
· 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
· 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
· 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Paul’s powerful condemnation of a false Gospel.
Galatians 1
· 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
· 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
· 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
· 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
No less than 16 different nationalities were saved at Pentecost. (Acts 2:9-11)
The cultural, religious and language differences were no doubt overwhelming.
Peter didn’t customize the gospel to fit their respective beliefs.
Peter didn’t look around at the cultural challenges and adapt his doctrine.
Peter didn’t take into consideration the wide variety of religious backgrounds and nationalities.
Peter didn’t back off from bold, doctrinal preaching because of the need to be “relevant.”
Nowhere did Peter offer up sound doctrine at the altar of “unity and love and acceptance.”
Nowhere did Peter toss doctrine aside “for the greater good.”
Nowhere in Peter’s message in Acts 2 did he try to be relative.
Nowhere did he try to bridge cultural and religious divides.
The church was founded on doctrine. The church was started on doctrine.
These 3,000 people got under conviction with doctrine.
They got saved on doctrine.
In fact, we could say that the church was started; founded; began BECAUSE of the significance of doctrine.
He simply preached a strong, doctrinally founded message and 3,000 people got saved.
By the way – Peter preached from the Old Testament books of Joel and Psalms.
This was before the Romans Road had ever been paved!
Let me illustrate just a few of the doctrines we find preached in Acts 2:
1. The Doctrine of Scripture – vs. 16
2. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit – vs. 17, 18
3. The Doctrine of End Time Prophecy – vs. 19, 20
4. The Doctrine of the Free Will of Man, Prayer and Salvation – vs. 21
5. The Doctrine of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ – vs. 22
6. The Doctrine of the Sovereignty of God – vs. 23
7. The Doctrine of the Resurrection – vs. 24-32
8. The Doctrine of Deity of Christ – vs. 34-36
9. The Doctrine of the Crucifixion – vs. 36
10. The Doctrine of Repentance – vs. 38
11. The Doctrine of Baptism – vs. 38
12. The Doctrine of Sin – vs. 38
13. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (again) – vs. 38
14. The Doctrine of Salvation, World Missions
15. The Doctrine of Separation and Sanctification – vs. 40
The Bible says in verse 40 that WITH MANY OTHER WORDS DID HE TESTIFY AND EXHORT.
I’m confident that he preached many other doctrines.
I’m confident that he quoted many other passages of Scripture.
I’m confident that his message was packed with Bible references and doctrinal themes.
He mentioned no less than 15 doctrines in just 25 Bible verses.
Don’t fall for the lie that lost people; unsaved, unchurched people cannot handle doctrinal preaching.
Three thousand lost people got saved because of a doctrinally heavy message.
They got convicted because of doctrine – vs. 37 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart…”
They wanted to know more as a result of a doctrinal message – vs. 37 “…what shall we do?”
There is something powerful about Bible doctrine.
The Bible says in verse 41 that “…they gladly received HIS WORD…”
It was NOT Peter’s word. It was God’s Word!
When we preach doctrine today, people will either receive it or reject it.
If we preach God’s Word, it is up to the hearer what to do with it.
The early church; the Acts 2 church was founded on DOCTRINE.