SOUND DOCTRINE

SOUND DOCTRINE
OPENING SCRIPTURE
"By telling these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will be made strong by the words of the faith and the good teaching (doctrine) which you have been following. But do not follow foolish stories that disagree with God’s truth, but train yourself to serve God"
I Timothy 4:6-7

The serpent in the Garden of Eden gave misinformation to Eve, and since that time the world has been flooded with misinformation. Misinformation about everything under the sun. Much of the information is based on lies, on half-truths, and sometimes on 99% truth mixed with 1% lies. The latter piece of misinformation being the most dangerous one.

Daniel 12:4
"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase"

Here we are seeing a prophecy of Daniel about today’s age if we equate the word knowledge with information. We have computers, i-pods, blackberries, interactive watches, HD television, digital radio, and technology changes every day, and access to information increases, and increases, and increases.

On the other hand, another prophet Hosea stated
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

Paul, who was very wise, was able to make sense of these two Bible truths. In 2 Timothy 3:7 he states : "...always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth".

Now, who is doing this ? Who is responsible for this state of mind to "never be able to acknowledge the truth" ? Many Scriptures are pointing towards one source, the main source of information :

Revelation 12:9
"So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world"
1 John 5:19
"...The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one"
2 Corinthians 4:4
"... The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who are perishing"

So, it is clear from these Scriptures who the author of deception is, or the author of misinformation, and, what is worse, the author of false doctrines.

When Jesus spoke to his disciples and to us about the various signs of the End of the age, he stated in Mark 13:22 & 23:
"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told everything ahead of time"

Furthermore, in Matthew 7:15, Jesus tells us
"Be careful of false prophets. They come to you looking gentle like sheep, but they are really dangerous like wolves"

So, are you on guard. Would you be able to recognize these false prophets ?

Let’s look at the word "doctrine" a little closer. According to one dictionary (The Canadian Dictionary for Children) the word doctrine means : "Something that is believed by a group of people. The beliefs of a religion and the ideals of a political party are doctrines".

The Bible, however, tells us a different story. In Deuteronomy, this whole issue is clarified – see Deuteronomy 32:1-2, God tells us :
"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass"

The word "doctrine" here refers directly to "the words of my mouth, and, my speech" meaning "God’s mouth and God’s speech". Jesus explains Deuteronomy in the Book of John 7:16-18:
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him"

So, how do we further define sound or good doctrine ? In the books of Timothy, we see many references to the word "doctrine", or "sound doctrine" or "good doctrine". And I am just let the Scriptures do the talking from here (all quoting from the KJV) :
"For whoremongers, for them that define themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine"
I Tim 1:10
"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"
II Tim 4:3
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine"
I Tim 4:13
"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"I Tim 1:3
In the New Century Version, this last verse reads as follows :
"I asked you to stay longer in Ephesus when I went into Macedonia so you could command some people there to stop teaching false things"
In verse 4 we read :
"Tell them not to spend their time on stories that are not true...."
Verse 6 & 7 :
"Some people have missed these things and turned to useless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about."

So, there we are – back at the topic of "false teacher", "false prophet".

Peter explains to us what will happen to those false teachers and I am quoting from the New Century Version again – 2 Peter 2:1-3 :
"There used to be false prophets among God’s people, just as you will have some false teachers in your group. They will secretly teach things that are wrong – teachings that will cause people to be lost. They will even refuse to accept the Master, Jesus, who bought their freedom. So they will bring quick ruin on themselves. Many will follow their evil ways and say evil things about the way of truth. Those false teachers only want your money, so they will use you by telling you lies. Their judgment spoken against them long ago is still coming, and their ruin is certain."

So how do we sift through all that is being thrown at us ? How do we know what is the truth 100%. Well, the answer is simple, as stated in Deuteronomy God refers to "doctrine" as "the words of His mouth and His speech". There is the answer – ONLY THAT IS SOUND DOCTRINE.

It is interesting that just before Peter starts to explain what will happen to false teachers, in 2 Peter 1:20, he is clear by stating :
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation"
And in the next verse, he explains :
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost"

So where does this leave us ?

The first thing we need to do is always to "test the spirit". That is done in a variety of ways :

- check their confession of Jesus
- observe their relationship with the world
- what is their attitude towards God’s commandments
- do they love the brothers and sisters
- is there evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- is God’s Word given priority in teaching

The second thing we need to do is always check the given word with the actual written Word of God and, through prayer, with the Living Word of God inside of you. If you can, stay away from modern day scholars on the internet. Instead go straight to the Word of God.

And finally, the third thing we need to do is found in the Scriptures in I Tim 6:1-5,11
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 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, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
(v 11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

The most important of these three points is that the actual Word of God – not commentaries, not private interpretations, not scholarly web site explanations – is the ultimate, sound and good doctrine.

May God bless you as you study His doctrine.

Given by Pastor John Fryters at Under The Juniper Tree Chapel on Sunday, January 18th, 2009