(Titus 2:1 KJV) But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
(Titus 2:1 HCSB) But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching.
(Titus 2:1 NB) But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching.
As we continue our thoughts regarding Sound Doctrine, we want to compare the texts above with other texts that are CRITICAL:
1 Timothy (4:6) If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
1 Timothy (6:3) 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; (4) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (5) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Hebrews (6:1) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God...
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.
All of these verses refer to Christian Teaching or Sound Doctrine! So let's examine them closely:
Let's begin with the last one from 2 John, where we find the following:
(1:7) Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. (8) Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward. (9) Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. (10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and don’t say, “Welcome,” to him; (11) for the one who says, “Welcome,” to him shares in his evil works.
The verse is clearly teaching us about the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, which is absolutely essential to salvation. Hence, if anyone denies the Incarnation - that Christ is come in the flesh - as in 1 Timothy (3:16) "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory," He/she is NONE OF HIS!!!
This leads us to the Hebrews text: Hebrews is called Hebrews for one simple reason - It was not written to Gentiles, but to HEBREWS! Duh! So, unless one understands the Jewish mind of the early Church period, he cannot rightly divide the truth regarding the book of Hebrews, which even some so called scholars get so confused about. But here is the point: THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST IS AN ELEMENTARY AND BASIC TEACHING OF CHRISTIANITY! It is the main thing!!!! It is the FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH OR TEACHING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH! Hence -
From the Net Bible:
Hebrews 5:11 On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing. 5:12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 5:13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.
6:1 Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ.
In the 1 Timothy 6 text, Paul has been teaching about the master/slave relationship which we in America cannot stand the thought of because we are determined not to have anyone rule over us. In any event, this may apply to anyone over authority over anyone else -
"Teach them and exhort them about these things. 6:3 If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions, 6:5 and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth..."
Here again we see two main things: 1) teaching about the deity of Jesus Christ [His Lordship], and 2) teaching that is consistent with godliness [the character of God].
WITH THOSE THINGS IN MIND along with the verses from Titus, it is clear that SOUND DOCTRINE as was the teaching of the early Church was not wrapped up in any of the petty doctrines that divide the Body of Christ today, and that keep us from a TRUE moving of the Spirit of God in the churches or among the BODY over which Christ is the HEAD!
We have lost sight of the MAIN THING and have given place to the less important things!
JOHN wrote in 1st John, "Truly our FELLOWSHIP is with the FATHER and with His Son, JESUS CHRIST." It is NOT in following some diet! It is NOT in my belief about eternal security! It is not in my belief about predestination/election! It is NOT in my belief about tongues/healings! DO YOU HEAR ME CHURCH????? Our fellowship with Him and with one another - vertically and horizontally is NOT because I am a MESSIANIC Christian, a Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or any other so called "Protestant" or Roman Catholic! It is not in these things whether they are accurate or inaccurate (some are and some aren't), but it IS IN and BECAUSE of our salvation by grace through faith plus nothing! And as long as we maintain these little agendas we have of "demanding that everybody else have the same experience I have or dot and i's and cross the t's as I do", fellowship with HIM and one another will continue to be broken.
Paul said it best to the Corinthians who seem to have all the gifts, but we filled with schism, factions, and divisions -
1:10 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose. 1:11 For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels15 among you. 1:12 Now I mean this, that16 each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.” 1:13 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? 1:14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 1:15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name! 1:16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.) 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.
James said it this way -
1:22 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. 1:23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. 1:24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. 1:25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does. 1:26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
4:1 Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?
SOUND DOCTRINE unifies the Body of Christ and does NOT split it, spoil it, sour it, or separate it!!!!
BLESSINGS!
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