November 2017
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Why is sound doctrine so important?
Paul charges Titus, “You must teach what is in
accord with sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Such a
mandate makes it obvious that sound doctrine is
important. But why is it important? Does it really make
a difference what we believe?
Sound doctrine is important because our faith is
based on a specific message
The overall teaching of the church contains many
elements, but the primary message is explicitly defined:
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
[and] . . . he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This is the
unambiguous good news, and it is “of first importance.”
Change that message and the basis of faith shifts from
Christ to something else. Our eternal destiny depends
upon hearing “the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation” (Ephesians 1:3; see also 2 Thessalonian 2:13-
14).
Sound doctrine is important because the gospel is
a sacred trust
Let us not dare to tamper with God's
communication to the world. Our duty is to deliver the
message, not to change it. Jude conveys an urgency in
guarding the trust: “I felt I had to write and urge you to
contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the
saints” (Jude 1:3; see also Philippians 1:27). To
“contend” carries the idea of strenuously fighting for
something, to give it everything you've got. The Bible
includes a warning neither to add to nor subtract from
God's Word (Revelation 22:18-19). Rather than alter the
apostles' doctrine, we receive what has been passed down
to us and keep it “as the pattern of sound teaching, with
faith and love in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).
Sound doctrine is important because what we
believe affects what we do
Behavior is an extension of theology, and there is a
direct correlation between what we think and how we act.
For example, two people stand on top of a bridge; one
believes he can fly, and the other believes he cannot fly.
Their next actions will be quite dissimilar. In the same
way, a man who believes that there is no such thing as
right and wrong will naturally behave differently from a
man who believes in well-defined moral standards. In one
of the Bible's lists of sins, things like rebellion, murder,
lying, and slave trading are mentioned. The list concludes
with “whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine” (1
Timothy 1:9-10). In other words, true teaching promotes
righteousness; sin flourishes where “the sound doctrine”
is opposed.
Sound doctrine is important because we must
ascertain truth in a world of falsehood
“Many false prophets have gone out into the
world” (1 John 4:1). There are tares among wheat and
wolves among the flock (Matthew 13:25; Acts 20:29).
The best way to distinguish truth from falsehood is to
know what the truth is.
Sound doctrine is important because the end of
sound doctrine is life
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and
your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16). Conversely, the end of
unsound doctrine is destruction. “Certain men whose
condemnation was written about long ago have secretly
500th Issue
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