Biblical Instruction Concerning Sound Doctrine
From The HeartPublish date: 08/31/2014
Be nourished up in sound doctrine:
If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 1 Timothy 4:6 NKJV
A good minister of Jesus Christ faithfully teaches the doctrines of the Gospel – the Word of God. When you are faithful to the Word of God – when you love it, believe it, and trust it – it will nourish and sustain you.
Attend to sound doctrine – give time, attention, and honor to it:
Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:13 NKJV
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV
You cannot be a true and faithful minister of the Gospel, if you do not reverence the Word of God and biblical doctrine. The function of a minister is to read and teach the Word of God, and to encourage others to do the same.
Hold Bible doctrine in sincerity:
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV
In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. Titus 2:7 NKJV
We, as ministers and believers, show by our sincere lives that we believe the word that we preach. A true believer believes that the Word of God personally applies to him or her, and lives accordingly.
Hold steadfastly on to sound doctrine:
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13 NKJV
Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Titus 1:9 NKJV
The devil will send all kinds of temptations across the path of the believer, to get him or her take his or her eyes off the Word of God. He might suggest that the Word of God is irrelevant, that it does not apply today, or that it is not necessary to obey it. However, the Word of God tells us to hold fast to the pattern of sound words that we have heard, and to hold fast to the faithful word, as we have been taught. This is so that by sound doctrine, we are able to exhort and convict those who contradict it.
Continue in sound doctrine:
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16 NKJV
Continue in sound doctrine. Run your race in such a way that you are able to finish your race. Preach the word to yourself and to others. Allow God’s Word to do its work in you, even as it works in those who receive it from you.
Speak things that are becoming to sound doctrine:
But [as for] you, teach what is fitting and becoming to sound (wholesome) doctrine [the character and right living that identify true Christians]. Titus 2:1 AMP
Sound, or wholesome, doctrine is that which combines correct knowledge and understanding with consistent practice. Wholesome doctrine is found in the Bible. It is consistent with the Bible as a whole. It keeps Jesus at the center, and it results in good attitudes, behavior and actions. It promotes sound spiritual health in us and in others.
Obey sound doctrine from the heart:
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Romans 6:17 KJV
Abide in sound doctrine:
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42 KJV
Those who obey the doctrine of the Word of God, walk faithfully in it:
[Tell] bond servants to be submissive to their masters, to be pleasing and give satisfaction in every way. [Warn them] not to talk back or contradict, 10 Nor to steal by taking things of small value, but to prove themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the teaching [which is] from and about God our Savior. Titus 2:9-10 AMP
Obedience leads to surer knowledge of sound doctrine:
If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. John 7:17 NKJV
Those who oppose sound doctrine tend to be proud, ignorant and argumentative:
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions.
1 Timothy 6:3-4 NKJV
Those who oppose sound doctrine are not to be received by the Body of Christ:
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 2 John 10-11 NKJV
Those who oppose sound doctrine are to be avoided:
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. Romans 16:17 NKJV
The wicked do not endure sound doctrine:
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV