The Landmark of Sound Doctrine

Temple Baptist Church - 11-6-2011

1 Timothy 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:13-17

Introduction:

A. As I finish preaching on “landmarks” this morning, I want us to continually realize where we are spiritually, what time it is spiritually, and what is coming spiritually.

1. We live in the midst of the “falling away” of 2 Thessalonians! It seems that true believers are becoming fewer with each passing day. People who once stood for the things of God are now sitting on the spiritual “sidelines” with little or no interest in the things of God.

2. We live in the midst of the “having a form or godliness” of 2 Timothy 3! The “Christians” of our day place everything above the Lord while they look and love like the world.

3. We live in the midst of the “ear tickling” of 2 Timothy 3-4 where teachers have replaced preachers and the people “love to have it so.”

4. We live in the midst of the “lukewarm” church of Laodicea, in Revelation 2, where the church is physically well fed and spiritually despicable to the Lord.

5. We live in the midst of the “as the manner of some is” of Hebrews 10 where the Lord’s Day and the house of God has taken a “backseat” to the desires of the unfaithful!

B. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are referred to the “Pastoral Epistles.” These books teach us how to pastor a local church. As far as I can discern, Timothy was the possibly the pastor of the church at Ephesus. In 1 Timothy, Paul told Timothy to remain with the charge of maintaining sound doctrine in the church. One of the most important aspects of the work of a pastor is defending the doctrines of the faith within the church.

Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

C. Doctrine is simply the truth of the Bible set forth through the teaching or preaching of the local church. Doctrinal truth is the foundation upon which our faith is established. Sound doctrine is right and good for the believer. Sound doctrine is the meat of the word and not the milk! Churches built upon singing or emotions will not withstand the attacks of Satan. It is the grounding of the believer in truth that will hold him fast.

D. Satan attacks sound doctrine in different ways:

1. The device of infiltration. 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (Apostates and Clowns instead of preachers who have changed the pulpits to fit the times that we live in.)
Jude 3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (We have had some over the years come to Temple that did not stand where we stand on either the bible or doctrines. I keep my “ear to the ground” at all times in order to protect both this blessed bible that we hold in our hands as well as the doctrines that in encompasses. False brethren, false teachers, etc. are continually invading the local churches.)

2. The device of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (Satan uses people who carry different versions or the using of materials that quote perverted versions. Satan also uses people who are in disagreement with the doctrines being taught by the pastor and spread their discontent to others.)

3. The device of ignorance. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Ignorance can be either a failure by the pastor to teach sound doctrine or the carnality of believers who will not accept sound doctrine.)

E. It is important that we teach sound doctrine.

1. Jesus Christ taught doctrine. Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: (29) For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

2. The Apostles taught doctrine. Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (42) And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

3. Pastors are to teach doctrine. Titus 1:7-11 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; (8) But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; (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. (10) For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: (11) Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

F. Why such emphasis on sound doctrine? 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.


1. We Are To Teach Sound Doctrine - 1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

2. We Are To Continue Steadfastly In Sound Doctrine - 2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

3. We Are To Heed Sound Doctrine - 1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

4. We Are To Reject False Doctrine - Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2 John 9-10 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: