The Importance of Sound Doctrine

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-12-2025

2 Timothy 3:13-4:4

 

Introduction:

 

A.  2 Timothy is one of the Pastoral Epistles.  Paul is writing to younger men of God to set in order the oversight, structure, and operation of the local church. 

 

1.  Timothy was a convert of the Apostle Paul and God used Paul to disciple this young preacher.  The key verse of 2 Timothy is found in chapter 2 and verse 15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 

 

2.  In most churches today, there is a lack of doctrinal preaching which manifests itself in the spiritual condition of their people and their worldly approach to worshipping a thrice holy God!  Thus, 2 Timothy 1:1-7:  Worldly, ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth!

 

3.  People in our day do not even know how to behave in the local church, the house of the God, which is to be the pillar and ground of the truth.  Thus, sound doctrine is of the utmost importance.

 

1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

4.  Doctrine is mentioned 56 times in the Bible.  Only four of these 56 mentions speak of sound doctrine.

 

5. Sound Doctrine is found 4 times and all 4 in the Pastoral Epistles written to Timothy and Titus.

 

Sound - to have sound health, that is, be well (in body); figuratively to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine): - be in health, (be safe and) sound, (be) whole (-some).

 

Doctrine – comes from a root word meaning a doctor, instructor, teacher.  instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching—thus doctrine means instruction (the function or the information): - doctrine, learning, teaching.

 

B.  In 2 Timothy, chapter 3, we find the inspiration and preservation of God’s Holy Word which is found in your King James Bible.  The Bible “throughly furnishes” the man of God.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

1.  The Charge of Sound Doctrine.  1 Timothy 1:1-4  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;  (2)  Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  (3)  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,  (4)  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

 

2.  The Falling Away from Sound Doctrine.  2 Timothy 4:3-4  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;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

3.  The Exhortation of Sound Doctrine.  Titus 1:8-9  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.

 

4.  The Preaching of Sound Doctrine.  Titus 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

 

C.  God’s house is a house of doctrine.  The devil hates sound doctrine and endeavors to destroy the knowledge of sound doctrine which ultimately destroys God’s children.

 

1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

 

D.  We live in spiritual days that either do not teach or deny sound doctrine.  These people and churches live in the realm of the world.

 

1.  De-emphasizing Of Sound Doctrine - A tactic of the devil to bring about the ecumenical movement which teaches that where you go to church is not important as long as you profess to be saved.  This form of doctrinal ignorance is leading to the rise of a one world church.

 

2.  Demonizing Of Sound Doctrine – A tactic of the devil that portrays God’s men in a pharisaical or legalistic light and the Bible believing local church as being cultic.  This form of doctrinal ignorance drives away those who listen to such tactics and opens wide the door for false teachers and preachers.

 

3.  Dividing Of Sound Doctrine – A tactic of the devil to bring about division within the fundamental churches with the main cause of such division coming through higher education.

 

2 Timothy 3:7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

4.  I am not an enemy of higher learning but, when higher learning causes the learner to doubt or change the Word of God, such learning becomes problematic. 

 

E.  In the beginnings of the early church, all of the believers followed the doctrine of the Apostles, but Satan soon began to infiltrate and divide.  There is a danger of going:

 

1.  From Steadfast:

 

Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

 

2.  To Endeavouring:

 

Ephesians 4:3-6  Endeavouring (to exert oneself or to strive) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

 

3.  To Confusion:

 

1 Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 

 

F.  There is a decline in the teaching of Bible doctrine in the churches today as many churches, pastors, and teachers shy away from it and go from “heart pricking” to “ear tickling.”  To these, doctrine is neither important nor is it relevant to our day.  I want to reiterate that sound doctrine is imperative! 

G.  Sound doctrine is imperative to:

 

1.  The stability of the local church - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

 

a.  If the church is not doctrinally correct, then the word coming from the pulpit  cannot be trusted. 

 

b.  The Word of God is the final authority for both faith and practice, not necessarily a creed or statement of faith of a denomination or local church.  When missionaries or evangelists send me their doctrinal stand, I observe closely what they say and what they fail to say because of “political correctness” with the intent hide beliefs in order to gain support or meetings.

 

c.  The Head of the church is Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ is the Word of God; therefore, if the Head and the Word are right, the local church can be trusted to be right also.

 

2.  The detection and rejection of the infiltration of false teachers - Ephesians 4:14  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; 

 

a.  God gives to the local church pastors who rightly divide the word of truth, feed the flock of God, and equip the saints to be able to discern false teaching. 

 

b.  Theological “food poisoning” is a good term describing false doctrinal teaching.  It brings joy to the pastor’s heart when his people can detect false statements.

 

3.  The spiritual well being of the believer - Colossians 2:6-8  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:  (7)  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  (8)  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

 

a.  One of the greatest accolades that can be given to the local church is that of a people who know what and why they believe.  Knowledgeable people are both productive and protected. 

 

b.  Too many churches are characterized by biblical ignorance.  I have been preaching a mini-series lately because Paul often addressed the believers with the statement, “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren.”

 

4.  The biblical training of our children - Ephesians 6:4  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

 

a.  The Bible and doctrinal truth are essential to the spiritual upbringing of our children.  Our children need to be taught the Word of God, not just entertained and the Bible taught must be right and the doctrine correct. 

 

b.  Doctrinal soundness will be the foundation upon which our children will stand and prosper.

 

Conclusion: The importance of sound doctrine?  It is of the utmost importance to God and should be of the utmost important to all of us.

 

Psalms 11:3  If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?