The Church and Faithfulness - Part 2 - Thankfulness and Faithfulness

Temple Baptist Church - 11-1-2026

Proverbs 20:6

Introduction:

A. Last week we saw the faithfulness of God. Because God is faithful, we should also be faithful. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, a time of reflection upon the goodness of God!  We have so much to be thankful for and true thankfulness should turn into faithfulness to the One who is faithful to us!

 

B. This morning, I will use a “stand alone” verse out of the Book of Proverbs.

 

Proverbs 20:6  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

 

C.  The search is on this morning! God is looking for faithful people.  “But a faithful man who can find?” This tells me that faithfulness was a rare commodity in 3,000 years ago!  Solomon lived around 1,000 BC. Self-centeredness and, therefore, selfishness is rampant today as everyone does his or her thing with little regard to others.  I want to be found faithful.  How about you?

 

D. Faithfulness is a command of God.

 

1. Faithfulness is greater than talent – you may be the greatest singer in the world, but if you are not here to sing, you are useless!

 

2. Faithfulness is greater that giving - you may be the greatest giver in the world, but if you are not here to give, you are useless!

 

3. Faithfulness is greater than ability – you may be the greatest teacher in the world, but if you are not here to teach, you are useless!

 

4. Faithfulness is greater than soul winning ability – you may be the greatest soul winner in the world, but if you are not witnessing, you are useless!

 

5. The list could go on indefinitely, but I believe you understand the importance of faithfulness.

 

Hebrews 10:22-23  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

 

E.  In Matthew 25:14-27, the phrase “Well done, good and faithful servant” is used twice while the phrase “Thou wicked and slothful servant” is used once. 

 

1. Faithful is a commandment, not an option. 

 

2. Faithfulness is a blessing, not a curse.

 

F. Here is my short list of areas of our faithfulness:

 

1. Faithful To The Lord. Faithfulness is actually a requirement, not a choice! 1 Corinthians 4:1-2  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  (2)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

 

a. Faithful Out Of Love. But, because of God’s love for us, we should be faithful to Him. 

 

b. Faithful Out Of Fear. Because God rewards those who are faithful and takes away from those who are not faithful to Him.

 

c. Faithful Out Of Debt. I don’t know about others, but I owe a debt that I can never repay.

 

2. Faithful To Your Family. The first and most important of institutions is the family.  As goes the family, so goes the church and the nation.  Satan hates the family!

 

a. Husbands To Their Wives. God give you a good wife? Take care of her!

 

b. Wives To Their Husbands. God give you a good husband? Take care of him!

 

c. Parents To Their Children. God give you children? Take care of them!

 

d. Children To Their Parents.

 

3. Faithful To Your Church. The falling away is in full swing so do not become a part of it.

 

a. Faithful To Attend. There are fewer and fewer in our day who are faithful to the church.

 

b. Faithful To Give. Bills, your pastor, and missionaries do not get paid in “I Owe You.”

 

c. Faithful To Labor. One person can do ten jobs but ten people can do them more easily.

 

d. Faithful To Exhort And Edify. We all, from the pulpit to the back pew, need each other.

 

4. Faithful To Your Fellow Man. You are the only Bible that most people will ever read.  Make sure you are the Right Verson!

 

a.  Faithful In Example. Light and Salt.

 

b. Faithful In Prayer. Find someone that is lost and pray for their salvation.

 

c. Faithful In Witness. Find someone that is lost and share the gospel with them.

 

5. Faithful To Your Country.  When America needs us the most, we often believe through actions that we need it least.

 

a. Faithful To Be A Good Citizen. Obey the laws of our land. Our liberty is in law.

 

b. Faithful To Be A Good Intercessor. Pray for those in authority over us.

 

c. Faithful To Be A Good Voter. Get out to vote Tuesday!  It is both your right and your duty.

 

Conclusion:  Proverbs 20:6  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?  (May the Lord help us to be faithful in these last days!)

The Church and Faithfulness - Part 1

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-25-2026

2 Timothy 2:11-13

 

Introduction:

A. As I continue to preach on the local church, it’s imperative that I preach on faithfulness.  As I thought on our faithfulness, I realized that we cannot be faithful outside of the faithfulness of God.  The faithfulness of God needs to be the foundation for the faithfulness of the believer. So, first things first.

 

2 Timothy 2:11-13  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  (12)  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  (13)  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

Four times we find the word “if,” in these verses which is conditional on our part.  God’s faithfulness does not depend upon ours.

 

B. I want to testify this morning to the faithfulness of the Lord to His children.  The person and purposes of God never vary.  GOD IS FAITHFUL! 

 

C. Once again, notice the supposedly “archaic” (supposedly outdated) word “abideth.”  From eternity past until eternity future (I use these two expressions of eternity because we cannot fully understand it), God has been, God is, and God will always be faithful.

 

D. The great “I AM THAT I AM,” the One who inhabits eternity which has no past nor future.  “I AM THAT I AM” means eternally self-existing.  Not “I WAS” or “I WILL BE,” but “I AM!”

 

1. Our perspective of God as Paul said, “That I may know Him.” is great in one manner but extremely limited in another because we cannot understand anything without beginning or end, therefore, we use the words past and future when speaking of eternity which means infinity and perpetuality: constancy.

 

2. Eternity is an eternal moment, just one tick of time: a moment, an instance. Unfathomable! One day, we shall see Him as He is and then be like Him in our purity and eternality. Just sit and think about that for a while!

 

E. “Abideth” is in a present continuing sense. In our understanding, the same yesterday, today, and forever! Ever present, ever the same, ever faithful to Himself as verse 13 says, “He abideth faithful: He cannot deny himself!”

 

F. I do not understand all that I know, but I believe that the Lord wants me to “hammer home” the blessed truth that our God is FAITHFUL!  If we can ever grasp this one truth, then we can not only survive in this world, but we can also thrive in this world.

 

G. The importance is found in 2 Peter 1:3:  “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

 

H. Notice the phrase “All things that pertain into!” All means ALL, and that’s ALL ALL means.  We need to grasp this! 

 

1. ALL things that pertain unto life.  This is the life that we all live now.  We spend half our lives worrying about temporal things when the Bible says that God has got this!

 

2. ALL things that pertain unto godliness.  We who are saved are perfectly capable of living lives that are holy and acceptable unto God. This is mentioned in Romans 12:1:  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” 

 

3. We can do this!  We can live our lives in faith and holiness because: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) And, yes, another ‘Archaic,” “eth” ending!

 

J. We can be faithful because our God is and remains faithful!

 

1.  God Is Faithful To His Person - Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

 

2.  God Is Faithful To His People - Lamentations 3:22-23  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

 

3.  God Is Faithful In His Preservation - 1 Peter 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

John 10:28-30  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.

 

4.  God Is Faithful In His Protection - Psalms 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

 

5.  God Is Faithful In His Provision - Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

6. God Is Faithful To His Promises - 2 Timothy 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

7.  God Is Faithful To His Purposes - Job 23:13-15  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.  Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

 

8.  God Is Faithful Perpetually - Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  (Hallelujah, what a Savior!)

 

Conclusion: If God is this faithful to His person, promises, purposes, and people, and He is —is it not a valid request that His people be found faithful to him? 

The End-Time Church

Temple Baptist Church - 10-11-2026

Revelation 3:14-22

 

Introduction:

A.  As I draw near to ending this short series on the local church, I feel that I must take a biblical look at the dangers that face it today.  Unfortunately, as goes the world, so goes most churches and denominations.

 

B.  People often ask, “What is a fundamental, independent Baptist church and what are the advantages of being so?”

 

1. Fundamental - basic, essential, and forming the foundation that everything else depends on. The foundation being the Bible, not a specific denomination.

 

2. Independent - Self-governing: Free from the rule or authority of another nation, state, or larger unit. Self-reliant: Not requiring financial, physical, or emotional help from others. Separate: Unconnected or separate from other things, events, or people.

 

3. These basic truths concerning who we are meant to protect the spiritual and biblical integrity of the church.

 

C.  As the spiritual condition of the world wanes, we who work and walk in it can be affected by it more than affected by the Bible and the local church believing that it is rich when it is spiritually poor!  Lukewarm and, therefore despicable to God!

 

D.  In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we see the decline of the churches through the centuries from the Apostolic days to Laodicea.  From turning the world upside down to being turned upside down by the world!

 

E.  A creeping paralysis and nodding of the head in sleep that came on by degrees instead of leaps and bounds.  Getting used to the dark!

 

F.  Five descriptive warnings were given that I will mention though there are others found in Old Testament prophecies.  Three given by our Lord, two while He walked on this earth and one in Revelation chapters two and three combined; two by the Apostle Paul in the Church Epistles.

 

G. We will look at them in the order given in the Bible.

 

1. Our Lord warned of Noah’s Day. Genesis chapter six. 2353 BC

 

Luke 17:26-27  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat (still are), they drank (still are), they married wives (nothing changed), they were given in marriage (still the same), until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all (same result).

 

2. In the same context, our Lord warned of Lot’s Day. Genesis chapter 19. 1898 BC (455 years passed since Genesis chapter six)

 

Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat (still eating like Noah’s day and our day now) , they drank (still drinking like Noah’s day and our day now), they bought (people in our day cry about prices while they have good homes, cars, eat out, and travel) , they sold (nothing satisfies so they sell what they have buy better), they planted (store shelves and home shelves are full), they builded (everywhere you look, expensive homes going up by the thousands);  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all (same result).  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

 

Ezekiel 16:49-50  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  (50)  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

 

3. The Apostle Paul warned of Sleeping Days.

 

Romans 13:11-14  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  (12)  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  (13)  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

 

4. The Apostle Paul warned of Falling Away Days.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  (3)  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

5. Our Resurrected Lord warned of Lukewarm Days.

 

Revelation 3:15-18  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

 

6. The Admonition of our Lord.

 

Mark 13:35-37  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:  (36)  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  (37)  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  (2)  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  (3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.  (4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  (5)  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

 

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.

 

Conclusion: Here we are! Keep looking up, He is coming and we are leaving. 

 

Titus 2:11-13  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  (12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  (13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Building A Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-27-2026

1 Kings 6:1-14

 

Introduction:

1 Kings 6:11-12  And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,  (12)  Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

 

A. Here in the Book of 1 Kings, we find the building of King Solomon’s Temple, possibly the greatest and most expensive structure ever built by man.  It was dedicated in app. 953 BC. 

 

1. The gold alone that went into the building was 108,000 Talents of gold or, at today’s prices, app. $509,000,000,000.00.  Not including the silver and other precious metals and materials that went into the building.  An astronomical figure! 

 

2. No building has ever come close to that value either before or since.  The most expensive building built in our times was the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong at an estimated 1.5- 2 billion dollars.  About 1/250^th of the cost of King Solomon’s Temple. 

 

B. I said that to say this, that expensive building was destroyed by army of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonish Army in 586 BC. 

 

1. Though God honored the building of this glorious Temple, He eventualy forsook it and it was brought down by human hands just as it was built by human hands. 

 

2. It is not the size, beauty, or worth of the church that matters to God as virtually every New Testament church met in the house of a poor family. It is what goes on inside the church that pleases Him!

 

3. The same with churches in our day.  Great, beautiful, edifices that once held the glory and approval of God are no longer filled with the glory of God.  They are a disappointment to me when I see them because they once stood for something and preached the Word, but today they are dead or dying. Built by men and torn down by the same.

 

C. I want to look at this passage this morning and draw some spiritual truths concerning building a church.  Not a church building, but a church.  The church is made up of people working together for the glorification of the Son of God and the advancement of the gospel. 

 

D. At the completion of Solomon’s Temple, the Lord was pleased and filled it with His glory.  That is the desired end-result of the church today. 

 

E. What kind of church should we desire? What kind of church will God bless with His presence?

 

1. A church where God is glorified instead of man.

 

2. A church where the Word of God is magnified.

 

3. A church where the preaching of the Word is loved and heeded.

 

4. A church where sinners are loved and evangelized.

 

5. A church where families are unified and strengthened.

 

6. A church where lives are built up in the faith and made useful in the lord’s Service.

 

7. A church where sin is hated and holiness is exalted.

 

8. A church where apostasy is detected and liberalism is rejected.

 

9. A church where unity is prevalent and encouragement is offered.

 

10. A church where the end result is that, above all things, God is both preeminent and pleased.

 

F. The story of the building of the greatest Temple, church in our day, has a tremendous message withing the process. I want to notice three things found in these verses about the building of the Temple that are necessary for the building of a church that still apply today.

 

1. The Purpose Of The Church Must Be Right – vs. 1-2  “of the Lord … for the Lord”

 

1 Kings 6:1-2  And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. (God’s Possession) (2)  And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD (God’s Presence), the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.

 

a. The Purpose Of The Word Being Preached – Faithful Preaching.

 

b. The Purpose Of His Son Being Praised – Fervent Worship.

 

c. The Purpose Of His Salvation Being Propagated – Faithful Soul winning and Missions.

 

 

2. The Preparation Of The Church Must Be Right – “made ready before”  As we sit in church this morning, we are not building the church! 

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

a. We are building believers so as to come to a place of spiritual maturity, encouragement, and excitement about living for God outside the church! 

 

b. They will then go into the highway, hedges, streets, and lanes carrying both a visual and vocal gospel to a lost world, bring them in and the church will grow and flourish. 

 

c. The material for building the church is done out of the church! The Church are normally silent during the week.  People pass by but only see a structure, not see and hear the people. 

 

d. But God’s people are in their “Prayer Closets,” doing one-on-one soul winning, handing out tracts, being salt and light, family altars, raising their children for the Lord, and spending time in God’s Word.

 

e. Churches are also torn down by their members as they slowly are enticed by the things of the world, their love of and for God cools, holiness turns to worldliness, their homes began to come apart at the seams, and they sleepwalk through life.  Their joyful worship wanes and the churches begin to crumble.

 

f. What you were this last week, you brought to church this morning, good or bad, worldly or holy, thirsting or as dry as last year’s bird nest.

 

3. The Plan Of The Church Must Be Right – vs. 7

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

a. It Is A Unified Work – “brought thither” Cooperation is a necessity in building a church.  Unity is a necessity in building a church.  It is “our elephant” instead of “my elephant!” Every saint is special to the building of the local church and essential to the body of Christ!

 

b.  It Is A Varied Work – “hammer…axe…tool” Churches are not built by one man but by everyone doing their part during the week.  The results are only manifest on church days. Everyone here has a part or works to do in the completion of the building of the church.

 

c. It Is A Silent Work – “nor any tool of iron heard”

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

1) During the week, I pass by or drop in at the church, and it is silent.  Nothing goes on unless one of the precious people who clean or a Sunday School teacher is here. 

 

2) Building a church is not the shouting, the praise of worship, or offerings, but rather the day-by-day labor that is not in vain in the Lord.  Churches are built while the building is silent and empty!

 

3) No one hears the noise of the work done somewhere else.  These people only saw the results of the work.

 

d. The Precision Of The Church Must Be Right – “made ready” Everything must be built to the Lord’s specifications!

 

1 Kings 6:7  And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.

 

1)  Bringing the Ark of the Covenant home on a new cart in King David’s day might have looked impressive, but it was not God’s way!

 

2) God is not interested in the “new carts” of religion and tradition. He is not interested in denominational rituals. God is only interested in “due order,” God’s way instead of man’s way.

 

4. The People Of The Church Must Be Right – vs. 12

 

1 Kings 6:12  Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

 

a. A Purposed People - Adhering To God’s Walk  – “thou wilt walk in my statutes”  A purposeful people.  God’s Word hold for us the “Old Paths” wherein lies the good way. The Bible is right and obedience to it brings blessings. Living for the Lord is both right and good.

 

b. A Submissive People - Submissive To God’s Will – “execute my judgments” Salvation is not just talk; it is a walk.  It is salt and light that allows others to see that we do the Word of God as well as share it.

 

c. A Holy People – Obedient To God’s Word – “keep all my commandments” 

 

5. The Promise To The Church – “then will I perform my word with thee”

 

Matthew 18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

 

Conclusion: Vs 14 – Then it becomes a finished work.  God’s people doing God’s will in God’s way gets the job done.

The Church and Sound Doctrine

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-27-2026

1 Timothy 1:1-4

 

Introduction: 1 Timothy is the first of three Pastoral Epistles which includes 2 Timothy and Titus.

A. The First Mention of Doctrine is found in Deuteronomy 32:2: “Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.  (2)  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: (Right Doctrine)

 

God’s Doctrine is for all the World. Hear heavens and earth the doctrine of God’s Word. God’s doctrine is the same for all people, not individuals or denominations! Doctrine’s importance cannot be over stated as it is the key to our knowledge of who God is, how God works, what God does, the state of mankind and God’s salvation for all the lost, and all that eternity holds!

 

2. The Last Mention is found in Revelation 2:4: Revelation 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. (False Doctrine)

 

Where there is Right Doctrine, there is also False Doctrine. God’s Doctrine is not of the World. Right Doctrine is not the doctrine of the Great Whore of Revelation chapter 17.

 

B.  In these days of theological confusion and ecclesiastical compromise, the slogan of the ecumenical movement has been “Doctrine divides while love unifies.”  This slogan is both right and wrong.

 

1.  This slogan is scriptural in that doctrine certainly divides which is a good thing. We are in the world but not of the world.

 

2.  This slogan is an unscriptural one because true love follows biblical doctrine. 

 

3.  The ecumenical movement is not a scriptural concept as it requires sound doctrine to be laid aside for the sake of fellowship.

 

1 Corinthians 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

 

2 Corinthians 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

 

C.  The Confusion of False Doctrine - 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; 

 

1.  Confusion is Devilish – “slight of men … cunning craftiness … lie in wait to deceive” People today do not know what or who to believe as the “god of this world hath blinded their minds.”

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-6  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  (4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  (5)  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.  (6)  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

2.  Confusion is Dividing – “tossed to and fro … carried about … wind of doctrine.

 

a)  Are we to patronize them, associate with them, accept their sponsorship, increase their numbers, send them converts, add to their prestige, follow their leadership, identify our churches with them, obliterate important Biblical distinctions with them???

 

b) We are not to give an inch! There is an old saying that fits here: “Allow a camel to get its nose in the tent and you have a camel in the tent!”

 

D.  The word “doctrine” is found 56 times in your Bible. Six times in the Old Testament and fifty times in the New Testament.

 

E.  The Identification of Sound Doctrine. Sound doctrine is found in your Bible, not in some creed to be memorized and repeated. 

 

1. There were 5 well known “creeds” that were just what we would call statements of faith concerning basic aspects the beliefs of the churches. 

 

Apostles' Creed   2nd–4th century. Basic summary of Christian faith.

 

Nicene Creed  A.D. 325 The deity of Christ and true faith in the Trinity.

 

Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed  A.D. 381 Expanded Nicene statement, especially concerning the Holy Spirit.

 

Chalcedonian Definition A.D. 451   Christ's full deity and full humanity in one person.

 

Athanasian Creed  5th–6th century  Trinity and the person of Christ.

 

2. Many churches, missionaries, and mission boards use such statements of faith to allow others to know what they believe and stand for.  I have seen quite a few that had generalized their beliefs as to hide their true beliefs, therefore they cannot be relied upon by the reader as the full Biblical truth. 

 

3. All true doctrine and beliefs are to be made clear through the Scripture alone!

 

2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

F.  The Imperative of Sound Doctrine. 

 

1.  We Are To Continue Steadfastly in Sound Doctrine - Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (And this is not popular in our spiritually decaying world.)

 

2.  We Are To Guard Against False Doctrine – 1 Timothy 1:3  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,

 

Satan will try to “bind the strongman” through the division of infiltration.  We are to guard our church.

 

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

 

And so much the more as we see the day approaching.

 

4.  We Are To Heed The 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.

 

There is a difference between knowing doctrine and living it.

 

5.  We Are To Appreciate Sound Doctrine – 1 Timothy 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

 

6.  We Are To Follow Sound Doctrine - 2 Timothy 3:10-11  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,  (11)  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

 

1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

 

7.  We Are To Separate From 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.

 

8.  We Are To Perpetuate Sound Doctrine - 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.

 

Many of you will outlive your pastor because of my age verses yours.  By the grace of God, I will contend for the faith for you.  You then will have to contend for the faith to your posterity as it was once given and will die in the middle of these last, perilous days!

 

Conclusion:  Doctrine defines: A doctrine is a principle, a set of beliefs, or a body of teachings taught and accepted by a group, school, or organization.T he word comes from the Latin word doctrina, which means "teaching" or "instruction," and shares a root with doctor (teacher). 

 

To learn sound doctor requires hearing sound doctrine which requires a teacher.