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Friday, April 11,
2008
Sound Doctrine
Titus 2:7-8 In all things shewing thyself
a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity,
sincerity, (8) Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of
the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (KJV)
Strong’s definition for sound:
5198
hugiaino (hoog-ee-ah'-ee-no); from 5199; to have sound health, i.e.
be well (in body); figuratively, to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine):
KJV-- be in health, (be safe and) sound,
(be) whole (-some).
How sound and healthy are you
spiritually? You are what you eat, a term that applies to the physical man
and also applies to our spiritual one as well. There is now no condemnation
to them that are in Christ, those that know His doctrine and partake of the
pure word of God without all the manmade additives which can change and
spoil the original intention. Have you seen people that are fit and
healthy, those that have exercised their body and eat right? Many see these
examples in the physical and desire the same results, which only happens
when one makes it a way of life not just some passing fad. The same holds
true spiritually; God’s people should be living a healthy spiritual life,
one that is pleasing to Father and one that is above reproach, having their
spiritual senses exercised to know the difference between good and evil;
knowing what is healthy and what is not of God. The true doctrine of Christ
is the meat of the word of God that will provide the nourishment needed to
keep one strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
3 John 1:2-4 Beloved, I wish above all
things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth. (3) For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and
testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
(4) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
(KJV)
One of the first things I hear from a
parent, especially after the birth of a child is often thank God he or she
is healthy. In fact it is a phrase commonly used by many, especially as
they get older and good health becomes more of an issue, more of a
challenge. Spiritually the same holds true as well with God and so much
more as we are in the last days in a fallen world; where many are
unhealthy, living a fast food lifestyle becoming unhealthy rather than
keeping their spiritual life a priority. God as well as His people that
truly know Him and have a working knowledge of who they are in Christ share
the same mindset we see in the above verses, how that there is no greater
joy than to see His people walking in truth. How sound and spiritually
healthy are you today? Are you fit and ready for the work the Lord has or
do you need to go back to the gym and start over again, basic training to
get your body back into subjection to the Spirit?
1 Timothy 1:2-6 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.
(5) Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a
good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (6) From which some having swerved
have turned aside unto vain jangling; (KJV)
Paul’s warning to Timothy was to be on
the lookout for cheap imitations, new fad doctrines which were unhealthy
and were causing more confusion than peace. Today we see the same thing,
many quick fix answers similar to diet plans, take a pill or drink a potion
that will get you in shape and healthy rather than taking the time to
exercise the proper way. Good wholesome sound doctrine will build the
people up and edify them, making them healthy in the realm of God, while
others not teaching out of a pure love for the people will leave them in
worse shape than when they started, like the term backslidden.
1 Timothy 1:7-10 Desiring to be teachers
of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
(8) But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; (9) Knowing
this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and
disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for
murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (10) For
whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other
thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; (KJV)
Many today try to take the doctrine of
Christ and mix it with the law, which is the same struggle the early Church
had as well. God made our bodies a certain way and only healthy things will
keep it sound and in working order. The same principle holds true with our
spiritual growth as well; only the truth will keep one healthy and set us
free from spiritual sickness and disease, viruses the devil will try to
sneak into the teachings to bring one down, eventually leading to death if
not dealt with. The law is for ungodly people, those that are living
contrary to sound healthy doctrine and need to be kept in check so that
they don’t bring down the community with their anarchy and disrespect for
their fellow mankind. Anytime you see or hear someone teaching and
preaching things concerning Christ, then they turn around and tell you
things that pertain to the old law and its rituals you are seeing someone
who is double minded, unstable and teaching an unhealthy doctrine which
will leave one lacking and malnourished spiritually. We have laws that are
still in place in a fallen world to keep mans fallen nature somewhat in
check so that we can continue to live a quiet and peaceable life without
all the other distractions. As far as the old law is concerned for the
believers, it is done away in Christ, and we are now living according to a
new law which is one of faith, without which it is impossible to please
God. A sound healthy Christian will abide and live their lives without
reproach and not be entangled in the affairs of this life as described in
verses 9&10.
Revelation 21:6-8 And he said unto me, It
is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto
him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (7) He
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he
shall be my son. (8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,
and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death. (KJV)
God doesn’t allow anything unhealthy into
His temple and neither should you. You have access to the fountain of life
right now, the living waters which are springing up in you and watering
those around you as well. So be on the lookout Church, watch and continue
to be an overcomer so that you too can continue to inherit all things God
intended to give you in Christ.
2 John 1:9-11 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: (11) For he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker of his evil deeds. (KJV)
If you went to a restaurant and they
brought you something from the garbage can you wouldn’t eat it, let alone
pay for it. Are you that alert spiritually and confident that the doctrine
you follow and give credence to is the same one God does as well? If God is
asking you not to allow these false unhealthy doctrines into your temple be
assured He isn’t going to allow it into His either, or allow anyone in that
would try to bring it or gain access as well. Are you sure that the
doctrine you hold to today is the same one our Father holds to and gives
credence to, the doctrine of Christ? If not, then be assured that you will
find yourself on the outside and not the inside no matter who you are or
who you think you are. If someone stood at the door of a hospital with a
deadly vial of poison and tried to gain access they too would be denied.
However, if someone showed up with a healthy vial that would bring a cure
and health they would gladly be given access. So what kind of doctrine will
you bring to our Father’s house some day; because only one doctrine will
give you access to His eternal reward while the other will leave you on the
outside and quarantined for eternity.
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