The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Titus 2:1,
"You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine."
We read of "sound doctrine" in the Scriptures. Sound doctrine is that group of teachings that have their origin in what God himself has revealed to us. Sound doctrine does not depend on whether I understand it or not, whether I agree with it or not, whether I know it or not. It is objective truth given us by the source of truth, God himself. It stands on its own and does not establish its authenticity, authority or legitimacy based on what any of us may think of it. We are all subject to it and we will all be judged by it. Contrary to so much faulty thinking today, sound doctrine is objective. Not the fantasy of "your truth is what you make it to be". If we wish to cling to the lame notion that truth is subjective, keep in mind that junk will accompany you into that horrific lake of fire with you at the end of the age.
There are and have always been many who stray from sound doctrine. Paul speaks of those he encountered, "For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain." Titus 1:10-11. Consequently, Paul charged Titus with the duty of appointing elders in the various fellowships they established on Crete. An elder, among other things was to, "... hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." Titus 1:9. Titus himself was to "... teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine." 2:1.
We can have assurance we hold to sound doctrine if we follow what the Scriptures teach us rather than the other way around. The problem many of us have is we drag our preconceived notions, what others tells us, doctrines du jour, into our reading of the Scriptures. While I may think I hold to sound doctrine in the different things of God, the Scriptures are "sacred ground" upon which nothing I assume I know should trod. As I enter into the Scriptures I need to constantly remind myself to leave all at the door and allow the Scriptures to form my thinking, to frame my understanding, to shape what it is I know of God.
While this may seem a bewildering task, we are not alone, we have help. God wants us and helps us arrive at truth, at sound doctrine. John told us, "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." 1 John 2:26-27. This passage reminds me of another in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
"You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine."
We read of "sound doctrine" in the Scriptures. Sound doctrine is that group of teachings that have their origin in what God himself has revealed to us. Sound doctrine does not depend on whether I understand it or not, whether I agree with it or not, whether I know it or not. It is objective truth given us by the source of truth, God himself. It stands on its own and does not establish its authenticity, authority or legitimacy based on what any of us may think of it. We are all subject to it and we will all be judged by it. Contrary to so much faulty thinking today, sound doctrine is objective. Not the fantasy of "your truth is what you make it to be". If we wish to cling to the lame notion that truth is subjective, keep in mind that junk will accompany you into that horrific lake of fire with you at the end of the age.
There are and have always been many who stray from sound doctrine. Paul speaks of those he encountered, "For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain." Titus 1:10-11. Consequently, Paul charged Titus with the duty of appointing elders in the various fellowships they established on Crete. An elder, among other things was to, "... hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." Titus 1:9. Titus himself was to "... teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine." 2:1.
We can have assurance we hold to sound doctrine if we follow what the Scriptures teach us rather than the other way around. The problem many of us have is we drag our preconceived notions, what others tells us, doctrines du jour, into our reading of the Scriptures. While I may think I hold to sound doctrine in the different things of God, the Scriptures are "sacred ground" upon which nothing I assume I know should trod. As I enter into the Scriptures I need to constantly remind myself to leave all at the door and allow the Scriptures to form my thinking, to frame my understanding, to shape what it is I know of God.
While this may seem a bewildering task, we are not alone, we have help. God wants us and helps us arrive at truth, at sound doctrine. John told us, "I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." 1 John 2:26-27. This passage reminds me of another in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
It appears to me that sound doctrine is arrived at in the pursuit of two things: opening our Bibles - something many find challenging - and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us into its truth.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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