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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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