© 2007 F. O’Donoghue
“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine“ (Titus 2:1)
Today more than ever, Christians are turning away from the pure teaching of scripture to follow the watered down & heretical doctrines of men. “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;” (2 Tim 4:3) Jesus said to those Jews who believed on Him; “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32)
As Christians, we ought to search out and appropriate the essential truths of God’s word in order to grow in faith, edify others, and to silence those that would oppose the faith. “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.” (Titus 1:9)
Jesus is the living word, and if we are to grow in spiritual understanding, we must learn to abide in the word. Jesus said; “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” (John 15:4) The word ‘abide’ in the greek is menō which means to remain, or endure. In contrast to this abiding, scripture teaches that in the last days, there will be a great falling away, commonly referred to as the apostasy (2 Thess 2:3), and this is happening right now among many nominal believers, who profess to be God’s people. The apostasy is not a visible falling away; it is a spiritual falling away, seen in those who claim to be Christian, and who are being led away from God’s truth into lies and deception. An apostate, is a person who does not abide in the truth of God’s word, and therefore is not abiding in Christ. The way to make our calling and election sure, is through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 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: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The ground has been laid for many to fall into error, and defeat is rampant in the church on account of an attitude of ignorance, and apathy toward personal investigation into the scriptures . “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:11-12)
It is not my purpose to discuss the multitude of heresies that abound in the nominal churches, but merely to look at what the word teaches, regardless of them. The primary purpose of this site, is to inspire Christians to study God’s word without bias. The papers on this site are not merely designed to be instructive, they are posted in the hope that they will challenge preconceptions, and ignite a sense of ownership in individuals to investigate God’s truth for themselves, just as the Bereans did in Acts 17. I urge you to weigh all that is taught on this site (and any other source) carefully, and prayerfully.
A good place to start investigating the validity of mainstream teaching, is within the differing doctrines that surround Eschatology (the study of the end times), where many erroneous teachings have taken root and become commonply accepted within the modern ‘church’. It may surprise many, to see how these apparently peripheral doctrines seriously undermine Christ’s work on the cross.
1Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
The word ‘sincere’ in the Greek is adolos 1) guileless. a) in things: unmixed, unadulterated, pure. b) in persons: without dishonest intent, guileless.
The word Milk in the Greek is gala (a metaphor for the less difficult Christian truths)
The ’sincere milk of the word’ can simply be translated as ‘unadulterated simple Christian truths’, and this refers to the essential (core) doctrines, to which all other doctrines relate. The word ‘doctrine’ simply means ‘teaching’. Christ saves, but we must be careful to follow his true teaching, or we fall into error. There is a trend among modern Christians to neglect individual investigation into the diverse interpretations of certain doctrines, because many of these are considered irrelevant to salvation. We cannot afford to accept any teaching we receive at face value, but need to carefully weigh these against the evidence of scripture itself. This means taking time to gain understanding of the entirety of scripture, rather than sweeping the more difficult passages under the carpet despite our dualities. The legacy of the elect is to learn and uphold sound doctrine so that we can grow in faith, and contend for the truth of scripture with assurance.
Deu 32:2 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:
Job 11:4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
Isa 29:24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Mar 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Luk 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
Jhn 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Jhn 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Jhn 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 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.
1Cr 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1Cr 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.
Eph 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;
1Ti 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 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;
Tts 1:9 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.
Tts 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Tts 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tts 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Hbr 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2Jo 1:9 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.
2Jo 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
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