Stand on Sound Doctrine through the Word

God’s Word does not change. It does not conform with the times, but, instead, calls men to deny themselves, the lust of their flesh, lust of their eyes and the pride of their lives, and follow Jesus (I’m borrowing the phrase from 1 John 1:26, but the point stands). There are many who wish it would change and conform to the time. Yet Sound Doctrine has always stood against worldly trends. It has always been countercultural, and it has outlasted every cultural trend since its foundation on Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection. Kingdoms have risen and fallen, people have come and God, but God’s word remains unchanged (and we have manuscript evidence to back that up!).

When we approach God, we want a special pass for our sin, or circumstances, because we want what makes us happy. Yet, Moses says of God: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?“ (Numbers 23:19). Loved ones, this is why followers of Jesus need to stand on Sound Doctrine. And Sound Doctrine does not come from tradition, or denomination, it comes straight from the word of Christ. When Jesus’ was tested in the desert, He affirmed this in his first rebuke to Satan: “But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4).

What am I asking of you? Stand on Sound Doctrine through the Word of God. The reason Israel rose was because it stood on God’s word, whenever it fell, it was because they leaned on their own understanding. Whenever Paul wrote a letter of rebuke, it was because the Church had abandoned, or was not standing on sound doctrine through the word of God, and he appealed to them through God’s word. As a son of God, my goal is to get to God, and I cannot do it on my own. It cannot come from me. I must die to myself and be born again, seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. And I find that Kingdom and Righteousness outlined clearly in God’s word.

2 Timothy 3:1-4:8

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.