Doctrine and Your Soul
are eternal. Therefore, the elder and the teacher must not follow cultural trends or personal tastes. They must speak the things consistent with healthy doctrine.
"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine." Titus 2:1
Doctrine and Your Soul The weight of doctrine is personal. Timothy was told that his life and his teaching were bound together, and that both had implications for his own salvation and for his hearers.
"Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." 1 Timothy 4:16
This is not to say that we are saved by perfect theology. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. Yet, to abandon sound doctrine is to abandon the Christ that sound doctrine reveals. To embrace false doctrine is to
embrace a false Christ. For this reason, Paul reminded the Ephesian elders that he did not shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God.
"For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God."
Acts 20:27
Selective teaching produces malformed disciples. The whole counsel includes the hard truths, the corrective warnings, and the calls to holiness. It is the word of His grace in its fullness. Timothy was also reminded to follow not only Paul's teaching but his conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and perseverance.
"Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance..." 2 Timothy 3:10
Doctrine is never meant to be divorced from conduct. The life and the lip must match. Jesus Himself taught that the Word sanctifies.
"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." John 17:17
Truth is not abstract. It is sanctifying. It washes, it renews, it sets apart. A Christianity that is not constantly being washed by the water of the word
will dry up. This is why the writer of Hebrews warns against being carried away by strange teachings.
"Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited." Hebrews 13:9
The heart is strengthened by grace. Grace is ministered through doctrine.
Strange teachings may offer novelty, but they do not offer nourishment. The simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ are the great threat to the enemy's strategies.
"But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:3
The serpent's tactic has not changed. He still seeks to corrupt minds and lead them away from simple, pure devotion to Christ. He does it through teaching. He does it through doctrine. His ministers quote Scripture. They