Preach the Word – Doctrine

Part Three

“Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”
2 Timothy 4:2

Paul in his fervor and passion for the purity of God’s Church realized the imperative need for the next generation to “Preach the Word of God” in holy boldness.

“For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine…”
2 Timothy 4:3

Man’s deviant nature contaminates the beauty of God’s truth and uses it to satisfy the need for their own lusts to have the pre-eminence and control. Paul even back then was opposing this grievous stain which sought to divide the very fabric of the One Body in Christ.

“…but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears”
2 Timothy 4:3

It is the contaminated heart which lusts for mere teachings and irreverent doctrines which require the reproof, rebuke and strong exhortations. Man from the garden chose the Tree of Knowledge over the Tree of Life and continues to do so unto this day. The religious man loves teachings and loves to discuss opinions and relishes to debate conjectures and religious concepts, all of which are of no value to the walking and living in righteousness. The blindness that comes from a knowledge without obedience is clearly revealed in the Parable of the two men who built their houses (Matthew 7:22-28). One built his house with hearing only, the other built his house by hearing and doing. The hearing and the knowing resulted in an eternal loss unless accompanied by the doing. James tells us that one who hears without the doing brings themselves into deception. No wonder Paul “charges” Timothy to “Preach The Word” with the power and unction of God Himself. Paul to the Church at Corinth was contending with a people who were glorying in knowledge and in persons which always leads to having corruption in their midst (they who eat of the Tree of Knowledge become desensitized to sin). Whenever God’s people glory in such things sin and division will be rife. Paul, in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit declared to the people at Corinth not to exalt in knowing for the call of God is for us to ever be “becoming”. The Tree of Knowledge will never produce the life and wonder of Christ within!

“And if I have prophecies, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing”
1 Corinthians 13:2

Love does not concern itself with conjectures, opinions and concepts. Love is the product of the Truth of God, the verity and purity of His being. They who would teach the pure doctrine of the Lord never dabble in such things. The Doctrine of the Lord is truth, truth to make men true, truth to contend with the apathy and lethargy of the people of God. Truth is concerned with the integrity of a person’s walk, the purity of their heart and their love and relationship with God’s people. Yes, there is error much error which needs to be met with the truth of God, but to banter over the when’s and the manner of His coming, Jewish fables and the commandments of men (Titus 1:4), genealogies, and a host of other things which has no value in causing His people to walk in truth. To concern ourselves with pedantic matters while the corruption of the world has invaded God’s House and men claim for themselves that which is God’s alone is abhorrent. How God’s people need to hear the exhortation of God’s Word concerning the day we are in…

“And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works…”
Hebrews 10:24

When is this truth to be most applicable???

“…but exhorting one another: and so much the more,
as ye see the day approaching”
Hebrews 10:25

This is the “sound doctrine” concerning the Lord’s return! Do we see the day approaching, what is to be our focus? To try and know (or guess) the time of His appearing or to be found “doing His Will” when He does return. Like the Parable, if Jesus (Luke 12:38) comes in the second watch or the third watch we are instructed to be found doing His will! (Read the whole Chapter of Luke 12)

“Blessed is that servant,
whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing”
Luke 12:43

This is the real truth of the “sound doctrine” of the Lord, for it produces people who are engaged in the doing of the Will of the Lord.

The truth of the Parable of the Ten Virgins was not in what they knew, it was in the verity of the fire and the internal truth they walked in. They all knew of His coming, but five were wise and five were foolish. Their knowledge did not save them; it was in their having the oil in their vessels. Their salvation was in their walk of abiding in the Holy Spirit which enabled the flame of their hearts to burn long into the night!

Paul in his letter to Timothy charging him to contend with all his might is because “…the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine”. In the Greek “sound doctrine” means healthy doctrine, in others words teachings which will lead men and women to holy living and victory over sin. Paul says that God’s people will not “endure” this kind of teaching, they will find the “broad paths” to walk in where our salvation is determined by a belief rather than a life. Where His people are “taught” if you believe right than of course you are right. Righteousness is a “declared” thing and not an actual one. This is heresy… and unsound, and unhealthy and it leads to corruption and sin. The “sound doctrine” of the Lord produces a passion within the individual to live their lives “unto the Lord” where the thoughts, the intentions and an individual’s whole being is lived as “a living sacrifice”.

Jesus did not enter into the speculative questions of the Scribes and the Pharisees, He did not involve Himself in the spurious and the mundane. He came to Present the Will and the true character of His Father. In His day the Pharisees taught the doctrine of “Corban” which would resolve an individual from their responsibilities, in the horror of the Catholic Church they had indulgences and today we tell ourselves we are in good standing because we believe right to such an extent that repentance and godly sorrow are seldom mentioned from the pulpits of today.

In Ezekiel’s day, God revealed the inner hearts of the Elders of Israel where uncleanness and idolatry was rampant and they had their backs to God. Yet, they would teach and walk in the garments of religion while being alienated to the Life of God within. We live in a Day where to exhort the people of God to godly living is considered legalism and old-fashioned. We live in a day where few, very few contend for “The Faith” of God! We live in a Day where we do not care whether our brother is living godly and righteously in this present world. If they subscribe to our doctrine it is sufficient. We live in a day where the prophetic is filled with spiritual filth and the false prophets of God promise wealth, blessings and we “anoint” preachers who draw people unto themselves with stage theatrics and worldly pageantry. We discuss the “doctrines” of pre – mid – post tribulation as if in knowing such a thing will prepare us for it. The “sound doctrine” of the Lord concerning His return is this…

“…but we know that, when he shall appear,
we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”
1 John 3:2

To What End?

“And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure”
1 John 3:3

The real issue of His return is the condition of my heart. If I hold the “sound doctrine” of the Lord concerning His return this knowledge should be producing within me a purified heart. It is irrelevant whether He comes pre-mid-or post for if my heart isn’t right it avails me nothing. The Apostles exhorted the people of God in their Day to live godly and in the expectancy of His appearing.

The issue of God and His people is how they live their lives unto Him
not how well they believe but how well they live.

The “sound doctrine” of the Lord produces godliness, it confronts sin and it rebukes erroneous doctrine, unholy living to the point of excluding those who choose to live in sin; with the full intent that they might repent and turn again unto the Lord. That is the “sound doctrine” of the Lord and in its sway men and women return to the pure love of the Lord for one another. They forsake the powerless doctrines of men which produces impotent living, “faith” without works where the end result is the deceptive power of living outside of the life and power of God.

“Having a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away”
2 Timothy 3:5

Do we dare embrace the true and sound doctrine of the Lord or do we value the things of men above the truth of God. A philanthropic (man centered) gospel produces worldly living and a compromised faith. May we hear afresh the Call of God to…

“Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine”
2 Timothy 4:2

Brian Troxel