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The Need For Sound Biblical
Doctrine
"2
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears
tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to
their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will
turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:2-4 NASB)
Sound Biblical
doctrine is desperately needed today in the body of Christ.
Christianity is in crisis and has been for many years. Can you identify
false doctrine? Do you know what non-Christian Cults believe? All
non-Christian Cults reject essential Christian doctrines that reflect the
nature of God and the Gospel that saves. All of the leaders of the
various non-Christian Cults have come from a Christian background or
affiliation. Christianity is in crisis and that reflects the whole body of
Christ, not any particular Christian denomination. The purpose of this
information is to sharpen the body of Christ and to give encouragement to
grow in sound Biblical doctrine according to the word of God.
This Epistle was written
to Timothy who was an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5). However, I believe that
each Christian is to be a witness for Jesus Christ, but most are not
prepared to share their faith. Many Christians are not confident with
witnessing because they have not had discipleship or training in this area.
We need sound Bible teaching from the pulpits for equipping Christians to
grow in their faith. Sound Bible teaching is going through the Bible,
teaching the Scriptures in context, and seeing how they apply to us. Also,
having Bible studies on certain topics helps Christians to be able to better
understand what the Word of God teaches in those areas. May those in
leadership today reach out to the body of Christ and equip them to be
effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Reading carefully 2
Timothy 4:2-4 we see the following:
The word preach is
the Greek word "kerusso" (Strong's #2784) which means: "to
herald, to publish, to proclaim openly, to preach, public
proclamation." This instruction was in reference to sharing the
faith with those who are without Christ. Some people think evangelism
or sharing Jesus with people is only for the Pastor, but that is a
misunderstanding. The Bible teaches that those who follow Jesus are:
"To be lights in a dark world (Matthew 5:13-16), to be His witnesses
anywhere (Acts 1:8), to have an answer for the faith (1 Peter 3:15),
contend for the faith (Jude 3)." Preaching can be done in various
ways.
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Sharing your testimony
of accepting Jesus
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Being a living example
and letting people see Jesus in you
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Through sermons by
Pastors, teachers, etc
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Purposely seeking
people to share with
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Through casual
conversations with people
Paul instructed Timothy
to be careful of those who were teaching false doctrines, which applies
to us today. Christians have a testimony and a voice for the Lord,
therefore, be noticed through your words and actions.
The word reprove
is the Greek word "elegcho" (Strong's #1651) which means: "to
correct, to admonish, to expose, to show ones fault, to call to account,
to bring to light." Paul was a studier of God's Word and learned
how to share with people of various beliefs. In order for Christians to
be able to reprove those who are not of the faith they must learn what
the Word of God says. They also must take time to study various
beliefs. Paul says we are to reprove "with great patience and
instruction." In order to be effective in sharing the faith with
people it takes patience and instruction. It is important to have
patience when you are sharing the faith someone because you want them to
be able to understand what you are saying. Giving Biblical instruction
means being able to show someone what the Word of God says and how it
applies to them.
The word rebuke is
very similar to "reprove", but it has a stronger application.
Rebuke is the Greek word "epitimao" (Strong's #2008) which
means: "to reprove, to admonish severely, to censure sharply, to
charge sharply." Rebuking is not something fun to do, but it is
needed within the Christian Church today to expose false doctrines and
beliefs. There were many false teachers during the times of the
Apostles and there are many today. "How do we rebuke someone?"
Consider the following:
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Make sure you know what
you are talking about
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Make sure you know
exactly what they believe
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Make sure you have a
cause to rebuke someone
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A rebuke comes in
response to someone who is purposely misleading people with false
information
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A rebuke comes in
response to someone who has been warned repeatedly with accurate
Biblical instruction. Rebuking is to be done with patience
(time) and instruction (sharing accurate information from the Bible).
The word exhort is
the Greek word "parakaleo" (Strong's #3870) which means: "to
admonish, to beseech, to comfort, to give encouragement, to entreat."
Encouragement is needed badly in the Christian Church. Many
Christians and non-Christians need encouragement because life is rough
and we cannot do it on our own. True Christianity is to be demonstrated
in a way which glorifies God, and gives people hope, strength, and
guidance. We are to be patient with people, bearing with them in their
pains, and sharing the Word of God which will give them true spiritual
food for strength and direction.
During the time of the
Apostles there were many false doctrines concerning the identity of
Jesus and the Gospel. Paul's Epistles had warnings about false
doctrines, and those same warnings have application today for the
Christian Church. The following Scriptures are some of Paul's
warnings:
"8. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and
empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the
elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9.
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form." (Colossians
2:8-9 NASB)
"18..."You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility
and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the
Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was
profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 solemnly
testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 "And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my
way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that
the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds
and afflictions await me. 24 "But I do not consider my life of any account
as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the
grace of God. 25 "And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I
went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. 26
"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of
all men. 27 "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole
purpose of God. 28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the
flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 "I
know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 "Therefore
be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three
years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." (Acts
20:18-31 NASB)
During the times of the
Apostles and the early Church there were false movements claiming to be
Christian. Some of those false movements have a modern day copycat.
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Ebionism -
Ebionites believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the one prophesied to
bring God's message of salvation for mankind. However, they also
believed that Jesus was not the literal Son of God and that He did not
have an eternal existence (any existence for that matter) before
taking on the form of a man. They believed that Jesus was not the
Creator of all who came and took on flesh, but that He was a creation
of God. Today there is a movement similar in theology compared to
Ebionism known as Christadelphians. Christadelphians are
a modern day movement claiming to be Christian but rejecting the
eternal nature of Jesus being God. Christadelphians believe
Jesus is a creation of God the Father. They reject Jesus being
the very Creator who took on flesh to save mankind from their sins.
Christadelphians reject salvation by faith apart from works.
Christadelphians place a high emphasis on doing good works in order to
be saved. Therefore, both Ebionites and Christadelphians are not Christians because they
have another Jesus and another Gospel.
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Gnosticism -
Gnostics believed Jesus was the Messiah to come. They also believed
that flesh and material was evil. Therefore, they taught that Jesus
was not God in the flesh but only divine in His spirit. Gnostics
rejected Jesus as being eternal and God in the flesh, therefore they
had a false theological view concerning the nature of Jesus. Today
there is a movement similar to Gnosticism known as Christian
Science, which claims to be Christian. Christian Science teaches
that there is no sin, and that there is no need for a Savior. They
teach that the Trinity is not three distinct personages (Father, Son,
Holy Spirit), but that the Trinity is God (spiritual force of the
universe), Christ the spiritual idea of sonship (the master who
revealed to mankind how to be divine), and the Holy Spirit is the
teachings of Christian Science. Christian Science rejects that Jesus
was Deity or Divine in the flesh but that He was in spirit. Both
Gnosticism and Christian Science have a false theological concept of
who God is and the nature of man, and why Jesus came to deliver
mankind from their sins. Therefore, both are not Christian.
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Arianism -
Arianism came in the forth century after a man named Arius of
Alexander. Arius taught that Jesus was not eternal, but that He was
created by the Father. Arius taught that Jesus was adopted by the
Father and it was through Him that all creation came into existence.
Arianism is not Christian on the basis of it rejecting the eternal
nature of Jesus and not having a true understanding of the doctrine of
the Trinity. (three distinct persons who are by nature the one God,
revealed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). Today there is
movement called Jehovah's Witnesses which is similar to
Arianism. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is the first
creation of Jehovah God and that it was through Him that all 'other'
things came into existence. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus
is Michael the archangel, the highest of all creation. Jehovah's
Witnesses believe that salvation is not by faith alone in Jesus
Christ, but rather it is through their religious organization
(Watchtower Bible and Tract Society) in which a person must become a
member in order to be saved. Jehovah's Witnesses have a works
oriented system for being saved (various things such as obedience unto
the Watchtower, going door to door). Both Arianism and Jehovah's
Witnesses are un-Biblical because they have another Jesus and another
Gospel. Therefore, they are not Christian.
This truth that Paul
stated is a basic concept. People have ears to hear what they want to
hear, and many do not care what the other side of the coin reveals.
Sound doctrine according to Paul meant putting one's belief in the
Divine revelation of God given to us. That means going by what the
Scriptures teach, but even within examining what the Scriptures teach
people cling to what they think is correct and are not willing to reason
together.
Within the Christian
Church there are various denominations that claim to be of God and to
have sound biblical doctrine. However, there are many within the
various denominations who are dogmatic on what they believe concerning
theology, but are not open to being corrected. This type of mentality
should not be among those who are of Christ! We need to be open to
being corrected, exhorted, sharpened, so that we will grow in the faith
and in the Word.
Outside the Christian
Church there are people who are not willing to have a reasonable
discussion. Many Atheists state to Christians, "Where is your proof
that God exists?" However, they are not wanting real answers but
only wishing to slander and mock Christians for their faith. Many
non-Christian Cults state to Christians, "The belief that Jesus was
God come in the flesh is of the devil." However, when Christians
share in response what the Scriptures teach concerning the eternal
nature of Jesus and His manhood many people do not want to reason
together.
When people only want to
have their ears tickled with what they wish to hear, than they will only
follow people who believe as they do. Denominations and non-Christian
Cults came to be because people followed a particular person's theology
which in time became a movement.
We have to be careful of
what we believe even when it comes from someone we may trust as a good
teacher. We see in Acts 17:10-11 that Paul was declaring Jesus Christ
to those in Berea and those in Berea were receiving what Paul had to
say. However, they did not take what Paul taught as absolute truth, but
examined what Paul taught by the Scriptures. Paul said, "to examine
all things and hold fast to that which is good." (1
Thessalonians 5:21 NASB) We are instructed through the inspiration
of the Word to examine what we hear and to be careful of what we are
being taught.
People turn away from
truth for various reasons. Their reasons could be personal, arrogance,
pride, fear, unsure, and many other possibilities. Jehovah's Witnesses
for example are told over and over not to receive information that comes
against what they believe. They are told that information is all lies
and to stay away from it. The reason they are told to stay away from
opposing information is to keep them from leaving the Jehovah's
Witnesses Organization. That is a form of mind control which Jehovah's
Witnesses have when it comes to certain information. Many atheists turn
from the truth of the Scriptures because they just do not care what the
evidence is, even when a person is willing to share what they believe
and why. Not all atheists are like this, but many are. Many people are
opposed to what the Scriptures teach because of their pride. Pride is a
hard thing for many people. Pride says I am my own boss, I can do
whatever I wish, and I do not need God or some book of fables. There
are many reasons why people turn from the truth and it the
responsibility of the Christian to do their best to share the faith in
love and in truth. Pray for people, love them, and be a good example so
that they will see Jesus in your life which may help lead them to
Christ.
Myths can be understood
as: "fables, half truth's, fiction, man's ideology". People
throughout history have turned to myths which was contrary to the truth
of the Scriptures. Within the Christian Church people have turned to
man's ideology which has resulted in various denominations. The problem
with people turning to man's ideology is that there is to much emphasis
on what a person believes or teaches. Therefore many people are not
willing to examine what the truth because they are set in their ways.
It is very important for
Christians to know what they believe and why, but they must be open to
being corrected and at times rebuked. If we think that we have all the
answers and we are without error in our theology, than we truly have not
understood the basics of growing together in the Christian faith.
To those who are not of
the Christian faith may you examine the Scriptures and what is contained
in them, and may you come to know the Jesus of the Bible. To those who
are of the Christian faith may you grow in the grace and knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
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