Sound Doctrine

“Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1)

In contrast with the vain talk of heretical teachers, Paul exhorts Titus and every true servant of the LORD Jesus to preach one message. Sound Doctrine (teaching) is that which is in accord with Christ and Him crucified as revealed in the Bible. It is the declaration of His perfect work accomplished for those sinners the Father gave Him from eternity and for whom alone He shed His precious blood. This is the ONLY message that is sound Doctrine and stands against every other message or teaching that is not THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, 1 Corinthians 2:2. John wrote in 2 John 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.”

Many falsely presume that they need to preach up man’s decision, self-will and works as the answer to sin, corruption and Spiritual unbelief. Only the message of Christ is sound Doctrine, 1 Timothy 1:10. Christ alone has the authority and power to take the singular, solitary message that gives HIM all the glory and convert the hearts of those for whom He paid the debt. His is the Power and the Glory in the sound Doctrine of the Gospel. As the Apostle Paul declared to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

Paul’s God-inspired Word to Titus was not only to preach sound Doctrine but the things also that become it. Sound Doctrine is to be highly prized, yet, where it is believed and received by the Power of the Spirit in the heart, there is an effect in the life that promotes the glory and honor of Christ in all that we think, say, or do. Sadly, some profess to embrace what they call ‘the doctrines of grace,’ and yet, it is purely intellectual and logical reasoning, without the Grace of the Doctrine. In Truth, the Doctrine of Christ is always singular in Scripture. Wherever the word ‘doctrines’ is used in the plural it is concerning false doctrines, i.e., ‘doctrines of men,’ Mark 7:7 and ‘doctrines of devils,’ 1 Timothy 4:1. Sound Doctrine is singular and sound because of the righteousness and grace set forth in the person and work of Christ. In HIM is all that is necessary, He is the sinner’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30.

Sadly, many who profess to believe in Christ have contempt for the sound Doctrine of Christ as ALL in salvation, Colossians 3:11. They think that their profession and walk is a cooperation between what Christ has done and what they must do and thereby pervert and corrupt the message of Christ. The Truth is that where Christ is revealed in the heart, those sinners renounce every other way of Godliness or hope of righteousness. They rest in Christ and His finished work alone for life and Godliness. Such may truly be said to be of a sound mind and heart, 2 Timothy 1:7. Christ is the Way, the Truth and the LIFE, John 14:6. It is in the sound preaching of His Gospel that those who are His feed upon and live upon Him. It is not merely an intellectual assent to His person and work but the Truth revealed in the heart by which every one of His redeemed and regenerated ones live, move and have their being.