Strength in Strong Doctrine
Devotional Contributor: Al Schierbaum
Scripture:
Titus 1:9-11 “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.”
Observation:
Sound Doctrine has two main emphasis’, sound relationships and sound belief. The Apostle Paul was giving instruction to Titus about elder leadership within the church. The elders were to be the local guardians of faith and practice. Paul warned every church he planted about wolves and false teachers. The devil would like nothing better than to pervert the message of the gospel and distort the person of Jesus. The devil wants to confuse people as to who Jesus is and what he came to do. These false teachers and wolves also want to bring harm to Jesus followers through division, abusive relationships, and greed. (Acts 20:28-31, 2 Peter 2:1-22) Elders were charged to protect the truth and people.
Application:
As there were many false teachers and wolves in the first century there are many today. There is an ongoing attack in every generation on the truth and person of Christ. The Bible is our source of truth about the person of Christ and the practical living of His followers. The truths below were debated and decided upon by Church counsels in the 3rd and 4th centuries and have provided believers a standard to judge between true and false teaching.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
We believe that there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
We believe in; the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. (Deity–John 1:1) (Atonement–Hebrews 9:15-22) (Virgin Birth–Matthew 1:18, 25) (Bodily Resurrection–1 Corinthians 15:1-8) (Sinless Life–Hebrews 4:15) (Personal Return–Hebrews 9:27-28)
We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is the only way to heaven. (John 14:6)
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, that all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death, that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. (John 3:7, 16; John 5:24; Romans 3:23, 6:23, Titus 3:3-7, 1 Peter 1:3-6)
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. (John 14:15-26; John 16:5-16; Ephesians 1:13,14)
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the saved unto the resurrection of life and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation. (Matthew 25:31-46, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-22, Philippians 2:1-4)
Not only is there an attack upon the person and work of Christ but there is and has been an attack upon creation, marriage, gender etc.. The devil is on a rampage to distort the design of God in every aspect of life. It will take work to learn the truths of Scripture and courage to live them out. Much of the content in Paul’s Epistles was written to encourage churches to know the truth and live the truth. We must do the same today. Are you ready to roll up your sleeves to love Jesus with all your heart and to courageously defend the truth?
Request:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing to us who You are and the truth for living. I thank you that there is no one like you and that salvation comes only through You-Your death, burial, and resurrection. I thank You that You are coming back, and I eagerly await Your return. I desire to honor You in all I learn, say, and do! Amen!!!