THE NOURISHMENT OF THE CHURCH VIA SOUND DOCTRINE (Part 2)

(The Church – God’s Masterpiece – Pt. 8)

by Dennis Rokser

Have you noticed that in many evangelical-fundamental churches in our land, that you hardly need to even carry a Bible anymore? Between forty-five minutes of singing and ten minutes of drama, there is little time left to expound the sacred scriptures. No wonder sermonettes for Christianettes are the order of the day. Some even question the place of expository preaching in a "worship" service. Apparently someone failed to clue in the apostle Paul of this seeming dichotomy, for Luke records…

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. (Acts 20:7-12)

Unhealthy, malnourished sheep reproduce poorly, and worship even more poorly as believers are to "worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Thus, we began to underscore in our last article the importance of spiritual nourishment in the local church via sound doctrine.

WHY IS SOUND DOCTRINE SO IMPORTANT?

  1. Sound doctrine is essential for proper spiritual growth and service. (2 Tim. 3:15-17)

  2. Sound doctrine is to be the preaching menu for the faithful pastor-teacher. (2 Tim. 4:1-4)

  3. Sound doctrine is the means to spiritual stability.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

This passage makes it clear that the ascended Christ gave gifted men with communicative abilities to His Church in order to feed the flock His transforming Word by "speaking the truth in love." Sound doctrine then practically results in a growing spiritual stability in those who respond. But what happens when you fail to apply this divine blueprint? You end up like spiritual tumbleweed being "tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine." Dear friends, the hills are strewn with believers in this woeful condition. Does this describe you?

Do you know what the Bible teaches about the nature and attributes of God, the depravity of man, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, the eternal security of the believer, one’s position and possessions in Christ, the difference between a believer's standing and state, how to be filled with Christ by means of the Holy Spirit, the believer’s blessed hope, etc.? Due to doctrinal shallowness and confusion, believers have been tossed to and fro and knocked off their spiritual balance by such teachings as Lordship Salvation, Christian demon-ization, the pre-wrath Rapture, holy laughter, Christian psychology, progressive dispensation-alism, one-naturism, the role of women in ministry, the place of repentance in salvation, the King James only issue, etc. And though many believers may retort, "Who cares? I just want to know how to survive menopause with God’s help," the fact is that what you believe affects how you behave and your fruitfulness for the Lord.

But important as the hearing of sound doctrine is, what else is needed in order for spiritual stability to occur in your life?

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)

The personal assimilation and application of Biblical truth requires not merely hearing the Word of God taught, but mental occupation or meditation on the Scriptures. Certainly this is the point Paul was driving at when he wrote,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)

It is not surprising then to read Paul’s charge to young pastor Timothy,

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:16)

  1. Sound doctrine is necessary for the maintaining of practical unity among believers.

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

These were crucial instructions to the carnal, faction-torn Corinthian church. They were ex-horted to "all speak the same thing." The word "speak" (lego) always refers to thought put into words, never the mere sound of one’s lips. These believers were to adopt the same biblical viewpoint. Notice that practical unity was to be achieved and maintained by agreement in sound doctrine, not by the compromise of doctrine. But some quickly argue, "But doctrine divides." Dear friends, it is not sound doctrine that divides. It is false doctrine or the wrong response to true doctrine that divides. And while God hates unnecessary division (Proverbs 6:19), He despises pseudo-unity around error and false teaching. (Psalm 97:10)

"But doctrine will break down our fellowship with others!" No, actually sound doctrine will form the basis of genuine fellowship around biblical truth with others.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)

If "fellowship" (koinonia) is a joint-participation with another due to a common thinking and purpose, your fellowship with others of like-precious faith will deepen as you respond together to the Word of God. And a mind that is increasingly oriented to the grace of God will demonstrate itself in a practical humility which will be "endeavoring to keep (guard) the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3)

  1. Sound doctrine is to be preserved through biblical separation from false teaching and practical obedience.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:17-19)

Believers are commanded to "mark" and "avoid" false teachers who disrupt the practical unity of the church. What is the basis of this separation? "The doctrine which you have learned." If this is referring to what the apostle Paul had taught these believers in the book of Romans, it would include such truths as: the sinful condemnation of man (1:18-3:20), the Gospel of grace (3:21-26), justification by grace alone through faith alone apart from works and ritual (3:27-4:25), the blessings of justification (5:1-8), eternal security (5:9-11), positional truth (5:12-21), positional co-crucifixion and co-resurrection with Christ (6:1-5), salvation from the tyranny of the sin nature (6:6-23), deliverance from the Law (7:1-14), the conflict of the two natures (7:15-25), practical victory via the power of the Holy Spirit (8:1-16), guaranteed future glorification (8:17-39), the past election and future restoration of ethnic Israel from a dispensational perspective (ch. 9-11), etc.

The Apostle John also echoes the need for doctrinal separation to maintain the purity of God’s truth when he penned…

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. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (2 John 1:9-10)

Jude, likewise, chimes in with great vigor when he announces…

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3)

"To earnestly contend for the once-and-for-all delivered to the saints faith" (the body of revealed truth) assumes and implies that believers are to know what they should earnestly contend for. From time to time people have remarked to me, "We sure like the clarity of the teaching here, but we don’t always like the stand you take." This statement reflects a mental disconnect, as the clarity they appreciate is because of the stand they do not appreciate. For once we lower our stand in order to not offend people, we are forced to water down the clarity. Thus, over the years I have sought to "speak the truth in love" and let the chips fall. And when the dust clears I find out who is with us and who is not. I am reminded that God never asked me to build His Church, but He did command pastors to faithfully "preach the Word" (2 Timothy 4:2).

But what happens when spiritual leaders fail to guard and contend for sound doctrine?

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (Titus 1:9-11)

Whole households were being spiritually over-turned due to the infiltration of false teaching. Unfortunately, this is not a problem limited to the first century. However, keep in mind that the purpose for maintaining sound doctrine is to obey the Word of God and to fulfill the will of God, not to pride yourself on your sound doctrine.

  1. Sound doctrine has as its benchmark the Gospel of grace, especially via Paul.

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Tim. 1:8-11)

The phrase in verse 11 "according to" (kata) delineates the norm or standard in determining right from wrong. What is this divine norm and standard? "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God." It is not uncommon to hear doctrinally-informed believers remark in dismay, "People don’t know the Gospel of grace today!" Frankly, all false teaching is rooted in an attack on the person, work, and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

This is why in the epistle to the Colossians, Paul emphasizes the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ as the antidote to the problem of false doctrine.

Whom (Jesus Christ) we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:28)

In whom (Jesus Christ) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:3-5)

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:9-10)

These truths set the stage for his exposure of counterfeit forms of spirituality such as legalistic ritualism (Col. 2:16-17), spiritual mysticism (Col. 2:18-19), and personal asceticism (Col. 2:20-23). While "having a form of godliness" they "deny the power thereof; from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:5). Dear friends, the Gospel of the Grace of God is the basis for salvation from sin’s penalty, power, and presence. Thus, when it comes to evaluating any teaching you hear, begin by measuring it by the standard of the saving message of the Gospel.

  1. Sound doctrine forms the basis for true worship.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)

What is worship? Worship is glorifying and exalting God because of WHO God is and WHAT He has done. What does real worship require? A heart that is responsive to the truth and Word of God. If this is true, should it surprise us to hear this scathing rebuke from the lips of the Lord Jesus….?

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mt. 15:7-9)

What reason did Jesus give for this rebuke to the Pharisees?

  1. Their worship was unacceptable as their hearts were far from God.
  2. Their worship was in vain as their doctrines were not the words of God but the teachings of men.

Are these two requirements for God-honoring worship what is emphasized in the "worship" services of today? Too often the message is drowned out by the music (Col. 3:16a). Too often the singers are performing for the audience instead of ministering to/for the Lord (Col. 3:16b-17). Too often the lyrics fluctuate from weak to wrong (2 Tim 1:13). Too often "praise teams" are seeking to motivate the saints because the Spirit of God is not (Eph. 5:18-20). Too often people’s emotions are appealed to because true motivation for worship has not been accomplished through the learning of the Word of God (Rom. 12:1-2). And though there is a "whole lot of shaking going on," does God really accept this kind of worship?

A CLOSING WARNING

By now I hope you are thoroughly convinced of the value and importance of sound doctrine to spiritually nourish the church. Let me end by warning you against four imbalances to avoid when stressing the importance of sound doctrine.

  1. Being content with the knowledge of doctrine alone (which only puffs up), instead of mixing truth with love (which builds up).

    2. Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. (1 Cor. 8:1-2)

  2. Being self-deceived through only hearing the Word of God, but not applying it.

    3. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)

  3. Being satisfied with an understanding of God’s promises, but not believing God regarding them.

    4. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2)

  4. Being doctrinally sound, but not responding to God in real worship from the heart.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) ¢

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