“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” (v. 1)

I am afraid we are “losing it” in the church today, as well as in our country. As our inalienable rights seem to flee away by political subtly and avarice, our churches are also losing their influence and the old ways are falling by the wayside. Our “roots” have been severed and we are dying on the vine. Sound doctrine, at the time of Paul, did not need defining as it does today. If we admonish men to hold to sound doctrine, they will not have a clear meaning of what that is; most men will define it in their own way. If we were to encourage them to cling to the old ways, many would have a different concept of what the “old ways” were. We have confused the truth to the “nth” degree. These words, “sound doctrine” are use four times in the New Testament, and each time the hearer of the word understood what was said. Nowhere do we see the disciples asking Paul to clarify his words, or to define what sound doctrine really is. Today, man will question and debate what we mean by the terms “sound doctrine”.

1 Timothy 1: 9, 10 sheds some light on it, but is by no means all inclusive in its meaning:

“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;”

2 Timothy predicts a time exactly like today”

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”
(2 Tom. 4:3)

Titus, then carries the point in expounding on the value of “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. “ (Titus 1:9)

Our weapon against apostasy is sound doctrine.

Lastly we have the verse of our text, and are admonished to speak out with sound doctrine; any man that holds back the truth is a scalawag and a heretic, and is not fit for the kingdom of God, yet there are many in the church today who have been seduced by unholy spirits and led astray by the wiles of men. They are teachers that teach lies, and deceit, because they have themselves been deceived. Beware of letting sound doctrine slip away.