What is Sound Doctrine?
I've heard my pastor say what sound doctrine is many times and it is something that every child learns in Sunday School but I can quote him word for word:
If you see something taught in the gospels and if you see it practiced in the book of Acts and if you see it expounded upon in the Epistles then it is sound doctrine.
Let me add that you should have an old testament reference for the practice. The problem is that many people don't think they are that good to do it because they aren't reading their Bibles.
The faith was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3) and we should at least know what the 8 fundamentals of the Christian faith are because the truth doesn't change. My pastor said if it is new it isn't true and if it isn't true it isn't new.:
http://www.towertotruth.net/Audiofiles/ ... truths.mp3We are to contend for the faith. It is a dangerous thing to let other people do all the thinking for us but it is when you take the action and initiative to do the work that makes you less vulnerable.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove (test) all things; hold fast that which is good. How do we do that?
You do that by searching the scriptures daily and see if you can come to the same conclusion or other conclusions when someone teaches you the word. I'll study something in a book somewhere and when I do my own investigation, I find out the teacher left something out. Many people have tried to con, deceive, trick and pull a fast one on me because they think that I'm gullible for the simple fact that I'm talking to them and when I look it up in my commentaries I find out what the passage means and I learn that someone is lying to me, someone is trying to trick me or that someone isn't telling me the whole truth. Most errors are made by not having the Bible open next to you so that is why I make it a practice to see if even the verses contain the truth word for word because people even use different versions to try to trick me. I have 50 or 60 feet of academic books on the Christian faith so I can look most stuff up so you can judge me by outward appearance and think that I'm weak but I'm armed with academic books on the Christian faith and the only one being deceived is the person thinking that I won't eventually look something up and this is one of the ways that I catch false teachers. My grandmother use to say that while her vision wasn't 20/20, she had eyes in the back of her head and while I'm still young, I'm getting older and I too have learned to have eyes in the back of my head. I don't have to see everything to know what is going on. I'll get a dozen of other opinions from different commentaries, I'll look up word meanings and I'll check other dictionaries, lexicons and Bible versions. I'll even call experts long distance if I have to. My other defense is that God watches my back as He is my defense.
Learn what the verse is saying and learn what the verse means. You can't defend truth unless you know what it is. Learn hermeneutics and learn grammar. Learn meanings and learn what truth is. If you don't know what the truth is then make comparisons:
Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve (dokimazo: test as in testing metals) things that are excellent (diaphero: that which differ); that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine [shewing] uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
"Uncorruptness", "gravity" and "sincerity" are all a sermon in themselves.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
By living what is good, you can also prove to others what is good when they see your life.
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
And what do you do if you stand and you are losing? Keep standing. All others may fall around you but keep standing. Continue to stand.
Ezekiel 13:4 O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
A fox or jackal can eat out of the garbage can, on the side of a cliff or in the streets and a jackal can live in a hole but we're supposed to be different so that is why we're supposed to not be conformed to this world but we're supposed to be transformed "..that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
John 1:6 ΒΆ There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John.
John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe.
John 1:8 He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.
A pastor is supposed to bear witness of the truth.
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
A pastor is supposed to declare unto you what he has seen and heard regarding the truth so you can have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.