Bible Reading: "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" Titus 2:1
As we will go in today's teaching, lord we empty ourselves for you to fill us, Amen.
Apostle Paul perceived the doctrine practiced in the church of God and observed that it ought not to be so, therefore he wrote to his son, Titus (Titus 1: 4) to stay focused and hold firm unto the truth. He instructed, Titus cry aloud and spare not, continually speak of, and call to attention, declaring the solid and whole truth about sound doctrine, to the aged, youth, lad, and maid. This is a pure teaching that encompasses the entirety and facet of life. "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" Titus 2:1. By this instruction Paul gave to Titus, it expressly explain that there have been another doctrine practiced earlier, which is not sound. Why sound doctrine? Sound literally means complete, deep, or solid. The soundness in a doctrine is the truthfulness present in it, and that truth is Jesus. Nowadays in the Christendom, instead of adopting a sound doctrine, the adulterated one is popularly patronized. Doctrine has been made the distinctive feature of denominations, becominf a super-agent of division in the Christian hood. Jesus called us members of one body, but by the reason of diverse doctrine embraced, oneness is embarrassed and unity buried. Apostle Paul heard about the doctrine that the lives of the people were patterned after, and could also perceived how deeply they would have been eaten up, having no root in truth as godliness. Paul the apostle says speak thou things, not a thing but lots of it. What are the things we practiced in the church as a whole or as an individual which is not of sound doctrine? If you get it wrong in the church till death catches up with you, you will get in wrong eternally.
Not all doctrines proposed are to be welcomed, and again that other churches are observing it does not mean God approved it. Every tree bears after its own kind, the falsehood cannot condone the truth. Don't be deceived by their looks and feels, it doesn't really matter the numerical increments of their fans or followers. Before Pilate, Christ beneficiaries switched side and the Pharisees' supporters were added in thousands. The scripture says in John 3: 19 that men loved darkness rather than light. It is not the report or reaction of men that should be the drive of our fellowship but that of God.
Then, Apostle Paul saw things going wrong, but now things are growing wrong. Then, he only saw stain on garment, but now we have no garment again but complete rag. Faith is fading, diverse teaching are raised nurturing different doctrines. Compete doctrines is embraced Instead of complete doctrine; the word of knowledge and wisdom to teach the word is no longer of the same spirit as it ought to be (1 Corinthians 12: 8). Of recent I came across Unitarianism, trinitarianism, calvanism, arminianism, Lutheranism, wesleyanism, finneyism, pelegianism, once saved always saved, to mention but a few. As the same spirit given the knowledge where the aforementioned doctrines where infered? This is the time to cry for sharpened discernment.
Matthew 24:4 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Christ means the Anointed or Messiah, by these sayings, many will stand, not one but many and say I bring to you, a flawless doctrine, the right way, the truth, and the path of salvation, follow me. Let read again the fifth verse, it says, they will come in the name of Christ to be Christ. These are the people with self foundations to eternal life. None will ever agreed he preaches heresy, now who is preaching that? Whereas one faith is kicking against the other and we claimed to be members of who body, or maybe we only serve same God but members of different bodies. There are confusions in the atmosphere. In our days, things have went wrong beyond quick repair, we see law preacher, grace preacher, hyper- grace preacher and others, one against the teaching of others. Confusion is taking the place of conviction, who authorise all these? God is not an author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14: 33).
This fault in the church as a whole, as seriously affected the church as an individual; miracle seekers were raised and not kingdom seekers, men are standing on foot and not on feet, dead works have litered everywhere. Apostle Paul cautioned us to be conscious, he told Titus to profess sound doctrine, write unto the young Timothy. 1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils", and to those in Corinth called saint, who claimed to have known God. 1 Corinthians 1:12 "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" No doctrine of our own, either Paul, cephas, or apollos, but only the doctrine of Christ which is sound is to be professed.