Ordered in the Church: Sound Doctrine

Continuing our study of the word "doctrine" as it is used in the KJV.

I'm not promoting the KJV, though I do love it personally. It's true as is said, that a great many of the terms used in the King James Version are anachronistic, and to teach today's young people, we need more modern translations. Also, there are some necessary corrections* in the newer versions, one of which will be found in these verses.

The purpose of this study of the word "doctrine" is to show the legitimacy of its usage even in our day, because it describes a method of teaching which was emphasized by Jesus Christ Himself and by the writers of scripture; categorical, exegetical, expository teaching of the inerrant Word of God. The word itself gets a bad rap from people who don't understand its true meaning and tend to confuse it with "dogma," which is often identified with harsh legalism and ritualistic religions. I know it certainly was a turn-off to me and my friends, when we first started learning the Bible from a systematic teacher. She soon made us understand that if doctrine was not our priority, we would spend the rest of our days in a religious rut.

In this study, we've come to the references in Titus. Titus was a young Greek whom Paul had evangelized and trained for ministry. He was apparently a straight-forward trouble-shooter on Paul's team, and in this epistle, we have Paul's instructions to Titus about how to "set in order" the proper conduct among Church leaders. Behavior was an issue for those who would lead, and doctrine was of utmost importance. The date of this writing is AD 65, between the two epistles to Timothy. This was over 10 years after the earliest epistles to the Church. She (the Church) had had ample time to set a proper course for growing in grace and doctrine. Paul sent someone he could trust, who had the skill to put that in motion.

 

Titus 1:5-11 King James Version (KJV)

⁵ For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
⁶ If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
⁷ For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
⁸ But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
¹¹ Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.  

"Sound" - Greek hugiaino (hoogeeah'eeno). Safe, true, uncorrupt, whole, unadulterated.

"Doctrine" - didaskalia - (didaskalee'ah). Instruction. Systematic teaching. Scripture interpreting scripture from the original languages in which it is written.

Doctrine is not emotional do-goodism. Not myths, fables, some-says or ifs, ands and buts. These are the words. This is what they mean. Learn it. Apply it. Build on it.

In this and other epistles, Paul used this term to define the teaching he himself had learned directly from Jesus Christ in the dessert and had been teaching to the local Churches, as did Peter, James, John and the writer of Hebrews.

There were qualified believers in the Church. They just needed a system of authority under which to organize themselves for teaching, ministering, and spiritual growth. God's grace applies to all who believe, but certain gifts and characteristics are necessary for leaders, who must set the example. These characteristics indicate maturity: integrity, monogamy, command over his household, graciousness, generosity, sobriety, self-control, not greedy or grasping. 

Such a man will have taken seriously and stored up the sound doctrine (faithful word) he has been taught. It is firmly fixed in his soul. He will be capable of teaching it to others, and to refute those who are prone to contradict. The legalistic Jews (of the circumcision) will cause trouble in your Church. They are subverting your authority, distorting your doctrine and making money doing it. They must be stopped, by the Word of Truth. This is the job of a Pastor/Teacher (bishop) in the New Testament Church.

 Titus 2:1-5 (KJV)

Since Titus is the one being sent to see to these details, he himself must set the example of sound doctrine for the congregation, teaching them to cultivate the character of Christ; behaving with dignity and honor among themselves, and demonstrating integrity to the world. When we ignore Godly standards, our message loses its edge.

1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ² That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. ³ The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; ⁴ That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Yes, it's true; old women have a responsibility to teach the younger women stability of mind and to love their husbands and children. It is important to keep that in mind when the young ones complain about their situations in life. There are great rewards in store for the woman who learns to be obedient to God's Word by honoring her marriage above all else. This is one of those mysterious truths that, if not protected vigilantly, can be lost and can never be regained in our earthly sojourn. Slovenly behavior and unfaithfulness to one's spouse dishonor not only the marriage, but also the very Word of God. You don't have to understand this right now, young matron, but do keep it in mind. Remember it. Someday you will realize its value. I am ordered to tell you that.

Titus 2:6-8 (KJV) ⁶ Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. ⁷ In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity ⁸ Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

(*In verse 7, the last word, "sincerity," seems to have been added after the writing of this epistle. It is probably left out in most later translations for that reason.)

Sobriety seems to have been a big issue among the population. Soundness of mind. Alertness. Wakefulness. Attention to duty. Awareness of Whom we represent. Integrity. Dignity. There are believers among us today who, in taking advantage of God's grace, seem to find it acceptable to be abrasive, abrupt and foul-mouthed, even in the presentation of God's perfect plan. Well, brethren, that most certainly does give the contrary ones evil to say about us. What can be our defense, in view of the clear command of scripture? Such disregard for the sensibilities of others is, at the very least, a distraction from the truth we want to share.

Titus 2:9-10 (KJV) ⁹ Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; ¹⁰ Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

The word "servants" is correctly translated "bond-slaves." Bond-slaves are responsible to God, also, for their obedience to their masters. Make that their own masters. Never mind the expectations of others. "To his own master he stands or falls." (Romans 14:4) The slave's job is to please his master, not quibble and quarrel; not steal from him. Show yourself trustworthy. Make the doctrine of God attractive to others by your honorable behavior.

So, in the study so far, we see that doctrine is something that was with God before the universe was formed, it was given to God's people down through the history of the human race, it was taught by Jesus to the Jews who rejected it, then to His disciples who loved it, then to His Church to cherish and perpetuate until His return. Bible Doctrine is the Mind of Christ, I Corinthians 2:16. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Bible Doctrine teaches us Who God is, how and why we are here, why and how we must be saved. If we learn it properly and apply it in our lives, we will develop that stability of soul that Titus looked for and trained into the leaders of the local Church. We don't all have to be leaders, but we all need the confidence, assurance, contentment and sense of purpose that can only come by the learning, storing and practice of doctrine in our souls. We won't get those qualities any other way.

 God has provided it for us, and has prepared His men to lead us in it. We are without excuse.

 

Assembly of the Firstborn

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”  Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” Hebrews 12:18-21

“For”- because, since we are looking unto Jesus rather than men as our example, and because our position is now and forever IN CHRIST, we are not to govern ourselves by the old covenant of legalistic rules and rituals.

Verses 18-21 describe the circumstances of Israel in Exodus 19. Israel had just been miraculously freed from slavery in Egypt and were led by the Lord into the wilderness of Sinai, to meet with Him there. He gave detailed instructions to Moses for the format of this meeting. These were a people who, though they belonged to God, had no real understanding of His power and majesty. This they had to learn through the demonstration of fire on the mountain. It was a terrifying experience for them. They were so frightened by that first show of might that they begged Moses to prevent God from speaking with them again.

Our first need when entering into eternal life is to learn Who and What our God is. We in the Church age don’t have to meet His fiery majesty with fear and trembling, but we do need to be educated, in the infancy of our faith, about His divine essence. Essence: (noun) the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features. Essence is a singular word which indicates the plural characteristics of our almighty creator and savior. We picture God’s essence as a box or being which contains various constant traits describing Him. It helps to memorize the ten characteristics in a particular order. God is: 1- Sovereignty (supreme ruler of the universe) 2-Absolute Righteousness (+R, total goodness, no shades of gray) 3-Absolute Justice (always totally fair. Cannot be unfair. His decisions are always the right ones for any given person or situation) 4-Love (agape. Pure, perfect, unconditional love from the source of His being. Because of Who He is, not because of who we are. God is not In Love with us, He just IS Love and that is His expression toward us) 5-Eternal Life (never had a beginning. Will never have an end) 6-Omniscient (all knowing. Knows the end from the beginning. There is nothing that God does not know) 7-Omnipotent (all power. The power source of all existence) 8-Omnipresent (in all places at all times. There is nowhere to be that He is not) 9-Veracity (perfect truth. God’s word is always absolutely true. God cannot lie) 10-Immutable (unchanging. God is the same now as He has been forever and will always be. I like to place this characteristic last, because to me it sums up the essence list of God’s characteristics that will never, ever change). God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are three personalities of God, all with the same essence (God is One). These are things we need to file in our souls and never lose sight of in life. This is the basis of our security in Christ.

God’s absolute power and sovereignty had to be demonstrated to the baby believers who had just come out of slavery. This was efficiently done by the fiery presence of God on Mt. Sinai. It made quite an impression.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24

Mount Zion represents the new covenant of grace. Eternal life IN CHRIST. We receive this life by believing in His perfect work of atonement for us on the cross. Zion is the highest peak in Jerusalem, and symbolizes our eternal position as members of the Body of Christ (the firstborn). All that He is (His essence), we become IN HIM, because of what He accomplished for us on that cross. He is the mediator of the new covenant. His blood, shed for us is Better Than the blood of the animal sacrifices, which foreshadowed Jesus’ supreme sacrifice. This sacrifice applies once, for all time, for all who will believe and receive it. That is cause for great human and angelic celebration.

See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,  for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29

We, in our age of grace, do not have to assemble, trembling in fear, before the burning mountain to receive God’s instruction. Praise God, we have His instruction in writing for all time! There is no greater Word than what God has recorded in His Holy Bible for us to learn and keep and teach. It is the Mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16). God the Son, Himself, in His confrontation with Satan in the desert, repeatedly used the WRITTEN Word to counter the temptations of the evil one. Jesus made an issue of it. That is our example. Not emotional “feelings” or historical orators or positive thinking. Not clever debate. IT IS WRITTEN! Learn God’s Word and use it! God’s Word is our defense and our offense in all circumstances of life.

We are warned not to ignore this perfect Word of Truth. It is the voice of God, just as the trumpetings and thunderings on the mountain were His voice. This present voice doesn’t appear briefly and then go away. This voice-The Bible-is with us in writing and in our souls as we absorb its truths. We must honor this voice with our whole being, as the beacon of our daily lives. This Word in our souls cannot be removed. Our position IN CHRIST cannot be eliminated. We will see that proven when God again demonstrates His Sovereignty, Justice and Omnipotence by the annihilation of all material existence.

Because of His Righteousness, Love, Eternal Life, Omniscience, Omnipresence, Veracity and Immutability, what we have IN HIM cannot be shaken or destroyed, though all else will be.....

By the consuming fire Who is our God.