Sound Doctrine

[Episkopos]

I have posted this topic here...for reasons that will soon become apparent.

Let me begin by saying that sound doctrine is that which PERMITS us and INFORMS us to be Christ-like in our thoughts and actions. Opinions matter for nothing...unless to take away our potential for entering into Christ and His life, love, joy, and peace.

So then sound doctrine is to be noted by the BEHAVIOUR of the person holding to that doctrine.

Now, we all know this verse...

2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.

But everybody thinks that what they believe is both biblical and sound....even when it is proven otherwise. :)

People usually like the idea of sound doctrine...that is, until they become indoctrinated in a false belief...THEN they HATE sound doctrine. But this is to really hate one's own advancement in understanding God's ways.

 

[Episkopos]

One of the most basic building blocks to sound doctrine is the fear of the Lord. It is something that one sees immediately in a person's behaviour. It is also the beginning of wisdom. But who wants wisdom these days?

So if this be true than arrogance is out.
Smugness is out.
Self-interest is out.
Over-confidence is out.

It is good to be confident....but in the Lord. Also for sorrow...a godly sorrow is good...but not a worldly sorrow. A low-self-esteem is likewise self-driven. It is a frustrated self-interest. But esteeming others as higher than yourself is good and to be desired.

So we are to submit to one another IN THE FEAR of the Lord. Everything we do is to be for edification for others. If something isn't edifying...then it should not be spoken.

Now of course a person who is spiritual can see where things need to be torn down in order to build again. But not tearing down for tearing down's sake...or for the sake of changing a doctrine. We are looking for a change in LIFE....not just beliefs. A good builder already sees what the building can become. He sees according to the blueprint...

 

[Episkopos]

Now the bible uses comparisons to teach us kingdom values. But we must first eliminate the false comparisons that many have been taught. The idea of heaven and hell (The tile of a heavy metal album) is false. The true comparison is heaven and earth'

There is light and darkness.
Truth and lies.
Eternal and temporal.
Spiritual and natural (carnal).

Without comparisons to things we can differentiate there is no possibility of understanding. There is no understanding of value.

I know that in the US, money is all the same colour....green. So unless you have memorized the presidents or can read the numbers on the individual bills....you have no idea how much you need to pay...or how much change you should get back. You would be as a little child in a world of grown-ups ready to play at things...but not ready for the real world.

So it is with sound doctrine...which prepares you for the real world that seeks to overcome you and take everything from you.

So we must submit and exchange our favourite things for the things that have more value. We are no longer playing around.

 

[bbyrd009]

So then sound doctrine is to be noted by the BEHAVIOUR of the person holding to that doctrine.

nice imo.

One of the most basic building blocks to sound doctrine is the fear of the Lord.

i'd have to disagree here, don't be getting any doctrines from those still in fear of God our Father imo, leave that to the deceived and the Calvinists. Fear is the beginning, right, we are even told to not eat fruit from trees for three years, etc.

mostly just parsing here, i know you meant that differently

 

[bbyrd009]

One of the most basic building blocks to sound doctrine is the absence of the fear of God

imo. There is no fear in love, perfect love drives out all fear, you aren't coming boldly before the throne in fear, etc

 

[bbyrd009]

ha don't get me wrong though, i wouldn't be throwing your pov out either;
do both!

 

[Episkopos]

ha don't get me wrong though, i wouldn't be throwing your pov out either;
do both!

I'm not saying that there is nothing beyond the fear of the Lord. But it should be there. People throw it out, normally in a bid to be confident in their salvation.

The difficulty is that very often the truth is presented as a dialectic whereby there seems to be opposite sounding poles ....like positive and negative poles on a magnet or battery....that, when put together...describe the truth.

Such a case is with fearing. We are to fear and tremble at His word. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. BUT the bible says that perfect love casts out all fear.So how does that work?

Are we to try to pretend to have no fears?

The truth is that the fear of the Lord makes one fearless. WHEN....and I say when we are in the Spirit....we have no fear at all, because we are IN Him.

Here is an example of this...


If there is a tank driving around in a field that you happen to be in...you could fear being run over. But if you are INSIDE the tank, you have no fear of this. (except maybe from an armour piercing shell ;) )

 

[Helen]

One of the most basic building blocks to sound doctrine is the fear of the Lord. It is something that one sees immediately in a person's behaviour.

I agree with @bbyrd009 here...I don't buy that.
I have never feared the Lord...I was afraid of not ending up with Him, before I got saved...but I didn't fear Him then, and I don't fear Him now.
I have a godly fear of disappointing Him...and not having His smile..
but, fear of Him..never...
Since a tiny girl I have always known He was on my side...He is good, and He is my Father.

So..if that is the measure of pure doctrine ..I don't have any, and wouldn't want any under those circumstances. :)

 

[Episkopos]

I agree with @bbyrd009 here...I don't buy that.
I have never feared the Lord...I was afraid of not ending up with Him, before I got saved...but I didn't fear Him then, and I don't fear Him now.
I have a godly fear of disappointing Him...and not having His smile..
but, fear of Him..never...
Since a tiny girl I have always known He was on my side...He is good, and He is my Father.

So..if that is the measure of pure doctrine ..I don't have any, and wouldn't want any under those circumstances. :)

I hear what you are saying. Perhaps in your situation there isn't the same need for fear as for others.

But the truth remains that we advance into Him and remain in a high state through both the fear of the Lord AND the comfort of the Spirit.

Look at this verse. See the balance?

Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Growth in the Lord requires both fear and rest...both as an individual AND as a church.

 

[Helen]

Some are driven into the kingdom via fear...some are drawn into the kingdom by His love.

It is love which Win's the Day, not fear.

 

[bbyrd009]

The difficulty is that very often the truth is presented as a dialectic whereby there seems to be opposite sounding poles ....like positive and negative poles on a magnet or battery....that, when put together...describe the truth.

um, dingdingdingding
lol

provide for your family
don't work for food
all you have to do is say this and that with your mouth, and you are good
faith without works is dead

 

[bbyrd009]

I agree with @bbyrd009 here...I don't buy that.
I have never feared the Lord...I was afraid of not ending up with Him, before I got saved...but I didn't fear Him then, and I don't fear Him now.
I have a godly fear of disappointing Him...and not having His smile..
but, fear of Him..never...
Since a tiny girl I have always known He was on my side...He is good, and He is my Father.

So..if that is the measure of pure doctrine ..I don't have any, and wouldn't want any under those circumstances. :)

it may also be translated 'respect,' and i agree.
we are told that pure doctrine is helping those less fortunate imo

 

[Episkopos]

um, dingdingdingding
lol

provide for your family
don't work for food

Exactly! Trust the lord.....that is our work.

 

[bbyrd009]

Sound Doctrine

first you have to cross the Yam Suph

 

[Episkopos]

Sound Doctrine

first you have to cross the Yam Suph

It helps... the C

It helps to enter into the miraculous realm to understand the mind of God....and therefore what is being described in the bible.

 

[Episkopos]

Sound doctrine exposes the flesh. Sound doctrine allows the word to do it's work. The word of God created the universe. The word of God is able to transform us into the image of God.

But then there is the ego...the self...that filters out God and makes everything about us as individuals. This corrupts God's ways.

God is not a respecter of persons.

We too often confuse God's mercy for His final judgments.

Imagine 2 cars...both have rust on them...but one is so rusty as to be falling apart. It is TOO rusty to drive. The other car has a little bit of rust, but it can still get around with no problem.

Which car will God seek to fix?

He will choose the one that needs Him the most. He will go after the TOO rusty car. Why? Because God loves mercy. Does God judge the TOO rusty car to be better than the other car? No. God is not respecting the cars that way. He is helping the car that needs Him the most.

When the car that was TOO rusty is refurbished encounters the car with a little rust.....can it say..."look at you... a rusty car...but look at me who has had favour from God. God will send you to the dump...but ME I am His favourite car. I will be in God's garage forever."

So then beforehand God had no favourite car...but now that the newly refurbished car is showing signs of pride...against an innocent (although rusty) car. God will get rid of that car.....and keep the slightly rusty car.

So then favour is deceitful...to the one who can't see God's purpose but judges from himself.

People confuse God's mercy with a preference for one person over another. But that's not how God thinks.

To whom much is given....MORE is required.

What should the attitude be of the once TOO rusty car towards the car with a little rust? Humility. It should acknowledge the driveable condition of the other car....without pride and without judgment.

So then the righteousness of the one who is saved (refurbished) only remains intact in humility....knowing that without mercy from God...there was only death.

So we could say that "All are rusty...none are without rust....no not one"

But a car that only has a little rust can still drive and go places. It doesn't need a garage as much.

But it is the junky cars that need a garage.

Jesus said...I have not come to call the righteous to repentance...but sinners. A person who is whole doesn't need a doctor...but he that is not well.

Don't mistake God's mercy for His favouritism and final judgment....and don't lose the purpose of your calling in Christ. If you judge...you will be judged...and the one you judge will take your place.

God is not a respecter of persons.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Sound doctrine exposes the flesh. Sound doctrine allows the word to do it's work. The word of God created the universe. The word of God is able to transform us into the image of the God.

Bu then there is the ego...the self...that filters out God and makes everything about us as individuals. This corrupts God's ways.

God is not a respecter on persons.

We too often God's mercy for His final judgments.

Imagine 2 cars...both have rust on them...but one is so rusty as to be falling apart. It is TOO rusty to drive. The other car has a little bit of rust, but it can still get around with no problem.

Which car will God seek to fix?

He will choose the one that needs Him the most. He will go after the TOO rusty car. Why? Because God loves mercy. Does God judge the TOO rusty car to be better than the other car? No. God is not respecting the cars that way. He is helping the car that needs Him the most.

When the car that was TOO rusty is refurbished encounters the car with a little rust.....can it say..."look at you... a rusty car...but look at me who has had favour from God. God will send you to the dump...but ME I am His favourite car. I will be in God's garage forever."

So then beforehand God had no favourite car...but now that the newly refurbished car is showing signs of pride...against an innocent (although rusty) car. God will get rid of that car.....and keep the slightly rusty car.

So then favour is deceitful...to the one who can't see God's purpose but judges from himself.

People confuse God's mercy with a preference for one person over another. But that's not how God thinks.

To whom much is given....MORE is required.

What should the attitude be of the once TOO rusty car towards the car with a little rust? Humility. It should acknowledge the driveable condition of the other car....without pride and without judgment.

So then the righteousness of the one who is saved (refurbished) only remains intact in humility....knowing that without mercy from God...there was only death.

So we could say that "All are rusty...none are without rust....no not one"

But a car that only has a little rust can still drive and go places. It doesn't need a garage as much.

But it is the junky cars that need a garage.

Jesus said...I have not come to call the righteous to repentance...but sinners. A person who is whole doesn't need a doctor...but he that is not well.

Don't mistake God's mercy for His favouritism and final judgment....and don't lose the purpose of your calling in Christ. If you judge...you will be judged...and the one you judge will take your place.

God is not a respecter of persons.

Thank you for this post. “favour is deceitful and beauty is vain.”...I have a question for you. How do you show mercy when the person is dangerous and irrational? They are the rusty car that definitely needs mercy because it is apparent they can’t go any longer but they don’t see it. The behavior is intrusive and all over the place. Let’s say you are convicted to not pronounce someone as hopeless but at the same time their behavior is threatening to everyone you love? To be clearer and not vague; I’m speaking of someone with a drug addiction and not my child. I know God can heal an addiction I’ve seen it but this person scares me because of the damage he is capable of if allowed too close. how far does mercy go and can mercy be walking away and leaving it to God.

 

[Episkopos]

Thank you for this post. “favour is deceitful and beauty is vain.”...I have a question for you. How do you show mercy when the person is dangerous and irrational? They are the rusty car that definitely needs mercy because it is apparent they can’t go any longer but they don’t see it. The behavior is intrusive and all over the place. Let’s say you are convicted to not pronounce someone as hopeless but at the same time their behavior is threatening to everyone you love? To be clearer and not vague; I’m speaking of someone with a drug addiction and not my child. I know God can heal an addiction I’ve seen it but this person scares me because of the damage he is capable of if allowed too close. how far does mercy go and can mercy be walking away and leaving it to God.

We help where God permits....otherwise we do need to leave that person to God. You need to walk away sometimes. Otherwise that person will use you as a crutch...in your well meaning attempt to help or be supportive. We are not God. Pray about it. A sound judgment is required to protect others from a potentially destructive person.

It is possible to reject a person in the short term...or "at this time"...in the hope of receiving them fully in the future. The flesh can't understand this. But timing is everything.

A drowning man can't be helped until he stops struggling. Otherwise he will cause the would-be rescuer to drown with him. Again....it's timing.

So if you sense the timing is off....you can walk away...with God's blessing.

Blessing to you and peace :)

 

[Episkopos]

Sound doctrine exposes the flesh. Sound doctrine allows the word to do it's work. The word of God created the universe. The word of God is able to transform us into the image of God.

But then there is the ego...the self...that filters out God and makes everything about us as individuals. This corrupts God's ways.

God is not a respecter of persons.

We too often confuse God's mercy for His final judgments.

Imagine 2 cars...both have rust on them...but one is so rusty as to be falling apart. It is TOO rusty to drive. The other car has a little bit of rust, but it can still get around with no problem.

Which car will God seek to fix?

He will choose the one that needs Him the most. He will go after the TOO rusty car. Why? Because God loves mercy. Does God judge the TOO rusty car to be better than the other car? No. God is not respecting the cars that way. He is helping the car that needs Him the most.

When the car that was TOO rusty is refurbished encounters the car with a little rust.....can it say..."look at you... a rusty car...but look at me who has had favour from God. God will send you to the dump...but ME I am His favourite car. I will be in God's garage forever."

So then beforehand God had no favourite car...but now that the newly refurbished car is showing signs of pride...against an innocent (although rusty) car. God will get rid of that car.....and keep the slightly rusty car.

So then favour is deceitful...to the one who can't see God's purpose but judges from himself.

People confuse God's mercy with a preference for one person over another. But that's not how God thinks.

To whom much is given....MORE is required.

What should the attitude be of the once TOO rusty car towards the car with a little rust? Humility. It should acknowledge the driveable condition of the other car....without pride and without judgment.

So then the righteousness of the one who is saved (refurbished) only remains intact in humility....knowing that without mercy from God...there was only death.

So we could say that "All are rusty...none are without rust....no not one"

But a car that only has a little rust can still drive and go places. It doesn't need a garage as much.

But it is the junky cars that need a garage.

Jesus said...I have not come to call the righteous to repentance...but sinners. A person who is whole doesn't need a doctor...but he that is not well.

Don't mistake God's mercy for His favouritism and final judgment....and don't lose the purpose of your calling in Christ. If you judge...you will be judged...and the one you judge will take your place.

God is not a respecter of persons.

I thought to add....

We are not like God. If we went to a junkyard to look for a wreck to restore, we would choose the car with the least amount of rust....not the most.

God is more like a doctor looking for the most desperate cases. And that was us at one time. ;)

All praise to His name! :)

 

[Episkopos]

Another aspect of sound doctrine is that is tears down the lies without tearing down the inner person.

When you see the controlled demolition of a building in the midst of other buildings...as in...the building goes straight down without damage to other buildings in close proximity...it is a picture of taking out a lie without damaging a person.

Of course the ego will be affected. It is the thing that needs to go, along with the lies that prop it up. Then it is up to a person to not identify with ego.

So then sound doctrine is NOT tolerable to the carnal man. That is why false doctrine is so popular. It does cater to the carnal, natural man.