Foundation  of  Sound  Doctrine

Luke 6:48

He is like a man which built an house,

and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock:

and when the flood arose,

the stream beat vehemently upon that house,

and could not shake it:

for it was founded upon a rock.

I Corinthians 10:4   …… and that Rock was Christ.

Before we map out our trip from here to eternity, we need to check our foundation.  Once the foundation is laid out, poured, and set, we will begin to build - but not before.

A building with no foundation is no building at all.  Likewise, false spiritual beliefs are nothing more than wind which will soon dissipate.

God is doctrinally sound, and you can be also.  Unsound doctrine purveyed by wolves in sheep’s clothing is an epidemic problem in Christendom today.  God, foreseeing this, inspired extensive writings about unsound doctrine.

He expects you to study and establish a sound doctrinal foundation so you will not be moved by the winds of unsound doctrine blown hard by pious wolves.  They are trying to blow your house down, so you need the best spirit-led foundation your brains can establish.  Be sure you understand the basics:

1. You are dead in trespasses and sins.
2. You can easily be saved from your sins.
3. Once saved, always saved.
4. God is Almighty, Holy, and to be feared.
5. God is a balanced, three part being.
6. God is the supreme judge.
7. God controls heaven and hell.
8. Thy kingdom will come.
9. It is coming soon.

So, be saved and enter the only spiritual realm where understanding can actually take place.  Then understand the word of the kingdom which explains the end game and the correct strategy to successfully get there.  Need to start now!

You can easily be knocked off a weak, shallow foundation.  But you can never be knocked off a strong, deep foundation - one that is grounded in the Rock.

The doctrinal foundation of the word of the kingdom is infinitely capable of correctly guiding your pathway to eternal ruling and reigning with Christ.

Doctrine  First

The Bible says doctrine is the #1 aspect of inspired scripture:

First – doctrine, second – reproof (constructive criticism), third – correction (go and sin no more), fourth – instruction in righteousness (abstain from all appearance of evil); more about doctrine in a minute.

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“Scripture”  Sidetrack

Most preachers think that the word “scripture”, which appears 52 times in the Bible, does not apply to the Bible they are holding in their hands.  They think that the word “scripture” applies only to the original manuscripts, which obviously no longer exist.  Therefore they think no one possesses the inspired scriptures.

Then the uninspired preachers refer to the Bible as the “scriptures” every chance they get.  It sounds good from the pulpit from which they make their living.  This is more good words and fair speeches from those that serve their own belly.  They think this even though God said his words were pure and God said he would preserve his words and God said “thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

So I guess they are hoping to get to heaven so they can get a peek at the actual words.  Assuming their own private interpretation of the “scriptures” is the correct interpretation that will get them to heaven, they will point out to God that they correctly interpreted the “scriptures” on their own.  Yeah right!  They might get there, but they will be wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

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Since I believe God and since my hands possess his inspired scriptures, I do not interpret scripture.  I read and study scripture, seeking truth, whatever it is.  Why?

II Peter 1:20

Knowing this first,

that no prophecy of the scripture

is of any private interpretation.

Honest Translation – great.

Private Interpretation – kiss of death.

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OK, back to the originals.  Do wolves and psychologists not read their Bible?  Moses broke the “original” Ten Commandments tables and had them rewritten in Exodus 34.  Jehudi cut and burned the original words of God in Jeremiah 36.  God had Jeremiah rewrite them in their perfect original state.  If it can happen twice, it can happen thrice.

So we cannot even trust the Ten Commandments because the original tables were broken and had to be rewritten?  Give God a little credit; He preserved his words, not man.  He continues to preserve his words, not man.

There will be no excuses for unbelief in the inspired scriptures extant in the 21st century which God continues to preserve.  BTW, it is estimated that there are about one billion KJV Bibles in the world today, many covered with dust.

WARNING:

the following sheep food will choke a wolf!

II Peter 1:16-19

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy;

whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Let’s see, God spoke from heaven when Jesus was being baptized (Matthew 3) and again being transfigured (Mark 9), but we have a MORE SURE word of prophecy.  What could that possibly be?  Something more sure than the actual spoken words of God the Father from heaven?  Why doesn’t God just continue talking to us?  Surely we would stop and listen to Him preach to us!

Not really, so I have an idea!  Why not write down the inspired messages in one book and distribute that book in hundreds of languages to the uttermost parts of the earth.  Let people read the message in their own language in their own time over and over again until they get it?  Get it?

“more sure word of prophecy”

=

“all scripture is given by inspiration of God”!

End  of  “Scripture”  Sidetrack

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Why is scripture profitable for doctrine?

II Timothy 3:17

That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Perfect, are you kidding me?

Christ was perfect,

how am I supposed to achieve that?

Two things:

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,

over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,

to feed the church of God,

which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Your saved soul is vicariously sinless,

having been sealed by the Holy Spirit

when you were born again.

Ephesians 1:13

in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

  P r o m i s e  

Ephesians 4:30

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Second, in regards to perfection in the Christian life, you are obviously not perfect like Christ at all times.  I am guessing that some impure thought occasionally lingers in your mind and I am also guessing that you engage in a little gossip every now and then.

You can get perfect time and time again by confessing your sins and being cleansed from all unrighteousness.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God,

and one mediator between God and men,

the man Christ Jesus;

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And you can be perfect to the point of being thoroughly or completely furnished unto all good works.

That should be your goal – put yourself in a position to perform good works which glorify God.  Why? 

Because the word of the kingdom tells you that your good works will transform into the reward of ruling and reigning with Christ from his throne.  That gives Him great pleasure.

And you do love Him who died for you, right?  And you would do anything for Him, which is your reasonable service even if there were no rewards, right?

  R E A S O N A B L E  

Romans 12:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

Sound  Doctrine

The word “doctrine” appears in the Bible 55 times, so you could write a volume of books about doctrine alone, and they do exist.

Here’s the thing:  sound doctrine will save you and get you to where you want to go; unsound doctrine creates loss.  In the worst case, you can lose your soul and burn.  In the best case, you can lose your rewards for eternity.

We are dealing with eternal issues here, so don’t short-sight your soul.  Even if others ignorantly have no regard for the eternal well-being of your soul, you should and you can.

Study for yourself and make sure your doctrinal beliefs are sound and founded on the Rock.  Know what you believe and why you believe it.  Believing something because some wolf told you so is not a good reason why.

Here are some good scriptures about sound doctrine:

Deuteronomy 32:2

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, ……” 

Doctrine is everywhere, just like rain.

It is constantly available;

just search the Book.

Acts 17:19

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying,

May we know what this new doctrine,

whereof thou speakest, is?”

Paul was preaching a new doctrine (remember “rightly dividing the word of truth”?).  The gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was new at that time.  It differed from Christ’s message to Israel to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, showing belief in Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah come to save the house of Israel (Matthew 10).

Romans 16:17-18

Now I beseech you, brethren,

mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;

and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,

but their own belly;

and by good words and fair speeches

deceive the hearts of the simple.

If a preacher is contrary to Paul’s doctrines (Romans through Philemon), mark him and avoid him.  He is serving his own belly, like a wolf.  He knows how to speak from the pulpit to keep the simpleton’s bucks coming in.

Don’t be a simpleton.  Study to shew thyself approved unto God.

Many “Christians” do not like to discuss doctrine because they say it is divisive.  That is absolutely correct.  You are to divide truth from lies and avoid the propagators.

I Timothy 1:2-4

Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace,

from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus,

when I went into Macedonia,

that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies,

which minister questions,

rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

We are to teach Paul’s doctrine (rightly dividing the word of truth) and not get caught up in matters which just produce endless questions.

We are to be edified by preachers (like Paul and Timothy) to the understanding of the word of the kingdom, which is the framework for all Biblical messages.  It produces foresight of eternity and the right incentive (loving and pleasing God) for doing good works.

I Timothy 6:3-5

If any man teach otherwise,

and consent not to wholesome words,

even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

He is proud, knowing nothing,

but doting about questions and strifes of words,

whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,

and destitute of the truth,

supposing that gain is godliness:

from such withdraw thyself.

Sweet Jesus!  Are you sure about this description of preachers of untruth?  Do you have any idea how many preachers should be withdrawn from?  How on God’s green earth is the gospel message going to be spread without the gospel of prosperity being preached?

We already have women stepping in for the called men who don’t respond; surely we can’t create so many gaps in the hedge.  Don’t we need help from this large pack of wolves?  Not hardly!

II Timothy 2:9

Wherein I suffer trouble,

as an evil doer, even unto bonds;

but the word of God is not bound.

Paul realized that being prison-bound would not bind the word of God.  Spiritual things move about unencumbered.  One doctrinally sound follower of the Lord can reach millions, and has.

Now,  About  That  Cash

II Timothy 3:12

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution.

So much for the prosperity gospel!

Let’s cut to the chase – don’t buy holy water, plant trees in Israel, purchase prayer rags, trade money for healings, send letters to be piled up and prayed over, $ow $eed$ of faith, etc.

The wolves of unkept promises are all seeking to feast on your immediate weak flesh (like a real wolf in a real wilderness).  They can no more describe the word of the kingdom to you than King Kong can.

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OK, here is my complete message on giving - just give as much money as you cheerfully can to your local, independent, doctrinally sound church with a stable missions program.  Otherwise, just take care of your family and others who actually need some help.

II Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly, or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Your finances are not subject to disclosure or scrutiny by anyone (including your pastor or deacon or church finance committee) except you and God (and the IRS and the FBI under certain conditions).

That’s it; God will handle it from there.  Find a church where the preaching is about the word of the kingdom, not finances.

   

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II Timothy 4:3-4

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;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,

and shall be turned unto fables.

OK, there’s our explicit warning against ourselves.  As time goes on, sound doctrine will be unbearable to many.  Their itching ears will be attracted to teachers with fair and enticing words of untruth and fables.  How are you going to protect yourself from these teaching wolve$? - 

A sound doctrinal foundation will easily allow you to sniff out any wolf in the area.  (Believe me, he has marked his territory.)  How easily?

• When he/she constantly asks you for money,
• when he/she adds works to salvation      (getting it or keeping it), or
• when he/she is silent about the word of the kingdom –  

Avoid them and from such withdraw thyself!

Titus 1:9

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.

This is about preachers, then called bishops.  He is to use sound doctrine (salvation by grace through faith & the word of the kingdom) to edify Christians and convert unbelievers.  He is not to use promises of healing, prosperity, and slaying in the spirit.

That’s what grievous, ravening, wolves promise.

And he is to discern what he has been taught, probably by other grievous, ravening wolves.  Being taught grievous, ravening untruth is no excuse for believing grievous, ravening untruth.

If children can understand,

he can understand.

If he wants the truth, he can find it.

If he doesn’t,

because he now cannot afford to,

he cannot find it.

God's  Doctrine

Titus 2:7-8

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:

in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

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.

God’s doctrine is incorrupt, grounded, sincere, sound, and non-condemnable.  Your doctrinal foundation can be so strong that the wolves cannot weaken and devour it.

You, maybe somewhat unlearned at the moment, can in a matter of days or weeks establish yourself invincible to unsound doctrine.  There’s just not that much to it.

God has made it extremely easy to get saved, extremely easy to find a Bible, and extremely easy to discern untruthful preachers.  He will teach you all things through the Holy Spirit.

What a God!  He fully understands me and what I need to be able to create pleasure for Him (Revelation 4:11).

II John 9-11

Whosoever transgresseth,

and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,

hath not God.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ,

he hath both the Father and the Son.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,

receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

There is only one doctrine that will save you, the doctrine of Christ.  No doctrine of Christ, no salvation.  The doctrine of Christ is his death, burial, and resurrection.

Do not bid God’s speed to anyone or let anyone in your house to discuss spiritual things that does not have this doctrine or does not want to hear this doctrine.  See, you don’t have to let those nice young men on bicycles in your house.  You don’t even have to be nice to them.

Don’t bid them God’s speed or good luck or anything else.  Pretend you are one of the three little pigs and don’t answer the door – it’s a wolf!

Matthew 15:8-9

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth,

and honoureth me with their lips;

but their heart is far from me.

But in vain they do worship me,

teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

OK, sound doctrine is crucial.  And sound doctrine does not come from the mouths of men whose heart is far from God as they teach the commandments of men as doctrine.

Sound doctrine comes from the words of God, not the words of man – especially the ones after your pocketbook.  Take another look at Isaiah 55:8-9 and don’t listen to any man who thinks more highly of himself than he ought.

Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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