Sermon Cloud

Doctrine is a huge part of the Christian faith.

• There are some doctrines to die for like Christ's deity, atoning sacrifice and salvation by grace through faith.

• There are some to argue about like how prophecy will play out and the world will end.

As I spoke to Pastor Gary this past week I told him that I wanted to preach from 1 Timothy 4 and he told me that he was going to be preaching through that book when he returns.

• I don't want to steal his thunder today, but I do want to tie together two important truths that we need to make sure stay together as we approach the area of doctrine.

• Richard Baxter asked the rhetorical question in his book called The Reformed Pastor “Will God save those who tell others those truths which they themselves neglect or abuse?”

• Not just knowing the truth, but living in light of it is what I want to talk to you about today.

The reason that Paul wrote to Timothy in what we call 1 Timothy was this,

1 Timothy 3:14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵ but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

• With this in mind I want to give you the instruction that Paul gave to Timothy as to how he would fulfill that main issue. How do we “conduct ourselves in the household of God??

• The answer is simple and to the point. It is the theme verse for our GOT DOCTRINE? Meetings;

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

• There are two areas that are equally important as we endeavor to live, or to “conduct ourselves in the household of God.” That is to live in His family, among His people as His representative to the world. They are:

• Yourself or life

• The Doctrine

• Timothy is a Pastor and his measure of responsibility is high as to his life and doctrine.

• . James 3:1 tells us, My brothers, do not let many become teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (or stricter judgment)

• But I have to say the if only the pastors know and live as Christians then we are in trouble.

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 Then having these promises, (Doctrine) dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (Christian Living)

• Our culture has not only rejected sound teaching, but godliness as well.

• I don't think I have to cite too many examples of this, do I?

DOCTRINE But when ¹Joel Osteen says Mormons are Christians because they believe in Jesus, the pastor of one of the biggest churches in the world has no clue about the basic tenets of the Faith he is supposed to represent.

• What about the people who go to his church or watch him on TV?

• We have to have sound teaching.

• We need to know about things like

• Atonement

• Justification

• Propitiation

• Sanctification...

• These are not just hundred dollar preacher words. They are concepts that are essential to knowing Christ.

• You may not have to the comprehensive theological terms and definitions, but you really should have a basic understanding of these truths.

• These are words used by the Scripture to tell you about what Christ has done for you!

• I recently listened to a radio show where pastors at a conference were interviewed and asked how important doctrine is in their respective ministries.

• Most said it was very high, 8 or 9 out of 10 but then went on to explain that you really don't teach doctrine, you just tell stories and eventually the people will get it.

• That is scary!
  People will spend a hundred hours learning the intricacies of a video game but have no time for the truths of Scripture.

• They will go to school to learn a trade but cannot take the time to learn what God has done for them in the Person and work of Christ!

• As one of the men on the show said anyone who can explain the infield fly rule in baseball should be able to comprehend and explain propitiation.

• Why does the Apostle Paul spend the first 11 chapters of Romans giving us a clear teaching on the nature of man's condition and Christ's work and only five chapters of exhortation to live for Him?

• Because a clear understanding of what Christ has done for you will change you! (Romans 2:4)

• The preaching of that truth is what God uses to regenerate you!

• Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing;

• 1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.

• Then on the other hand I have had a man who calls himself a Calvinist rebuke me for thinking that the presentation of truth was important. He claimed that I was arrogant in thinking that my presentation of truth had anything to do with some else's response to it.

• Then I showed him this verse and asked, why did Paul say this to Timothy if the message is irrelevant?

• God ordained the end, He also ordained the means!

• The same Greek word is translated doctrine or teaching and is used 14 times in this short epistle.

• Doctrine is IMPORTANT!

YOURSELF But Paul does not just say “Take heed to the doctrine.” He says “Take heed to yourself and the doctrine....”

• At the beginning of this chapter as Paul warns Timothy of false teachers who will give heed to the doctrines of demons.

• False teaching has been there from the beginning.

• Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also men shall arise from your own selves, speaking perverse things in order to draw disciples away after them.

• Paul's remedy against these false teachers was two-fold.... Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine!

• 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, attend to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

• See that first we need to live a godly life before people and then we need t teach them through reading and exhortation what the doctrines of the faith are.

• Peter tells us that it is our godly response to the world around us that gives the opportunity to give the Gospel to them.

• 1Peter 3:8 And finally, all be of one mind, having compassion on one another, loving the brothers, tenderhearted, friendly. 9 Never give back evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, giving blessing, knowing that you are called to this so that you might inherit blessing. 10 For he that wants to love life and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile. 11 Let him turn aside from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears open to their prayers. But the Lord's face is against those who do evil. 13 And who is the one who will harm you if you become imitators of the good? 14 But if you also suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not fear their fear, nor be troubled, 15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;

• Good teaching will transform your life!

• Teaching and living are inseparable.

• Calvin - There are two things of which a good pastor should be careful; to be diligent in teaching, and to keep himself pure. It is not enough if he frame his life to all that is good and commendable, and guard against giving a bad example, if he does not likewise add to a holy life continual diligence in teaching; and, on the other hand, doctrine will be of little avail, if there be not a corresponding goodness and holiness of life. With good reason, therefore, does Paul urge Timothy to “give heed,” both to himself personally, and to doctrine, for the general advantage of the Church.

Tell me, who is the number one example given to us in the Bible?

• Abraham! He is mentioned 70 times in the New Testament. He is the father of the faith, the father of the faithful.

• He is the example of imputed righteousness by faith in Romans 4 and 9, in Galatians 3, Hebrews 11, and James 2

• He is also a moral example, answering the questions not only what does faith receive? But what does a faithful man look like, how does he act?

• We see this in as well, particularly in James 2 where he asks the question, “How do we demonstrate the reality of our faith?”

• Abraham did stuff! He did not just say he believed God and God accounted it to him as righteousness.

• His faith was followed by works;

• he left his father's house

• he journeyed into a foreign land

• he made a covenant with God

• he circumcised himself at 99 years old!

• He received the promised son

• he offered him on Mt Morriah as a burnt offering!

• He also blew it a few times, telling half truths about his wife to protect himself.

• I'm so thankful that he was not perfect. It gives me some hope!

Can I ask you today, What does your faith look like????

• You say, I go to church and read my Bible...

• You say, I am moral.

• That's good, but are you trusting God and doing what He has commanded?

• Are you sharing your faith, giving to missions, caring for widows and orphans,......

• As I studied through Genesis 10-22 I believe that the most profound thing that I learned from the beautiful picture of faith of Abraham was hospitality.

• In Genesis 14 when Lot was carried away by Chedorlaomer and his 3 other king buddies

• Abraham didn't pray and say “Oh God, what should I do???” He just gathered his servants and went and got his nephew!

• In Genesis 18 when Abraham had lunch with God he went out of his way to make it a great meal, killing a tender calf and and serving it with bread and gravy before he even knew it was God.

• Hebrews 13:2 entertained angels...

• Even in the 16^th John Calvin said... “Therefore, the great number of inns are evidence of our depravity, and prove it to have arisen from our own fault, that the principal duty of humanity has become obsolete among us.”

Doctrine is huge!

• It should be what motivates us to live for Christ as we see His goodness and understand what He has done for us.

• Paul told Timothy that he should, “...be an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

• And ...13 Until I come, attend to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. ”

We make a lot of excuses not to do things that we know are right.