Sermon Cloud

Living with Power: The Power of Doctrine (3/3)

2 Timothy 2:14-18

Intro: Ignorance is bliss.  That can be true.  In Indonesia I liked it better before knowing the Betawi soup I was eating was filled with the various internal organs of a cow.  However, when tasting a donut in Morocco I would have been happier if I knew it was filled with cold diced chicken.

Tell me if ignorance is bliss in this story:  A couple meets, falls in love, and gets married.  Shared the commonality of both being adopted.  Shortly after their marriage they found out they were fraternal twins separated at birth.

Ignorance is clearly not always bliss.  Many people think it is better to be ignorant than get into deep doctrine.

Proposition: Learning the depths of God’s word is powerful and God expects every believer to do it.  Paul offers three valuable lessons about getting deeper into the word of God.

I.                Avoid fighting by both learning and loving. (14)

2 Timothy is a pastoral letter.  Paul is teaching Timothy and others about church life.  Paul has told Timothy his job is to teach God’s word that he is being taught to other people who can also teach.  Now he is telling Timothy that though you are teaching these people God’s word – make sure they learn not to fight about the teachings.  Don’t get into silly arguments.

How do you both learn doctrine and not fight about doctrine?  The popular belief is that doctrine divides and it is only love that unites.  Look at all the denominations and different groups.  All we need is Jesus and to love each other.  Let’s forget about all these doctrinal differences.  Let’s just not study doctrine.  That sounds good.  But is it?

We fear controversy.  We point to Scripture to show we just need to be about love.  In fact, look at what the Apostle Paul said about the importance of love and unity:

Paul was the Apostle who wrote to the Corinthians about love. He was the Apostle who said, "Live in harmony with one another; live in peace with each other; the Lord's servant must not quarrel; There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism." He was the Apostle who said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some".

So was Paul all about unity and love – even it meant ignoring deeper doctrine?  No!  Look at Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.

Peter was publicly on the wrong side of a theological disagreement.  And Peter was winning people to his side.  And Paul stood up to him publicly.  Verse 14 says, “When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all” that Peter was “in the wrong.”

Paul sacrificed peace and unity for the sake of God’s word – for the sake of doctrine.

"To keep Gospel truth in the Church is of even greater importance than to keep peace" – JC Ryle

Some people are afraid of controversy.  They fear controversy will destroy unity.

Ex. Horton hears a Who.  The City Council put a glass around the mayor to shut up any disagreement.

Don’t get me wrong – controversy and arguing can tear apart people and churches.  It should be avoided at almost all cost – but not the cost of the word of God.

“Controversy in religion is a hateful thing, It is hard enough to fight the devil, the world and the flesh, without private differences in our own camp. But there is one thing which is even worse than controversy, and that is false doctrine tolerated, allowed, and permitted without protest or molestation.” – JC Ryle

We are to avoid fighting.  We are to seek unity.  But it doesn’t come through simply loving and not learning.  It must come from both.

Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Philip. 2:2

Paul doesn’t say simply unite in love – he also says to unite in mind.  You do not unite by ignoring the teachings of scripture; you unite by holding to the same teachings of Scripture.

This truth is why is it important what church you belong to.  And even denominations are important.  Why?  Because churches and denominations have doctrines.  We unite around holding to the same teachings of Scripture.

How do we get unity in doctrine?  By ignoring, compromising, or conforming?

Ignoring is not real unity.  (Ex. Me trying to convince Amy I’m right.  She ignores.  I keep saying “right?”)

Usually when one person is ignoring then you might be physically together, but you aren’t really together.  That is not loving or learning.

Compromising isn’t the answer when it comes to God’s word.  You can compromise on the raise you want or the restaurant you go to – but not on what the word of God says.  That may seem loving but it’s not real love when you deny the truth.  Ex. 26 pound cat.  Overly compromising “love” is unhealthy.  Therapists call that being an enabler.

Conformity is the only answer.  Not conformity to the other person you disagree with, or even to a church – but conformity to Jesus Christ.  That is both learning and loving.

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.  1 Timothy 6:3-5

You see, avoiding fighting doesn’t come from ignoring or compromising doctrine – it comes from learning, loving, and conforming to the person of Christ and His word.

II.             Study and use God’s word in a way that honors Him. (15)

Paul says to diligently seek the approval of God.  And he says that you will have his approval – and therefore honor Him – by accurately handling His word.  In other words, when we study God’s word and use it properly then we bring glory and honor to God!

Why does studying and using God’s word properly honor Him?  Doctrine is God’s revelation about Himself.  To honor His revelation about Himself is to honor Him.

Ex. Youtube and Abigail.  When you tell me that you watch those that excites me.  I’m honored by it.  You care about Abigail and you care about the time I put into it.

God has always said that if you want to know Me – you need to know Me in my revelation.  If you want to honor me – then learn my teachings.

We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.  Colossians 1:9-10

The more we know God and who He is – the more we want to please Him.

Ex. Guy goes into office to make a sell.  Rips into secretary for not having his appointment down.  Owner opens door, “Bill, good to see you, have you met my wife Cheryl?”

Note to seekers.  Most of this message does not pertain to you.  You don’t need to figure out predestination, transubstantiation, or eschatology if you have yet to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.  That’s like showing Abigail how to pick up sticks and handing her a chainsaw.  But this point about knowing God does apply to you.  To ever figure out God and how to please Him you must know Him.  That will come by knowing His WORD – His eternal WORD – Jesus Christ.  So focus on the parts of the Scripture that talk about who Jesus is.  I’d suggest John.

Okay, but how does the believer handle the word of God properly – besides reading it to know Him?

4 Tips from Pastor Paul:

1. Context is always king.  Don’t take things out of context.  Ex. Jesus said it is better to chop off your hand than sin.  Flipping open and pointing doesn’t usually work.
2. Pray and meditate as you read.
3. If something is unclear – check first with other verses then with various sound teachers.
4. Never read for winning or checking off.  Read to know and grow.

III.           Avoid false teaching to keep you and others from stumbling. (16-18)

Paul warns to avoid empty and false doctrine.  Paul says false teachings will lead to your own “ungodliness” and will “spread like” a cancer and “upset the faith” of others.

Not knowing the doctrines of Scripture opens you up to error and to spreading errors about God.  When you do that you hurt yourself and sadly take others down with you.

Ex. Golden Compass debates.  Christians saying to be open minded and let your kids decide.  Same thing happened with the DaVinci Code. 

What is wrong with that reasoning?

But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!  Matthew 18:6-7

Usually false teachings comes in the form of either legalism or liberalism.

Liberalism is people that teach ignoring God’s principles.  To them it doesn’t matter how you live as long as you help people.  It is very damaging and we usually notice that evil.

However, legalism is far more widespread in most evangelical churches.  It is when you focus on certain laws or make laws even harder, so that you seem more righteous than others.  This was the false teaching of the Pharisees.

People think it makes them holy to tell you what you are doing wrong, but then ignore their own sin.  Of all the people that Christ spoke with – these are the only type of people he didn’t pull punches with.

23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-- But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.  Matthew 23:23-27

If we are going to help ourselves or others from falling into sin then we’ve got to know God’s word.  We’ve got to be solid when it comes to doctrine.

Conclusion: My house in Muncie had a badly leaning fence.  The people didn’t dig deep enough – and it was bound to collapse.  I had to fix it.  My friend kept telling me, “dig a little deeper.”  It was hard.  The deeper I got the harder it was to dig.  But only by going deep would the fence stay solid and resist the elements.  The same can be said of us.