IN writing his Epistles to Timothy and Titus, the Apostle Paul uses the expression “sound doctrine” several times and in various connections, as he counsels these young servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, regarding their duty with respect to their personal conduct, the propagation of the Gospel, the setting up of Scriptural order in the Christian Churches and the teaching of the character of that walk and conversation which becometh the Gospel. And it may be asked, “What are we to understand by the words, ‘sound doctrine,’ from the Apostle’s point of view as an inspired penman?” It appears to be a concise expression which aptly describes the whole body of divinely given truth, and more particularly, those outstanding truths of “the faith once delivered to the saints,” which include, for example, Election, the Fall, the Person of Christ, His Eternal Sonship, the Atonement, Regeneration, Repentance, Faith, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, etc. In brief, “sound doctrine” is what the great Head of the Church requires to be preached and taught to sinners and to His Church in the world. We will therefore indicate a few points on the subject.
Firstly:
Sound doctrine is derived from the inspired and infallible Word of God, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and from no other source whatsoever, as “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine. . . . (II. Tim. iii. 16). And to this source the Church of God is to cleave fast, according to Paul’s injunction to those who were to be ordained to office in the Church, “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” (Titus i. 9).
Secondly:
It is by means of the teaching and preaching of sound doctrine, that sinners can come to have a saving experience; as “The law (or doctrine) of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Ps. xix. 7), when accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit of truth. Thus sinners are convinced of their ungodliness, weaned from the Covenant of Works, enlightened in the knowledge of the crucified Redeemer, renewed in their wills, and enabled to believe unto salvation. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. x. 17).
Thirdly:
The souls of believers are to be fed upon sound doctrine. The “good work” being performed in them, begets in them a spiritual hunger for the truth of heaven and the truth as it is in Jesus. They cannot grow
in grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour, without feeding by faith upon the doctrines of the Word of God, “the sincere milk of the Word” (I. Peter ii. 2). Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jer. xv. 16). When the child of grace is spiritually healthy and hungry, he will desire to understand, meditate upon, and have applied to his heart by divine power, solemn and humbling doctrine as well as that which is sweet and comforting.
Fourthly:
There cannot be, on the part of the true disciples of Christ, a walking in love towards God and men and good and holy fruit in their conversation and practice, apart from sound doctrine being made light and life to them in their hearts. Christ abides in them, not only by His Spirit, but also by His Word. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Collos. iii. 16); and Jesus also says, “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing” (John xv. 5). And further, the application of sound doctrine is required in the Church of Christ, in its visible and organised state, if scriptural order, worship, government and discipline are to be preserved, and Gospel purity maintained, in the midst of an evil world.
In conclusion, we write not here of what some describe as “dry doctrine,” but of “sound doctrine” as set forth in God’s Word, and which He has blessed to precious souls, in His great mercy and to His own eternal praise.