9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
If a pastor holds fast to God’s Word, he will be able by sound doctrine to exhort and convict those who contradict the Bible.
that he may be able,
The leader committed to “the faithful word” will outwork that loyalty to the Word of God with a certain ability in doctrine to exhort and convict those who deviate from God’s truth. This person is equipped in knowledge of what God wants for His congregation.
God will give us the ability to deal with false teachers. He will do this by giving us capacity in “sound doctrine.”
“That” is so that. The purpose of devotion to the Word of God by a leader is to do two things: 1) to exhort and 2) convict those that contradict God’s Word. The leader is to encourage believers by sound doctrine and to refute false teachers.
by sound doctrine,
“Doctrine” means teaching. God will enable teachers to understand the systematic content of the Word of God.
“Sound” means healthy or wholesome. We get the English word “hygienic” from the Greek word. This medical metaphor warns of sick doctrine from false teachers and offers healthy doctrine to people true to Scripture. A great deal of doctrine out there is unhealthy for the soul. It will produce anemic Christians.
Homosexuality is an example of sick doctrine:
1Ti 1: 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
“Sound” repeatedly occurs in this epistle indicating the importance of acquainting ourselves with sound doctrine (1:13; 2:1, 8).
PRINCIPLE:
Grasp of biblical truth is essential for a Christian leader.
APPLICATION:
The best teaching method is verse-by-verse because this approach addresses all of God’s Word. The Bible expositor leaves nothing out. This style does not leave the judgment to the pastor to choose what he wants his congregation to hear. Verse-by-verse exposition is systematic and complete (Co 1:25).
Popular preaching of our day does not preach the Bible fully. Neither do preachers direct their people to the Bible as the source for truth and practice. Their purpose is to entertain. They do not want to appear threatening or challenging to their congregation. They want to be popular and sensational.
Solid teaching will produce strong and solid believers by healthy doctrine. If you sit under ministry that teaches sick doctrine then you will become an anemic Christian. You will be susceptible to every religious fad that comes down the pike. It will sound good to you because you do not know the Word of God. You will not have the spiritual stamina that you need to throw off spiritual sicknesses. You will find yourself in faddish movements.
Teens do not like spinach and turnips. They will like on cokes and potato chips if we let them. There are people in Christianity like that. They do not want solid teaching. All they can take into their souls is spiritual superficiality. It will catch up to them.
I struggle with the correct application of these passages. Because it is almost impossible to read another persons heart. All of these qualities of character can be played out on the surface but who can know the heart.
Many times the unbeliever does a better job raising his children living a moral clean life than the believer does.
It seems from my observation many believers are so legalistic that the life of faith, hope and love is lost. Seems like when a pastor falls into sin the congregation can’t wait to eat him alive regardless whether he’s got the gift to teach or not. Do you have any thoughts about this. My thoughts on this verse are the following:
Blamelessness does not imply perfection but rather that these qualifications are characteristic of his life. Jesus Christ is the only one who is perfect.
Beholding Christ in the word should transform our hearts and the fruits of a virtuous should be reflected.
Spiritual maturity in leadership is required so the message is creditable.
It is important to remember that leaders are not to be worshipped or put on a pedestal. They all possess a fallen nature and are susceptible to the various lusts of the flesh.
To place leadership under the microscope of perfection only leads to ledgalism that takes our attention off of Christ.
The sad part is when leadership falls into sin it causes the immature believer to discredit the message. Because they have their eyes on the messenger and not the message.
Lack of spiritual understanding in leadership leads to one thinking he is perfect and guess what happens. Pride comes before the fall.
Look at the life of Peter . He was the one who said he would never forsake the Lord. God had to break him and his pride before he could use him. He’s the one who denied the Lord three times.
Jim, I don’t think the issue is “reading another person’s heart.” That would deal with motivation. However, I think these standard relate to objective actions or extant reality in their lives.