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Read Introduction to Titus

 

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.

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