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Christian Leadership Training Course

By J.C. Choate

Lesson 23

Doctrinal Soundness

In this study think with me about the preacher and his doctrinal soundness. We are talking about the doctrine of Christ and one’s dedication to that.

Of course there are many churches, with all of their varying doctrines and practices. They would have their own preachers, rules and regulations, or the lack of them. There are also many other religious groups. But we are not interested in those –– any of those. We are interested, however, in what the Bible teaches, and in being faithful in abiding by that teaching, and in proclaiming it to others.

To begin with, for a preacher to be doctrinally sound, that is, sound in his beliefs and in his preaching what the Bible teaches –– naturally he must believe himself to the point of obeying the Lord, being saved, and being added to the Lord’s church by Christ Himself. In other words, how can he teach others to do what he has not done himself, unless he is a hireling, and a hireling stands condemned in the Bible and should be rejected by the Lord’s people.

A preacher, then, is a man who has heard the gospel, believed it, repented of his sins, confessed Christ as the Son of God, and has been baptized, or buried in water, for the remission of his sins (Mark 16:15,16; Luke 13:3; Matthew 10:32; Acts 2:38). Having done these things, the Lord has saved him and added him to His church, to Christ’s church, the one and only church in the Bible (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 4:1-6; Colossians 1:18). Now that he has obeyed the Lord, and has become a member of the Lord’s church, he is a Christian, and is prepared to worship God each first day of the week and to live the Christian life.

As a Christian, this man has decided to preach the gospel. What does this work require? It means that he must read and study God’s word and adequately prepare himself to preach. He must know and understand God’s will to the point that he can teach it to others, without adding to it, subtracting from it, or substituting for it in any way (Revelation 22:18,19; Galatians 1:6-9). He must realize the seriousness of abiding by the doctrine and teaching of Christ. We read of the first Christians, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). The apostles’ doctrine in which they were continuing was the teaching of Christ. The Apostle John said, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). James said, “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25). We can easily see from these scriptures that a preacher, or any Christian, must be faithful to God and must continue to abide in the doctrine or teaching of the Lord if he is to be acceptable. These scriptures also teach that if one does not do so, God will not be with him and bless him.

In speaking to Timothy and Titus, Paul talks about sound doctrine, sound speech, etc. In 1 Timothy 1:10 Paul lists such sins as murder, immorality, and lying, saying that they are contrary to sound doctrine and sound teaching. He urged in 2 Timothy 1:13, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” Again, “sound teaching” means teaching that is from God. To Titus Paul said concerning his work as a teacher, “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:10-16).

Paul continues by saying, “Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). After exhorting Titus concerning teaching aged men, aged women, young women, and young men, of their duties and responsibilities, he concludes this by saying, “Sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:8). He gives further instructions and adds, “not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you” (Titus 2:10-15).

We could go on reading in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and other such letters where so much is said about being doctrinally sound in faith, speech, in morals, in dealing with others, and in all teaching and preaching.

This is why preachers need to study the Bible and fully know and understand what it teaches, to be able to do a good job teaching it to others. One should be well versed in the Old Testament, the history of the Jews, the differences between the Covenants, why the Old Testament law is no longer in force, and why the New Testament law is binding on men today (Hebrews 9 and 10). The preacher must understand the doctrines concerning the gospel and the plan of salvation, the conversions in Acts, and all about the Lord’s church, and its organization (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Mark 16:15,16; Ephesians 5).

There are so many other things in the Bible which a preacher must know in order to preach and teach the whole truth. He must, at the same time, be aware of false teaching and always oppose error, of course with love, but with firmness.