Now More Than Ever
By Debi Adams
I believe we live in a time where the importance of sound doctrine is more critical than any other time in history! The culture we live in is calling wrong right and right wrong. We are warned of this very thing: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
I think we all have experienced seeing people who go from person to person, pastor to pastor, church to church or counselor to counselor looking for someone to agree with them. They are not seeking the truth, they just want someone to agree with them. The warning in the Bible is very clear!
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
It is so vital that we spread the gospel the way it was written and in the context in which it was written. If we do not, we are in danger of leading ourselves and others astray. Let’s compare this simple truth to working a long division math problem. If you do not apply the foundational truths of mathematics throughout the whole equation, then you will not be able to solve the problem. Now, compare this to the Word of God! It is one thing to know the Word, but we only benefit when we apply it exactly how it was written and in the context in which it was written.
I was teaching a Bible study in a forensic unit on the importance of applying the word of God to your life. I told them to picture someone who was given the job of working in a garden all day. They were given all the necessary tools to accomplish the task at hand. In addition to the tools, they were given a bottle of suntan lotion. They had the suntan lotion in their back pocket all day but neglected to apply it, so they were severely sunburnt. May we always apply sound doctrine in every area of our lives!
Sound doctrine is extremely important because our beliefs affect our actions.
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16).
There are many benefits to understanding and applying sound doctrine to our lives, but I will list just a few of them:
1. Instructions in Righteousness
2. Complete & thoroughly equipped for every good work
3. You will be saved, and those who hear you will be saved
4. We are cleansed
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
I encourage you to walk worthy of the calling to which you have been called and to make sure that you apply sound doctrine to your life!
