Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Sound Doctrine

Titus 2:1 KJV
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 1:9 KJV
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 chapter one says the preacher must preach sound doctrine. Chapter two says he must also preach things that "become" sound doctrine. The word "become" means in the Greek to "tower up" or to make something conspicuous and comely.

It is not only important that Christians believe the right things, but it is also important that they behave in a way that makes what they claim to believe look appealing. Woe is the day in which we live where almost anything passes as appropriate behaviour for a Christian! We have drinking, immorality, immodesty dishonesty and a number of other sins openly practiced by people who claim to be Christians. We have rebellious children, lustful husbands, and wandering wives, all telling us they believe Jesus is their Saviour. It ought not so to be.

And it follows (and is the point of this chapter) that the preacher must not only preach messages of theology and doctrinal truth but must then also bring instruction to his congregation concerning proper behaviour of the child of God.
He is to preach to the aged men
He is to preach to the older women
He is to preach to the younger men and women

No one is to be left out. No age group, no social class is to be excluded. His task requires he not only preach doctrinal truths but that he also instruct the members of the church how to behave in a manner that is becoming to his message.

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