Doctrine Is Essential | 1 Timothy 3:15

Introduction:  Last week we started laying the groundwork for our series on Baptist Distinctives. We are Baptist not because of denominational ties or traditions, but because of what the Bible teaches. Baptist is synonymous with Bible.

We started in 2 Timothy 2:14-18 with Paul exhorting Timothy to maintain doctrinal purity.

Vs. 14 – False teaching has no profit. As a matter of fact, the result of false teaching according to Paul is the word “subverting,” which is the Greek word “katastrophe.” False doctrine leads to destruction.

Vs. 15 – The way to prevent catastrophe is through diligent study. Rightly dividing, or “cutting straight” the Word of God will lead to a life without being ashamed. 

Vs. 16 – Paul tells Timothy to “shun” or “avoid” those that proclaim unholy and useless teachings – false doctrine.  

Vs. 17 – “Canker” refers to gangrene or rot. False doctrine will affect everything it touches.

Vs. 18 – They were teaching that the resurrection of the saints was already past and it was costing believers their hope and faith.  

So Paul makes it clear that doctrinal is of utmost importance. And where there is a difference in doctrine, there should be separation. Paul’s letters make it clear that Doctrine Is Essential.

And before we think this sounds too simplistic, look around at the religious landscape. It seems as if even Baptists are like Baskin Robbins Ice Cream – 31 different flavors. The name on the sign implies similarities, but you almost never know what you’re getting, even with the Baptist label.

Wouldn’t that be strange if you went to the store and the labels mean nothing? It says, “Refried Beans” but it could chicken noodle soup. It says, “Sweetened Condensed Milk” but it could be chicken feet. That would be ridiculous.

But in some ways that explains the direction of modern churches. They’re called something, but the name could mean anything.

Two Warnings of Balance:

I’m not questioning the love others have for God or their sincerity.

They may love God more than I do, but that doesn’t change the fact that doctrine matters and we have a rightly to rightly dive and teach the Word of Truth.

Second warning of balance: While we are looking to have the right position, we should strive to have the right disposition.

We shouldn’t forsake matters of Christlikeness just because we stand strong on what the Bible teaches. It’s possible to have the right position and disposition, which is something that fundamental Baptists should continually strive for.  

I. Doctrine Is Essential Because Truth Is Under Attack

Not just specific truths, but the concept of truth is under attack. There are those attacking the existence of objective truth. The postmodernist says, “There are no absolutes. What is true to you is universally true.”

So if I say, “2+2=5” that’s my truth and you can’t counter it.

If I say, “My body says male but my identity says female” that’s my truth and you can’t say anything.

That’s where we are. We’ve almost moved past postmodernism and become post-truth. In fact, in 2016, the term “post-truth” was named Word of the Year by the Oxford Dictionary. That’s our culture.

So considering that, would we say that that truth needs more or less representation?

Answer: More.

Clearly, in the same way that our culture needs to see examples of feminine and masculine. Because gender is under attack.

The same thing is true for truth.

So here’s the second part of that line of reasoning: Where will the culture see truth, if not in a biblical NT church like Eastside?

Answer: Very few places.

So now isn’t the time to downplay truth. It’s time to embrace it.

1 Timothy 3:15 - A pillar is a support. Ground is the basis or foundation.

So if there should be a place to find truth, it should be in a local NT, Baptist church. If we’re Biblicists then truth should be more strongly supported here than anywhere else.

And we should view truth, all truth as essential.

Some credit Augustine as the first one that said, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”

It sounds good on the surface, but when you dissect that statement, he was saying that some truth is non-essential. So my question is, which truth is non-essential?

Salvation?

Eternal security or assurance of salvation?

The right stand on the ordinances?

The nature and function of the church?

The future judgment and (end-time) events?

We have to ask: Is any truth non-essential? Are there Doctrines less important than others?

We want people to feel welcome and comfortable, is that the priority over doctrine?

According to what Paul wrote, all truth and Doctrine matters. Even the beliefs that others might label as non-essential.

II. Doctrine is Essential because it’s our calling as a truth to convey it

Just consider how often he mentioned doctrine:

1 Timothy 1:3 “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,”

That means Paul was tight about the doctrine. No OTHER doctrine.

In Paul’s mind, there is absolute truth and anything else should not be taught.

“But that’s so harsh and judgmental. How will people feel if they believe differently.” I’m not sure Paul was overly concerned about it. Pure doctrine came first for him.

It’s not popular to claim exclusivity in religion. The popular explanation is that all paths lead to God. But Jesus Christ was exclusive in His claim as the only way to God in John 14:6. Things that are different are not the same.

1 Timothy 1:9-11 (Vs. 10 – For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;)

Paul lumps those that teach anything other than sound doctrine with the ungodly, sinners, unholy, murderers and whoremongers. If we don’t think teaching sound Doctrine Matters we’re not paying attention to Paul’s writings.

1 Timothy 4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 

1 Timothy 4:13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Attendance means to give attention to. It means to bring near in such a way that you can touch it.That’s what we’re doing in this series - give attendance to Doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Paul tells Timothy that both his personal conduct and his public teaching of doctrine will benefit both himself and others. To save means to deliver. Pure doctrine delivers people from the trappings of deception and sin.

III. Doctrine is essential because what you believe impacts what you do

 1 Timothy 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

1 Timothy 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

Our behavior confirms our beliefs. There’s a strong connection between what we believe and how we behave. Sound Doctrine impacts behavior.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 (read all 3)  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

The result of wrong Doctrine is spiritual catastrophe. “Withdraw.”

2 Timothy 3:10  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly…

Perfect=Complete. You can’t be a complete Christian without Doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:2-3  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.

If that doesn’t describe our society I don’t know what does. That’s why we need to give attendance to Doctrine, because it has been downplayed as non-essential. So truth needs representation. No one else is going to represent truth in this culture. It is the responsibility of Bible believers.

Titus 1:9  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.

We aren’t in the entertainment industry. We are supposed to preach and teach truth. Sound doctrine is the way to help and exhort and convince people. We must simply be known as a place where someone can go to hear truth. If that’s all we did, scripturally speaking, we are fulfilling our purpose. 

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

Titus 2:7  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Titus 2:10  Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Purloining – Holding back or hiding something.

Fidelity is faith or conviction. The challenge here is to servants or employees to have a testimony of faith before their Employers.

If we believe God is honest and faithful, then we ought to be. Our doctrine determines our behavior and our behavior confirms our Doctrine.

When you read Paul’s Pastoral Epistles, it doesn’t take much of an analysis to realize that all Doctrine Matters. There’s no such thing as non-essential Doctrine.

Primary Takeaway:

There is absolute truth, it all matters, we can know it, and we’re responsible to represent it both in our teaching and behavior.

The question is will we commit to learning it and living it?

Yes it’s absolute, it matters, it’s knowable and we are responsible for it, but in an age in which truth is questioned at every turn, how willing are we to be the ones that take the time to know it and then have the courage to stand for it? To live it out it?

We say Doctrine is Essential, but how essential is it to you?

Does it matter enough for you to study it?

Is it essential enough for you to represent it at school?

How about at work?

Is it essential enough to you to represent it at home while also maintaining a Christ-like spirit at the same time?

Aleksander Solzhenitsyn (soul-juh-NIT-sun) was a Russian novelist who won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. He was a critic of the Soviet Union and Communism and because of it he ended up spending years in the Gulag – the Soviet forced labor camp system.

In his Nobel lecture he said, “One word of truth shall outweigh the whole world.” If anyone was passionate about truth, it was him. In a Communist climate, all the information is spun in such a way that it fits the narrative regardless of the facts.

(By the way, that’s where we’re headed as well. It’s exhausting trying to muddle through the spins and slants that are presented by politicians and the media. If you’ve watched any of the confirmation hearings the last week, it’s incredible the angles that the enemies of the candidates come from. The source of information has to be considered just as much as the things that are being said.

Which means, folks, that there will come a time that people are starving for truth. Which makes those representing God’s Truth, the most important truth, all the more essential. Because in an absence of truth, I believe there comes a day when people start seeking it again. They want anything real they can find. If we will simply learn, declare and live out truth, we will be a source that is like a refreshing drink of water after a long walk in the desert.

We must commit to this fact: Doctrine is Essential. Why?

It’s Under Attack

We’re Called To Represent It

It Will Impact The Way We Live, thus giving us more credibility as witnesses

In a 1978 speech, Solzhenitsyn said, “…truth is seldom pleasant; it is almost invariably bitter.”

And maybe that’s the reason so many in our culture and even in churches have downplayed the essential nature of doctrine. Because truth divides. It separates. It’s polarizing. It can be bitter.

Have you ever told someone the truth in a way that you thought would be a help to them but it backfired and affected or ended the relationship?

When you have family or friends that don’t believe like you that’s a tough balance. They need the truth but it can be bitter. That’s why it’s important to always balance a right position with the right disposition. Convey truth with love.

If bitterness is the result, we want it to happen because of the position, not the disposition. On the other hand, we can’t let the dividing nature of truth cause us to stop declaring it. We have to believe what Christ told His disciples in John 8:32, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

It doesn’t mean it’s easy. But it does mean it’s right. It’s essential.

Doctrine is Essential:

Because We Live In A Culture That Attacks Truth

Because It’s Our Calling As A Church To Convey Truth

Because The Truth We Believe Impacts Our Behavior

So, in the words of Solzhenitsyn (Soul-juh-NIT-sin) no matter how seldom pleasant and how often bitter the truth can seem, it is essential to our culture, to our calling, and to our behavior.

So really, the only choice we have is to embrace Doctrine. To view it all as essential. And trust that God will bless us for representing truth no matter how it’s received.  

Three Questions:

Are you willing to invest in learning Doctrine?

Are you willing to represent truth to a world that needs it? Even if it makes you or them uncomfortable?

Are you willing to balance the right position with the right disposition?