Why Doctrines Matter

Introduction

The word doctrine means “something that is taught.” In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is leqah, meaning what is received. The concept is shown in Deuteronomy 32:2 which states:

Deuteronomy 32:2 NIV84

2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

Proverbs 4:2 NIV84

2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

In the New Testament, the Greek word didaskalia means both the act and the content of teaching. Another form, didachē, means either the act or the content of teaching. Matthew 7:28

Matthew 7:28 NIV84

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

It is important to note that the idea of teaching is a theme throughout the Bible. In some form, teach, teaching or taught is listed over 300 times. It is important to understand what is taught and why it is taught. This understanding gives us great insight into what it means to have sound doctrine. To understand this more, I want to invite you this morning to look at the example of Jesus.

Stories of Our Savior

Jesus was the Master Teacher. He taught in parables that were about real life situations. Jesus used the parables to paint a picture of His truth and always there was a lesson to learn. Each lesson clarified the mission and purpose of Jesus. They all seem to point to what Jesus the person was about and what He wanted those He taught to learn. Such is the case of the simple parable Jesus told at the end of His sermon on the mount.

Matthew 7:24–29 NIV84

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Shifting Sands

Several years ago there was a movie called “Nights in Rodanthe.” It was a romantic movie about a man meeting a lady on a remote beach. This interesting thing about this movie for me was that it was filmed in Rodanthe, which is on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Recently, Rodanthe has been in the headlines, not because of a romantic movie, but because of the houses that were right on the ocean that have ended up in the ocean.

Perhaps you have seen these pictures.

Someone at some point said, “Hey let’s build a house as close to the ocean as possible.”

They paid an enormous amount of money for this ocean front house and as you can see, the result of some coastal flooding this week caused this to be a very bad decision.

This is all because something was built on sand.

A faulty foundation will be a problem. In the case of these beach houses, the sand underneath was washed away and therefore the houses were washed away.

A modern day version of

Job 22:16 NIV84

16 They were carried off before their time, their foundations washed away by a flood.

As you can imagine, horrific damage is done a result.

Proverbs 6:15 NIV84

15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Why would anyone make a decision to build on something that would not be solid and lasting?

We are often prone to do the easiest thing. We have a tendency to look for the simple shortcuts.

Simple Shortcuts

Proverbs 21:5 NIV84

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Why do people take those shortcuts? I think the biggest factor is that people want to save time. How fast can we get what we want? Good things come to those that wait right? By the way, that is phrase is not in the Bible but something close is:

Lamentations 3:25–26 NIV84

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

That however, is opposite of a simple shortcut. People also want to get treasures that make them find satisfaction. Jesus said,

Luke 12:34 NIV84

34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Our hearts get in the wrong place and we substitute the treasures of earth for the treasures that are lasting in heaven. We want immediate satisfaction. The Rolling Stones knew that in 1965 when they came out with the hit, I can’t get know satisfaction. It is one of the world's most popular songs, and was No. 31 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2021. I believe I could come up with a list of 500 songs much better couldn’t you?

The point is that we seek satisfaction in things that God says let’s think about another way. We build that foundation on sand which leaves us in a mess when the waves come crashing in on us.

We tend to have seasons of thoughtlessness. Have you ever done something that you wished you had not? Maybe you have been like me and did something really regretful. As you are beating yourself up, you ask, “What was a thinking?” The truth of the matter is, you were not!

Habakkuk 2:9 NIV84

9 “Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!

Shifting sands and simple shortcuts leave us like beach houses built too close to the ocean.

Jesus in is incredible wisdom told us this parable that we might have some solid solutions.

Solid Solutions

Just like in building a house that is structurally sound, we have to build our lives on solid ground. You have heard this verse more than once over the years from me, but I reiterate that this is absolutely the surest truth you can stand on:

John 14:6 NIV84

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus did not say, “I am a way.” He did not say, “I am a truth.” He did not say, “I am a life.” The emphasis clearly points to the fact the Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Anytime you hear a so-called minister say that Jesus is a way, a truth, a life, you re on shifting sand. Over a matter of time, the waves, the wind, the things of this life that beat on us, will eventually where down the way, truth and life if it is not build on Jesus.

Psalm 40:2–3 NIV84

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

When we have our feet placed on the solid ground, we are given a new song and a hymn of praise. In other words, we will have something to sing about!

We will be able to sing because we have been given sound doctrine. Sound doctrine will help us succeed in every area of our lives.

Titus 2:1 NIV84

1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

The word for sound is hugiaino and it refers to “Christians whose opinions are free from any mixture of error and of one who keeps the graces and is strong.”

How do you know what is of sound doctrine? Is it free from the mixture of error? Is it from one that is promoting grace? Is is self-seeking or is it based on love? Does it contradict scripture?

1 Timothy 6:3–5 NIV84

3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:26 that if you do not put into practice His words, you are building your spiritual house on the they trying to build on shifting sand. So often the person hears what Jesus is saying, he or she enjoys the process of hearing it all but fails to put it into practice. That person comes to church but fails to have the necessary relationship. Then they come crumbling down. Their doctrine is not sound and their lives “fall with a great crash.”

It is imperative that you start on solid ground. It is a must that you succeed with sound doctrine. As you grow, you will strengthen your structure.

How does one strengthen their structure?

You build on the truth of Christ and you grow in your relationship with Him.

Psalm 119:28 NIV84

28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

The more you study the Word of God, the stronger you become. You put into practice the teachings of Jesus. What are some of these teachings? Jesus taught about His relationship with His Father and the Holy Spirit. That is the doctrine of the Trinity or Triune God. He taught about Scripture. He taught about salvation. He taught about the church. Each of these areas are sound doctrines that will help strengthen your structure. If Jesus taught about these things, we need to have an understanding about them as well and put them into practice!

This world is a mess. It is clear that there has been some building on shifting sands. I truly believe that we are experiencing so much pain and suffering right now because we have accepted every way but the way that Jesus declared. We are paying for it dearly. Lives are being taken because people have put all their hope in things other than Jesus. When the rains and winds of life beat them down, they have nothing to turn to and nothing to live for, and therefore, they end up turning to everything but Jesus. And that will fail them too. What happens in your life when the waters start to rise? What are you prepared for? It is not too late to get on solid ground!