ÒSound DoctrineÓ

 

ÒSpeak thou the things which become sound doctrine.Ó (Titus 2:1)

 

There are but two forms of religion in the world. One is true. The other is false. One is saving. The other is damning. One is Òsound doctrine,Ó the doctrine of Holy Scripture, the Òdoctrine of God our SaviourÓ (Titus 2:10). The other is false doctrine, Òthe doctrine of vanitiesÓ (Jeremiah 10:8). Those two forms of religion are free-grace and free-will.

 

      Free-grace declares that salvation is the work of God alone. Free-will declares that salvation is, at least in part, the work of man. Free-grace declares that salvation is conditioned upon the obedience of Christ alone as the sinnerÕs Substitute. Free-will declares that salvation is ultimately and finally conditioned upon the obedience of the sinner himself.

 

      Any doctrine that makes salvation, eternal life, acceptance with God, and the reward of the heavenly inheritance to be dependent upon, or determined by you, at any point or in any measure, is contrary to sound doctrine. To receive, believe,  or embrace such doctrine will be damning to your soul  (Read Galatians 5:1-4).

 

      Here are five points of Divine truth by which all doctrine must be examined. Anything that is contrary to, or in any measure diminishes these five points of sound doctrine must be rejected as heresy.

 

1.    Total Depravity — All men by nature are both sinful and helpless, because all are spiritually dead (Matthew 15:19; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-4). Spiritually dead sinners are utterly incapable of doing anything to give themselves life.

 

2.    Unconditional Election — God, from eternity, chose a people in Christ whom He determined to save, without consideration of anything in them or anything that might be done by them (John 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Romans 8:28-30; 9:13-24; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:9-10). Apart from GodÕs electing love there would be no hope for any sinner.

 

3.    Limited Atonement — Christ died for and redeemed His elect, all His elect, and only His elect. The benefits of ChristÕs death are limited to the elect; and His death effectually secures their everlasting salvation (Isaiah 53:8-11; John 10:11, 15; Hebrews 9:12). There is not a hint anywhere in Holy Scripture that the Son of God died for, made atonement for, and tried to redeem those who at last perish in hell. To make such a blasphemous assertion is to declare that Jesus Christ is not God. God cannot fail. And it is written of our great Redeemer, ÒHe shall not fail!Ó ÒHe shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied!Ó We rejoice to know that the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ shall never be discovered a miscarriage!

 

4.    Irresistible Grace — God the Holy Spirit calls sinners from spiritual death to spiritual life in Christ by the power of His omnipotent grace, which cannot be successfully resisted by those who are Òthe calledÓ (Psalms 65:4; 110:3; John 6:63; Ephesians 2:8-9). God the Holy Spirit does not try to persuade sinners to come to Christ, if they will. He makes them willing in the day of His power and fetches them to Christ!

 

5.    Perseverance of the Saints — Every sinner chosen by God the Father in election, redeemed by God the Son at Calvary, and called by God the Spirit in grace shall persevere in grace unto eternal glory, because they are all preserved and kept by grace (John 10:27-30; Jeremiah 32:38-40).

 

      If any man preaches Òany other thing that is contrary to sound doctrineÓ (1 Timothy 1:10), he is a false prophet and a deceiver of menÕs souls. He is not to be heard, let alone supported, by any who care for their souls. What should our attitude be toward such? — Let him be damned. That is not a conclusion I have reached. That is the conclusion the Apostle Paul reached by Divine inspiration. You will find it written in Galatians 1:6-8. — ÒI marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.Ó

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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