07/18/23 SOUND DOCTRINE LEADS TO GODLY LIVING

07/18/23 SOUND DOCTRINE LEADS TO GODLY LIVING

LET TRUTH TRANSFORM YOU AND CONFORM YOU

I address Biblical doctrines (teachings) as much as I do because our lives are guided by what we actually believe.
I present God in the light of His moral traits, because that is what determines God's actions, which in turn determines our lives.
I focus on doctrines, truths that transform our lives, more than I focus on ideas, which have no bearing on our behavior.

GOD IS
God is holy (righteous, pure), we are called to be holy (righteous, pure).
God is love and loving, we are called to love and be loving.
God is just, we are called to be just.
God is merciful, we are called to be merciful.
God is kind, we are called to be kind.
God is patient, we should be patient.
God is true and honest, we should be true and honest.
God is forgiving, we should be forgiving.
God is faithful, we should be faithful.
God is compassionate, we should be compassionate.
God is gracious and giving, we should be gracious and giving.

GOD IS ALSO
God is also wise, we should trust His Word and His Spirit.
God is also sovereign, we should be submissive and obedient.
God is eternal, we should be eternally minded rather than temporally minded.
God is also Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we should be familial and social beings.
God is also One, we should worship and serve only Him.
God is also Creator, Sustainer, we can and should depend on Him.

ATTENDING PASSAGES
I realize the following list of passages is long, BUT they are well worth considering, in relationship to this post. Don't skim the passages. Take time to absorb the great truths. All of them. 

Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

1 Timothy 1:3-11
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,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
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;
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 

2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 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;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

Titus 1:7-9
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
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. 

Titus 2:1-15
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.