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III.
The Way to Christ
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Chapter
29
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Importance of Sound Doctrine
1. DOES it matter what one
believes, so long as he is sincere?
"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation
through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of
the truth." 2 Thess. 2:13.
NOTE.-
Doctrine affects the life. Truth leads to
life and God; error to death and destruction. No one
would think of saying it matters not what god
one worships, so long as he is sincere any more than
he would think of saying it matters not what one
eats or drinks, so long as he relishes
what he eats and drinks; or what road he
travels, so long as he thinks he is on the
right road. Sincerity is a virtue; but it is not the
test of sound doctrine. God wills that we shall know
the truth, and He has made provision whereby
we may know what is truth.
2. Did Joshua think it immaterial what God Israel
served?
"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity
and in truth: and put away the gods which your
fathers served on the other side of the flood and in
Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil
unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye
will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served
that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell : but as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua
24:14,15.
NOTE.-The influence of all idolatrous worship is
degrading. See Rom. 1:21-32; Numbers 15; 1 Cor.
10:20; 1 John 5:21.
3. How may we determine the
truthfulness of any doctrine?
"Prove all things; hold fast that
which is good." 1 Thess. 5:21.
4. By what should we test, or prove, all doctrine?
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no
light in them." Isa. 8:20.
NOTE.-The Bible is the test of all doctrine.
Whatever does not harmonize and square with this, is
not to be received. "There is but one standard of
the everlastingly right and the everlastingly wrong,
and that is the Bible."- T .DeWitt Talmage.
5. Of what kind of doctrines should we beware?
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine."
Eph. 4:14. See also Heb. 13:9.
6. What is a "wind of doctrine"?
"And the prophets shall become wind, and the
word is not in them." Jer. 5:13.
NOTE.-Calling a doctrine a wind of doctrine does not
make it such. That is a wind of doctrine which is
not sustained by the Word of God.
7. For what is all scripture profitable?
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine." 2 Tim. 3:16.
8. What advice was given to Timothy while preparing
for the gospel ministry?
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine. . . . Take heed unto
thyself, and unto the doctrine." 1 Tim. 4:13-16.
9. What solemn charge was given
him concerning his public work?
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the
dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the
word; . . . reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long-suffering and doctrine." 2 Tim. 4:1,2.
10. Why did the apostle say this duty was so
imperative?
"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 unto fables." Verses 3,4.
11. What similar instruction was given to Titus?
"But speak thou the things which become sound
doctrine: . . . in all things showing thyself a
pattern of good works: in doctrine showing
uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity." Titus 2:1-7.
12. What will sound doctrine enable the faithful
teacher to do?
"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 1:9.
13. What danger attends the teaching of false
doctrine?
"Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith
of some." 2 Tim. 2:18.
14. Who are the disciples of Jesus, and what gracious
work does the truth do for those who receive it?
"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." John 8:31,32.
15. Through what are they to be sanctified?
"Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is
truth." John 17:17.
16. What kind of worship results from false teaching?
"But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:9.
17. Can we close our ears to truth, and remain
innocent before God?
"He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. 28:9.
18. What did Christ say of those
who will to do God's will?
"If any man willeth to do His will, he
shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God, or
whether I speak from Myself." John 7:17, R.V. See also
Ps. 25:9; John 8:12.
19. What will God allow to come to
those who reject truth?
"Because they receive not the love of the
truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: that they all might be damned who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:10-12.
20. By what doctrines are some to be misled in the
last days?
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1
Tim. 4:1. See 2 Peter 2:1.
21. What fate awaits blind
teachers and their followers?
"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the
blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall
fall into the ditch." Matt. 15:14.
22. To whom will the gates of the heavenly city
finally be opened?
"Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which
keepeth the truth may enter in." Isa. 26:2. See also
Rev. 22:14.
Truth is
the gem for which we seek,
O tell us where shall it be found!
For this we search, and pray, and weep,
That truth may in our hearts abound.
We want the
truth on every point,
We want it all to practice by;
Do thou, O Lord, our eyes anoint
With a fresh unction from on high.
CHARLOTTE
HASKINS. |
