Sound Doctrine Begets Solid Faith – Titus 2:1-10
We all go see the doctor from time to time. Likewise, we all expect our doctors to know what they are doing. We expect the surgeon to know how to operate safely and effectively. We expect the oncologist to recommend appropriate cancer treatments. Regardless of the illness or injury, regardless of a doctor’s specialty, his or her ability to treat patients accordingly begins with the right knowledge. A doctor can’t effectively treat if he doesn’t have the right knowledge. Hence, medical school.
We saw in Titus chpt. 1 that God wants us to have sound (solid) faith. Guess what? Sound faith isn’t the result of osmosis. It doesn’t just appear by random accident. Sound faith is the result of putting sound doctrine into practice. So if we want sound or solid faith, we must learn and practice sound doctrine. Anyone who believes doctrine isn’t important to the Christian faith doesn’t understand the Christian faith, and a faith that person possesses it weak, at best.
Today’s text will reveal that not all doctrine is deep. It’s not all mind-blowing. A lot of it has to do with basic stuff. It covers the daily routine; it covers ‘normal life’. Unfortunately, this basic stuff can be the hardest to master because it requires getting the flesh under control. That’s hard. But it’s a necessity for strong, solid faith.