LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Timothy 1:13, Hold fast the pattern of sound teaching which you have heard from me (Paul), in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

 

After the last page of the blog, it seems to me the verse from 2 Timothy is pretty good advice to follow. Hold on to sound teaching! Paul knew he was not going to live much longer. In the verse 12, he states that even in the persecution he was facing, his hope and joy in walking the narrow way with Jesus Christ never wavered; he knew the power of Jesus Christ to faithfully walk him into the kingdom of God and eternal life there.

 

I hope I was clear yesterday about the deception all around us, about those who want to tell us what to think, and truth no longer being important to those in the world. “Sound doctrine is the original and fundamental revelation of Jesus Christ and the apostles, the doctrines taught to Timothy by Paul” (LSSB).  Paul was making sure Timothy knew he must “hold fast” to these teachings in “faith and love” for Jesus Christ and never depart from them or compromise them. He was to do this even if it meant persecution, being rejected by people, or worse. The notes in the DJSB tells us “the gospel must be guarded as a treasure”. That is because the words of Scripture are given to us by the writers who were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write what they did (2 Timothy 3:16-17). They are not to be added or taken away from. They are be used to help us walk the narrow way to eternal life in God’s kingdom.

 

In the times we live, sound teaching is a must. Knowing what the Bible says, knowing doctrine is so important. But it is not just about knowledge. The knowledge of doctrine must affect our behavior. As one learns what the Bible says, there must be a desire to live by the faith and love the Lord Jesus Christ extended to us through His life, crucifixion, and resurrection. Paul told Timothy and us that mere studying the Word of God and then not following its instructions was not good enough.

 

Paul’s words are instructions to us today. Be careful about who you listen to or read. Make sure Scripture is not being “watered-down” so that it can be socially accepted or be politically correct. I would never attend a church where this is done. I would not read any blog where this is done just to get readers. The truth can never be compromised; it must be shared by faith and in love. Paul shares in verse 14 that the way to do this, the way to guard the truth is by the help of the Holy Spirit. Go back to 2 Timothy 3:16 and see that the Holy Spirit is the guide and defender of all truth.

 

You and I must not just know “sound teaching”, we must let it transform our lives to be who God wants us to be and to stay on the narrow way. I believe it is more important than ever today. Be encouraged! Stay in God’s Word! Do all you can to walk on the narrow way and keep the faith and trust Him to keep you in the days ahead.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB.