SPIRITUAL SOUNDNESS

Intro.

1.  Some scoff at the gospel teaching that Christians can be united in doctrine: "What is your criteria for determining unity & fellowship?"

  a.  Must we write a creed to determine truth & error to define fellowship?

  b.  Must we catalog every Biblical guideline of truth before brethren will agree that God expects us to "have no fellowship" with sin (Eph. 5:11)?!

  c.  Are we able to know & properly apply the word of God? (Eph. 5:17)

2.  Sound: "to be sound, to be well, to be in good health; metaph. of Christians whose opinions are free from any mixture of error" (Thayer) - Lk. 5:31; 3 Jno. 2; 1 Tim. 6:3.

3.  The Lord expects you & me to be spiritually sound!

I.  CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE SOUND:

  A.  In The Faith - Titus 1:13 (Jude 3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

    1.  Doctrine - 1 Tim. 1:10; Tit. 2:7.

    2.  Words of Jesus Christ - 1 Tim. 6:3.

      a.  Jno. 13:20; 1 Cor. 14:37 - Apostles sent -- Hear them!

      b.  2 Tim. 1:13 - Pattern of sound words (Tit. 2:7):

        (1)  hupotuposis (compound of hupo, under & tupos, imprint: hence, a pattern put under so as to match it).

        (2)  the pattern in conformity to which a thing must be made.

  B.  In Personal Faith - Titus 2:2.

    -Life of trust in & obedience to the Lord - 2 Pet. 1:3-7.

  C.  In Speech - Titus 2:8; cf. Col. 4:6; Jas. 1:26.

  D.  In Moral Conduct - 1 Tim. 1:9-11; 6:3; Eph. 5:3-7; Tit. 2:11-12.

II.  DIAGNOSING SPIRITUAL ILLNESS.

  A.  Recognize, Accept & Use A Common Standard Of Soundness - 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (Col. 3:17; 2 Pet. 1:3).

    1.  Study them to know truth - 2 Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:11-12 (Jno. 5:39).

    2.  Examine self in light of truth - 2 Cor. 13:5.

  B.  Know The Cause Of Spiritual Illness: Sin! - Rom. 6:23; 1 Jno. 5:17

    1.  Teaching doctrinal error is a spiritual disease (sin) - Gal. 1:8-9; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Jno. 9-11.

    2.  Following doctrinal error is a spiritual disease (sin) - 2 Tim. 2:16-18.

    3.  Failure to obey the truth is a spiritual disease (sin) - 2 Pet. 1:8-9 (Jas. 4:17).

III.  CAN WE BE SPIRITUALLY SOUND? Yes!

  A.  We Are Commanded To Be Sound - Eph. 6:10.

  B.  We Have Examples Of Soundness We Are To Follow - Phil. 3:16-17.

  C.  The Objective Of Gospel Preaching Is Our Soundness - Col. 1:28.

  D.  The Reward Of Soundness Is Heaven - 1 Tim. 4:8.

  E.  Our Criterion: Examine Every Doctrine & Practice In The Light Of Apostolic Truth - 1 Jno. 4:1, 6; Rev. 2:2-3.

Conclusion

1.  Those who quibble that we do not have criteria for unity in doctrine & practice are the very ones who argue for tolerance and acceptance of doctrinal differences & moral uncertainties (spiritual illness)! - 2 Tim. 4:3

2.  Will you be sound?