Standing On What Is Sound

Why Sound Doctrine Is Not Merely Something A Christian Believes—It Is The Truth That Shapes How He Thinks, Lives, Endures, And Finishes

Scripture References

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”

“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” — 2 Timothy 1:13

Introduction — When Truth Becomes A Matter Of Life And Death

There are some things in life you can afford to be wrong about.

You can take the wrong road and eventually turn around. You can buy the wrong pair of shoes and replace them. You can misjudge a person, make a poor decision, or believe something that later proves to be incorrect. Some mistakes are inconvenient. Some are costly.

But there are certain matters about which we simply cannot afford to be wrong.

What we believe about God is one of them.

That is why Paul's words to Titus are so important:

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”

Those words may not initially sound dramatic. There is no Red Sea opening. No fire coming down from heaven. No giant falling before David. No prison doors suddenly swinging open.

It is simply an aging apostle instructing a younger servant of Christ:

Teach what is true.

And yet the spiritual survival of churches, families, ministries, and individual believers depends upon those words.

The word translated “sound” carries the idea of something healthy, wholesome, and free from corruption. It is the opposite of diseased teaching.

Paul therefore was not telling Titus merely to become intellectually sophisticated. He was telling him to give God's people truth that produces spiritual health.

That distinction matters enormously.

Sound doctrine is not theological trivia.

It is not information Christians collect so they can win arguments.

It is not knowing enough Bible verses to impress somebody else.

Sound doctrine is God's truth correctly understood, faithfully believed, courageously proclaimed, and obediently lived.

And notice something important about Titus 2:1.

Paul says:

“But as for you...”

Those words establish a contrast.

Titus was ministering in Crete, surrounded by false teachers and corrupt influences. Paul had already warned him about those who were “insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers” (Titus 1:10).

 Some were teaching things they ought not teach. Others professed to know God while denying Him by their conduct.

Then Paul essentially tells Titus:

That may be what they are doing—but as for you, be different.

That remains God's call to every Christian.

The world may abandon truth.

But as for you…

Religious teachers may soften uncomfortable doctrines.

But as for you…

People around you may redefine sin.

But as for you…

Others may construct a version of Christianity that demands no repentance, holiness, obedience, sacrifice, or transformation.

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.

That instruction has particular importance inside prison.

Prison is filled with voices.

Everybody has an opinion.

Men have theories about God, salvation, judgment, forgiveness, predestination, suffering, the Holy Spirit, prophecy, miracles, heaven, hell, and nearly everything else imaginable.

Somebody heard something from a television preacher.

Another man watched a video.

Someone else read a book.

Another heard something from his cellmate.

And eventually an idea gets repeated so many times that people assume it must be biblical.

But there is only one question that finally matters:

What has God actually said?

The Christian cannot build his faith upon rumors, feelings, traditions, personalities, prison-yard theology, popular culture, or whatever happens to be fashionable in Christianity.

He must build upon the Word of God.

Jesus prayed:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

The Bereans were commended because they examined the Scriptures daily to determine whether the things they were hearing were true (Acts 17:11).

That must become our habit as well.

Open the Bible. Examine the text. Study it carefully. Test everything by Scripture.

Because eventually every Christian discovers something:

When the storm arrives, shallow theology produces shallow roots.

When suffering comes, you need to know something about God's sovereignty.

When guilt attacks you, you need to understand justification and the finished work of Christ.

When temptation comes, you need to understand holiness.

When Satan accuses you, you need to understand grace.

When someone you love dies, you need to understand resurrection.

When prayers seem unanswered, you need to understand providence.

When life makes absolutely no sense, you need to know the character of God.

And when death finally comes for you, you need something stronger than religious sentiment.

You need truth.

Sound doctrine matters because sooner or later life will force you to stand upon what you believe. 

Main Point #1 –  Sound Doctrine Begins With The Word Of God

The first question in sound doctrine must always be:

What does Scripture say?

Not:

What do I feel?

Not:

What have I always believed?

Not:

What does my favorite preacher say?

Not:

What does everybody in my church believe?

Not even:

What would I like to be true?

The Christian's final authority is the revealed Word of God.

Paul wrote:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Notice that doctrine appears first.

God has spoken, and therefore we are not left to invent Christianity for ourselves.

This requires humility.

Sometimes Scripture will confront something we have believed for years. Sometimes it will expose an attitude we have defended.

 Sometimes God's Word will tell us something we do not particularly want to hear.

At that moment we face a choice:

Will I change the Bible to fit me, or will I allow the Bible to change me?

Martin Luther famously emphasized that the conscience of the Christian must be bound to the Word of God. That principle remains essential.

A Christian must become willing to say:

“If Scripture proves me wrong, then I am wrong.”

That is spiritual maturity.

Acts 17:11 describes the Bereans as noble because they:

“searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

Think about that.

They were examining even the teaching of the apostle Paul against Scripture

That is not cynicism.

That is discernment.

Every sermon you hear, every devotional you read, every theological book you study—and yes, every prison devotional you receive—should ultimately be tested by God's Word.

Never believe something merely because somebody sounds confident saying it.

Search the Scriptures. 

Main Point #2 –  Sound Doctrine Must Produce Sound Living

Paul does something remarkable in Titus.

He moves immediately from doctrine to behavior.

After telling Titus to teach sound doctrine, he begins describing how older men, older women, younger women, younger men, servants, and others should live.

Why?

Because biblical doctrine always has consequences.

What you truly believe eventually shows up in how you live.

A man may claim to believe that God is sovereign, but adversity reveals whether he really believes it.

A man may claim to believe that God sees everything, but temptation reveals whether he believes it.

A man may claim that Christ is Lord, but obedience reveals whether those words mean anything.

Sound doctrine is never intended merely to fill the mind.

It must eventually reach the hands, feet, mouth, relationships, habits, and decisions.

Paul later writes:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” (Titus 2:11–12)

Grace teaches us how to live.

Biblical grace never says:

“Christ forgives you, so continue comfortably in sin.”

Biblical grace says:

“Christ has redeemed you—now live like a man who belongs to Him.”

This is where sound doctrine becomes intensely practical.

If God is holy, pursue holiness.

If Christ is Lord, obey Him.

If forgiveness is real, forgive others.

If God is sovereign, trust Him.

If eternity is real, live for eternity.

If judgment is coming, take sin seriously.

If Christ rose from the grave, do not live as though this present world is all there is.

John Calvin repeatedly emphasized that genuine knowledge of God is never separated from reverence and obedience.

The question therefore is not simply:

“Do I know doctrine?”

The deeper question is:

“What is the doctrine I claim to believe doing to my life?”  

Main Point #3 –  Sound Doctrine Protects Us From Spiritual Counterfeits

Counterfeit money succeeds because it resembles genuine money.

False doctrine works the same way.

The most dangerous spiritual error rarely announces itself:

“WARNING: FALSE TEACHING AHEAD.”

It usually contains enough truth to sound convincing.

That is why discernment matters.

Paul warned Titus about people who:

“profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.” (Titus 1:16)

Jesus likewise warned about false prophets appearing in sheep's clothing.

The Christian therefore cannot accept every teaching merely because someone attaches the name of Jesus to it.

Some preaching turns God into a means of becoming wealthy.

Some promises Christians that genuine faith eliminates suffering.

Some minimizes repentance.

Some removes judgment.

Some transforms grace into permission to sin.

Some makes Christianity entirely about emotional experiences.

Others produce endless speculation while ignoring the plain teachings of Scripture.

Sound doctrine protects us.

Imagine sound doctrine as the guardrails along a dangerous mountain road.

The guardrails are not there to ruin your journey.

They are there to keep you from driving over the cliff.

Biblical doctrine functions similarly.

The doctrine of God's holiness keeps us from trivializing sin.

The doctrine of grace keeps us from despair.

The doctrine of justification keeps us from trying to earn salvation.

The doctrine of sanctification keeps us from becoming comfortable with sin.

The doctrine of providence keeps us from believing life is controlled by chance.

The doctrine of resurrection keeps us from hopelessness.

The doctrine of judgment reminds us that our choices have eternal significance.

The doctrine of Christ reminds us that salvation is found in Him alone.

Doctrine protects.

Charles Spurgeon once described discernment not merely as distinguishing right from wrong, but distinguishing right from almost right.

That is often the harder battle.  

Main Point #4 –  Sound Doctrine Gives You Something To Stand On When Everything Else Collapses

There comes a point when doctrine stops being academic.

The diagnosis comes.

The parole board says no.

The relationship ends.

The person you trusted betrays you.

The appeal is denied.

Someone dies.

Your health deteriorates.

Your plans disappear.

The years keep passing.

The prison gate remains closed.

And suddenly the theology you learned in comfortable circumstances must survive the furnace.

This is where sound doctrine becomes precious.

Suppose you have learned the biblical doctrine of God's providence.

Then when your circumstances become confusing, you can still say:

“I do not understand what God is doing, but I know He has not lost control.”

Suppose you understand justification.

When Satan reminds you of your past, you can answer:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Suppose you understand adoption.

When loneliness surrounds you, you remember:

I belong to the family of God.

Suppose you understand resurrection.

When another believer dies, grief remains—but hopelessness does not.

Suppose you understand perseverance.

When you stumble, you do not conclude that God has abandoned His work in you. You repent, get back up, and continue following Christ.

The Puritan John Owen spent much of his ministry showing Christians how deeply theological truth applies to the actual battle against sin.

Truth gives the believer something solid beneath his feet.

Feelings change.

Circumstances change.

People change.

Health changes.

Prison administrations change.

Laws change.

Relationships change.

God does not.

His character does not change.

His promises do not change.

His Word does not change.

And Jesus Christ remains:

“the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

When everything around you moves, stand upon what cannot move.

Prison Application — What Are You Building Your Faith On?

Brother, prison can become one of the greatest testing grounds

imaginable for what a man really believes.

It strips away many distractions.

You have time to think.

Time to remember.

Time to regret.

Time to question.

Time to listen.

And unfortunately, plenty of time to hear bad theology.

Do not surrender your mind to every confident voice that comes down the tier.

Become a student of Scripture yourself.

You may not have attended seminary.

You may never know Greek or Hebrew.

You may never own a shelf full of theological books.

None of that prevents you from becoming a serious student of God's Word.

Read slowly.

Read repeatedly.

Read prayerfully.

Compare Scripture with Scripture.

When somebody makes a dramatic claim, ask:

“Where does the Bible teach that?”

When you hear a verse quoted, read the verses before it and after it.

Learn context.

Ask who wrote the passage, to whom it was written, what was happening, and what the author was actually communicating.

And most importantly:

Obey what you learn.

You can know every theological term imaginable and still have a proud, bitter, unforgiving heart.

You can explain predestination and still gossip.

You can defend the doctrine of grace and still refuse to extend grace.

You can understand God's sovereignty and still panic every time circumstances change.

God did not give us Scripture merely to create better-informed sinners.

He gave us His Word to transform us increasingly into the likeness of Christ.

Maybe you have been incarcerated twenty, thirty, or forty years.

Perhaps you will someday walk out.

Perhaps you will die behind these walls.

Either way, there is something nobody can prevent you from doing:

You can know God more deeply tomorrow than you know Him today.

No prison administration can stop that.

No sentence can stop that.

No locked door can stop that.

No razor wire can stop that.

Open your Bible.

Study.

Pray.

Learn.

Obey.

And little by little, allow sound doctrine to produce a sound Christian life. 

Final Thought — Hold Fast Until The End

Paul's words to Titus were written nearly two thousand years ago:

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”

The culture has changed dramatically.

Human nature has not.

False teaching remains.

Temptation remains.

Deception remains.

Sin remains.

And therefore God's people still desperately need truth.

Brother, you do not need a fashionable Christianity.

You need a biblical Christianity.

You need truth sturdy enough to carry you through suffering.

Truth strong enough to confront your sin.

Truth deep enough to answer despair.

Truth clear enough to expose deception.

Truth glorious enough to fill your heart with worship.

Truth powerful enough to sustain you through decades of incarceration.

And truth strong enough to carry you all the way to your final breath.

Paul told Timothy:

“Hold fast the pattern of sound words.”

There is something beautiful about those words:

Hold fast.

When life hurts—hold fast.

When you do not understand—hold fast.

When others abandon the truth—hold fast.

When your prayers seem unanswered—hold fast.

When your body grows weaker—hold fast.

When another year passes behind the walls—hold fast.

When doubts whisper—hold fast

Not because your grip upon God is perfect.

But because the God revealed in Scripture is faithful.

One day faith will become sight.

One day every false teaching will disappear.

One day every question will be answered according to God's perfect wisdom.

One day Christ will gather His redeemed people home.

Until then:

Know the truth.

Love the truth.

Live the truth.

Defend the truth.

And by God's grace—

hold fast to the truth until you finish your race. 

Reflection Questions

1. Is what I believe about God based primarily upon Scripture, or upon things I have heard from other people?

2. When was the last time God's Word corrected something I strongly believed?

3. Is the doctrine I claim to believe producing visible changes in the way I live?

4. What teaching have I accepted without carefully examining whether Scripture actually supports it?

5. When suffering or disappointment comes, which biblical truths help keep me spiritually grounded?

6. Am I studying Scripture merely to gain knowledge, or am I allowing God's Word to expose and change me?

7. If another prisoner watched my life for thirty days, would he see evidence that the truth I profess has actually transformed me? 

Closing Prayer

Father,

Thank You for giving us Your Word and refusing to leave us wandering in darkness.

Give me a hunger for truth and the humility to submit everything I believe to Scripture.

Protect me from false teaching, spiritual pride, careless interpretation, and the temptation to believe only those things that I want to hear.

Teach me to handle Your Word faithfully and to receive correction when I am wrong.

But Father, do more than fill my mind with knowledge. Make Your truth visible in my life.

Let sound doctrine produce sound living. Make me holy in my conduct, gracious in my speech, faithful in adversity, humble in correction, courageous in conviction, and steadfast when trials come.

When everything around me seems uncertain, remind me that You have not changed.

When I cannot understand Your providence, help me trust Your character.

When I am tempted to quit, teach me to hold fast.

And whether You someday lead me beyond these prison walls or call me home from behind them, grant me the grace to remain faithful to Jesus Christ until my final breath.

Keep me standing on what is sound until I stand before You.

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

From: Fight the Good Fight of Faith / Life Journal: by Gregg Harris