Article • The Church and Sound Doctrine
Standing for the Truth Is the Church's Responsibility
Every believer in Christ’s duty. Why contending for sound doctrine is not divisiveness or a social-media gimmick, but a responsibility the church carries before God.
“…the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
1 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)
Many pastors, Bible teachers, church leaders, and Christians minimize the biblical importance of sound doctrine. Some even portray standing against false teaching as unchristian, argumentative, divisive, or unnecessary. Others openly or indirectly criticize those who take a firm stand for biblical truth.
Standing for sound doctrine, however, is not a Facebook or social-media gimmick designed to attract views, arguments, or attention. Admittedly, some people may misuse doctrinal controversy for those purposes. Many of us do not. The church itself has entrusted us with the truth, so we stand firmly for what Scripture teaches.
Paul wrote this about the church which is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13):
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
1 Timothy 3:15–16 (KJV)
My essential point is that these verses belong together. Verse 15 identifies the church as the pillar and ground of truth. Verse 16 immediately declares the central truth concerning Jesus Christ. Therefore, the church cannot faithfully proclaim Christ while treating biblical truth and sound doctrine as optional or unimportant.
That is why I refuse to back down when criticized for standing against the Oneness doctrine and its teaching that Jesus is the Father incarnate. Scripture reveals the Father and the Son as distinct while affirming the full deity of Christ (John 1:1–3, 14; John 17:1–5; Matthew 3:16–17).
I will also not stay silent when people twist Scripture to contradict Jesus’ teachings on salvation. Jesus declared that His blood was “shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28, KJV).
Jesus repeatedly taught that we receive eternal life through faith in Him (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47). The apostles proclaimed the same gospel (Acts 10:43; 16:31; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8–9).
I will end with this. Publicly and unashamedly standing for biblical truth, while opposing false doctrine, is not a popularity contest. It is part of the church’s responsibility before God (1 Timothy 3:15; 4:1–2; 2 Timothy 4:2–4; Titus 1:9).
We do not contend for truth merely to win arguments. Winning arguments cannot save a single soul. Salvation comes only through the grace of God revealed in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We therefore speak the truth in love, defend the faith, proclaim Christ, and leave the saving work to God.
Salvation is only through a personal relationship with God the Father by grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. At the moment of saving faith, the believer is instantly and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who regenerates, seals, leads, guides, empowers, and sanctifies in their walk with God.
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (KJV)
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