But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. Titus 2:1
Perhaps you recall the Peanuts cartoon in which Charlie Brown sits forlornly in the baseball outfield with his glove on his head, asking ‘How could we lose when we were so sincere?’ You have probably also heard people say that it doesn’t matter what we believe about God, as long as we are sincere. That’s ridiculous, of course. Would they also say that it doesn’t matter what road you take, as long as you sincerely believe that it will take you to your destination? Or would they agree that it doesn’t matter what answers you put on your examination paper as long as you sincerely believe in your answer? Try slipping that one past any high school teacher or university professor! How about swallowing any pill you want as long as you sincerely believe that it will cure your illness? If being sincere doesn’t work for anything temporary, how can we possibly imagine sincerity will work when it comes to eternal matters? That’s why Paul instructs Titus to make sure he teaches only sound doctrine. It’s important.
Sound doctrine is important because God demands it. The Lord Jesus told His disciples that His words were critical for them to hear and follow: ‘Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come’ (John 16:13). In the previous chapter, Paul reminds Titus how important it is that an elder be a man of sound doctrine: ‘Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers’ (Titus 1:9).
Sound doctrine is also important because salvation depends on it: ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ (John 8:32). If the doctrine of the Gospel is not sound, sinners will end up in hell. That is how critical it is that we make sure this doctrine is sound. Paul boldly declared his support for the truth that is the Gospel: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek’ (Romans 1:16). There is no other power, no other doctrine, that leads sinners to the Saviour.
Sound doctrine is also important for our sanctification. It is true that when we are saved, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:10). But there is a practical sanctification by which we are brought into conformity with the image of Christ. For this sanctification, we must know and follow those truths concerning our Lord; our doctrine must be sound.
Paul’s advice to Titus was critical, and it is no less critical for us. – Jim MacIntosh