Why is Sound Doctrine so Important?
Why are sound, foundational doctrines important? We are living in the days when sound doctrine is not important to people. Many are forsaking sound teaching and Biblical doctrine. Unity is encouraged at the expense of doctrine. In fact, some spiritually and doctrinally appraised people think it is unloving to stand up for sound Biblical doctrine! From all sides there are many that deny the Bible, deny the Trinity, deny salvation by faith alone, deny that the Lord Jesus is the only way to be saved, deny the doctrine of hell, deny the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, and deny many other fundamental doctrines in Scriptures.
What does the Bible say about sound Biblical doctrine in the last days? Will people be lovers of the truth? Will people seek out and embrace sound teaching? Here is what God says:
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned aside to fables (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
Take note of these verses. People will not endure sound doctrine but instead will be more interested in fables that tickle their itching ears. What doctrines am I talking about? This document will cover three doctrines: the Lord Jesus is the only way to be saved, the Trinity, and salvation by faith apart from works. These doctrines have such importance that if a person or group denies any of them, then they are preaching a soul-damning heresy.
1. Jesus is not a way to Heaven; He is the ONLY way
The first foundational doctrine is the fact that the Lord Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven! There is no other way for a person to be saved and go to heaven outside faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If a person trusts in anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ he will perish and spend eternity separated from God in hell. This means that Mohammed cannot save, Buddha cannot save, church cannot save, Mary/priests/popes cannot save, or any other so called Saviour or 'religious system'. Salvation is ONLY through the Lord Jesus Christ. Below are a couple of verses that state very clearly that the Lord Jesus is the Only way to be saved.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me (John 14:6)
Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12)
2. Doctrine of the Trinity
The second foundational doctrine is the Trinity. Although the word 'Trinity' is not found in the Bible, the doctrine and concept certainly is. The doctrine of the Trinity states that within the ONE God there exists three Divine Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three Divine Persons are the ONE God. The following example shows the Trinity in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(A) The Father raised the Lord Jesus
Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities (Acts 3:26)
And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
(B) The Lord Jesus raised Himself
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up … But He spake of the temple of His body (John 2:19,21)
(C) The Holy Spirit raised the Lord Jesus
But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11)
The previous verses show that the Father raised the Lord Jesus, the Lord Jesus raised Himself, and the Holy Spirit raised the Lord Jesus. The Trinity is shown in the resurrection. This final verse shows that it was God Almighty who raised the Lord Jesus:
Because He has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained, whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead (Acts 17:31)
3. Salvation by Faith
The third foundational Biblical doctrine we will look at is salvation by faith apart from works. What role does works have in Biblical salvation? Does a person have to earn or merit salvation by performing good works? Or does the Bible state that salvation was completed by the work of the Lord Jesus on the Cross and there is nothing a lost sinner can do to add to or subtract from His finished sacrifice?
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Let’s have a look at these verses. Notice verses 8 & 9 clearly state that salvation is not of ourselves. Salvation is NOT by works. This means a lost sinner cannot earn or merit salvation. As a result (verse 9) no one can boast that they 'earned' salvation by doing good works. Rather salvation is received by faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 8 also states that salvation is a 'gift' of God. Here is a question... If a person has to work to earn a 'gift' then is the 'gift' really a gift? Would the word 'wage' be a better word than 'gift'? You see a gift is freely received apart from works. On the other hand, a wage is earned by performing some kind of work. Since verse 9 clearly states that salvation is NOT by works and verse 8 states that salvation is a 'gift' then we can easily see that salvation is a gift that is to be freely received. In fact, salvation cannot be earned or merited in any way.
All this leads to another question. If good works do not save, then what role do works play in the saved persons life? Look above at verse 10. Notice that AFTER salvation God has a job (good works) for that person to do. The good works do not save but are a natural offspring of saving faith. In fact, if a person does not have good works AFTER salvation then questions can be raised about the salvation of that person. Was that person really saved in the first place??? Good works clearly do not save but good works ALWAYS follow true saving faith. It is as natural as an apple tree producing apples.
CONCLUSION
In this document we have covered three basic doctrines that cults, false teachers, and deceivers seek to pervert to the end result of leading many to a Christless eternity. I would encourage people to stand up for the truth in these closing days of human history before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Deception and false teaching are everywhere. Watch and be warned of any teacher or group that denies any one of the three doctrines presented in this document. They are false teachers and deceivers who are presenting another gospel than that which is found in the Bible.
Paul wrote about such a time in his letter to the Galatians:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)
All Scripture quotes are from the KJV.
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Rob Harley, an accomplished accountant with over four decades of experience, is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, who has dedicated his life to studying and sharing the message of salvation. With degrees in Accounting and Christian Education & Administration, he has led impactful Bible studies for diverse age groups for over 25 years, while nurturing a strong faith-based family in Central Florida.
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