the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Grace for Today
Titus 1:9
‘Sound doctrine’
Read Ephesians 4:1-16
Paul told Titus that every pastor must hold the faithful word of gospel truth firmly, as he has been taught it, so that ‘he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers’. Without sound doctrine the pulpit is as useless as a broken weather-vane. Here are seven pillars of sound doctrine which are essential to the faith of the gospel. See that you hold them firmly.
1. God Almighty is absolutely sovereign in all things (Psalms 115:3). God is sovereign in creation, in providence and in salvation. He does what he will, when he will, where he will, with whom he will and he has mercy on whom he will have mercy (Romans 9:11-23).
2. The Bible is the Word of God, by which he reveals himself to men (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Rom. 10- 17). The Bible alone is inspired by God. Therefore the Bible alone is our rule of faith and practice. The only voice of authority in all matters of doctrine and spiritual instruction is the Word of God.
3. All men by nature are totally depraved (Romans 3:10-19). Man is fallen, guilty, sinful and helpless, dead in trespasses and in sins (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3). Unless God intervenes to save, all men will for ever perish, being justly condemned.
4. God chose and determined to save some people in eternal, electing love (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Without any consideration of anything except his own will, God chose some. All who were chosen of him will be saved.
5. Christ died in the place of God’s elect, and accomplished their eternal redemption by his death (Hebrews 9:12). Christ satisfied divine justice for his people and redeemed them from the curse of the law.
6. God the Holy Spirit saves every elect, redeemed sinner by the irresistible power of his grace (Psalms 65:4). The grace of God does not offer salvation; it brings salvation!
7. Every believer is eternally secure in Christ (John 10:27-30). Not one of Christ’s sheep can ever perish. They are kept by the power of God. This is sound doctrine. This is the gospel of grace.
