The foundation of a sound Doctrine

Ephesians 4:14

Intro: Some people feel that a sermon about doctrine is dry and boring. More than that, some may even feel that doctrine isn’t as important as something you can apply directly to your life situation.

But consider this...the cement slab called the foundation your house sits on may be considered boring, too. It’s basically a small track of concrete with a house on it. Now, how boring is that?

This small track of concrete may not be as exciting as the kitchen cabinets, the wood paneling, the decorative moldings, ceiling fixtures, the carpet, the appliances you build on top of it.

But, without that boring track of concrete, you cannot build anything that will last. Without that foundation, none of these more interesting, more exciting, seemingly more useful things can even stand at all. It’s like the man who built his house on the rock, versus the man who built his house on the sand.

Those beautiful kitchen cabinets sink in the sand, and they wash away, without the boring old cement slab. The beautiful walls, the nice staircase, crack and crumble without that boring old cement slab.

We need to understand the foundational truths, the doctrines of our faith, because without them, none of the seemingly more interesting, more exciting things, the more applicable things, of our Christian lives, can stand at all... none of them will last without a foundation to stand on.

We cannot apply our Christian faith to our lives, without the foundational truths of our faith, which hold up these other things. So, remember this evening what we’re looking at is an essential part of the whole building. The whole building of the faith, that God wants to build in us.

Ephesians 4:14 admonishes us "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine…"
Colossians 2:7 urges us to be "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."

I. SOUND DOCTRINE IS BUILT ON THE WORD OF GOD!
“And that from a child thou has known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” II Timothy 3:15-16.

II. SOUND DOCTRINE MAGNIFIES THE HOLINESS OF GOD!
The seraphim hovering about the throne of God, cried out, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth if full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:3.
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” Psalm 145:17.

III. SOUND DOCTRINE DECLARES THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN!
We were created originally in the image and likeness of God, sin entered the human race through the transgression of Adam and eve: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.
“ Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5.

IV. SOUND DOCTRINE TEACHES OF A LITERAL HEAVEN AND HELL!
A. Concerning heaven:
“In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2. 1Co 2:9 but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And which entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.

B. Concerning hell:
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand: ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41,46.

V. SOUND DOCTRINE PROCLAIMS SALVATION BY GRACE!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of your-selves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

Conc. Sadly much of the Christian world has departed from sound Biblical doctrine. It’s considered by many to be old fashioned and out dated. Well I see it as a departure from absolute truth, definite right and wrong. Christians cannot pick and choose what we wish to believe using Gods word as a buffet of what fits where. God never intended His teachings to be used that way. Living a life based upon sound Biblical doctrine doesn’t have to be boring or dry either; it’s only that way if we choose to make it that way. Its time we realize the world is missing out, not the church. We are not better than those who choose to live as they will but we are better off and there is nothing wrong with behaving like we are. If we are truly different, we need to show it. We will not be treated any better and life will not be any easier but somewhere along the way, people will begin to notice the difference and they will begin to wander why? As we conclude this evening let’s go thinking about our own foundation and whether our lives are based on Gods word or our feeling about Gods word, there is a difference.