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1 Timothy 1:3 - How to spot counterfeit doctine

Dear Friends,

What a blessed Sabbath day.  Hearing about the angel's song from Luke in the sermon.  Basking in the light of peace with God, the only peace that really matters.  The only source of peace with fellow creatures (horizontal relationships) is peace with God (the vertical relationship).

Blessings,

Jeff

The top issue that Paul wants Timothy to remember is purity of doctrine.  Paul was aware the "different doctrines" (heterodox) that were being pedaled in the churches.  The key is to know what the "same doctrine" (orthodox) in great detail.  The counterfeit is exposed when compared in every detail to the original.  Timothy is to focus on the original, not all the "different doctrines".  When anything new comes along, just compare it what Paul taught.  If it matches exactly then it is the same.  If it doesn't match, it is a "different doctrine".  

Instruction - What God expects of me - Purity of doctrine.  I once heard the analogy to continental divides.  A drop of rain on the east side of the divide that runs through the Rockies winds up in Gulf of Mexico.  A drop that that lands just a few inches to the left on the west side of the divide winds up in the Pacific Ocean.  Likewise, the boundaries of orthodox Christianity are well defined.  Anything outside of the boundary winds up in a very different place.  The elders at TCCS are committed to historic biblical Christian doctrine.  We can only teach what the Bible teaches.  We cannot and will not compromise with culture on moral issues.  We will always align with what the Bible says.

Thanksgiving - Such a simple statement of the duty of elder.  Know the true in detail and anything false will be obvious.  Waffle on the truth and there is no basis for defense against the false.  Your holy nature is the model for all that we are to know.

Confession - waiting for results of "other doctrine" to become apparent and then saying "That is false".  If it isn't in the Bible, then it cannot have good results.  The standard of teaching to which we are committed is the standard, not the results.  For example Large crowds are not proof of sound doctrine.  

Petition - keep us true to whatsoever you have appointed in Your Word. 


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