“Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (14) By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” (2 Timothy 1:13-14 ESV)
In his second epistle to Timothy, Paul encourages him to follow the pattern of sound words that he has spoken to him. In his first epistle to Timothy, Paul used this phrase “sound words” in another admonishment to remain faithful to the apostles’ doctrine.
“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, (4) he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (5) and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.“ 1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV)
True apostolic teaching and preaching will lead to godliness. The Bible is replete with warnings against turning away from the truth unto false doctrine. Paul, John, Peter, James, etc. all dealt with false doctrine in their day. Some of these men of God watched their students (ministers-in-training) walk away from the truth and preach a false doctrine and a false Christ.
The 21st Century is no different from the 1st Century. Still today, people pervert the truth and some even lead others into false doctrine with them. The purpose of this post and this blog is to challenge the readers and followers of this blog to follow the pattern of sound words!
Sound comes from the Greek word hygiainō and means, “healthy; to be well; to be uncorrupt; true in doctrine; safe; wholesome.”
We who lead others must be sure that the words we speak are healthy and uncorrupt. The messages we teach must be true in doctrine. Those we lead and oversee are depending on us to speak sound words that are safe and wholesome.
Methods must be evaluated and changed if necessary to reach our world. However, the message is unchangeable. Beware of “code-speak” such as culturally relevant. God never conformed the message to fit man; rather, man must conform to God’s message. Preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God.
Beware of those who say “Preach Jesus.” This too is code-speak. Paul said, “I don’t want to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” You cannot truly preach Jesus Christ without also preaching the cross. All men must come to calvary! Don’t deviate from the sound words of Scripture. Follow them. Obey them. Hold fast to them. Stand up and stand out for Jesus Christ.
Do not be ashamed of this gospel, or afraid to teach and preach it with sound words. Remember, James warns that not many should become teachers because they will be held to a higher standard. Jeremiah prophesies strongly against those shepherds who lead the sheep astray. Let’s instead heed the words of Jesus to Peter and feed His lambs and feed His sheep sound words.
Finally, let’s tune out the voice of strangers (John 10:1-6) and tune in the Voice of the Shepherd. Let those whom you lead say, “What a great Christ he preached” rather than “What a great preacher he is” or “What a great sermon he preached.” Follow and speak sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jonathan Sanders - currently residing in Arkansas, but approved to plant a church in Brooklyn, NY - will be teaming up with me to provide blogs that have “sound words” which you can pattern yourself after.
~Myron Powell
