Sound Teaching - Critical to the Gospel

God Commissions the Church to Teach:

Jesus commissions the Church to make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:19-20).

Shortly after Christ’s ascension into heaven the apostles began to apply these three instructions.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:41-42)

Even under persecution the disciples’ priority was teaching.

Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." … Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:25, 42).

God Organizes the Church to Teach:

As God established the Church He appointed and gifted teachers to a high responsibility in the Church order.

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28-29).

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach (Romans 12:6-7)

God Instructs the Church about Teaching:

The emphasis on teaching in the New Testament reveals the importance and critical nature teaching plays in the work of the Church. God warns us to hold strictly to the teaching of Scripture. He tells us who is to teach, who is not and what to do when people do not teach according to Scripture. Here are a few examples.

He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you (2 Thessalonians 2:14-15)

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man (1 Timothy 2:12)

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach (1 Timothy 3:1-2)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).

command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. … Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm (1 Timothy 1:3-7).

God Warns the Church about Teaching:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. (2 Peter 2:1-2).

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work (2 John 1:8-11).

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping (2 Peter 2:3).

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32)

Do you hold to the teaching of Christ?  Does your church?

Richard H Perry