What exactly does sound doctrine mean biblically? Sound doctrine means the teachings that align perfectly with God’s truth in
the Bible. God means what He says and says what He means. God’s promises in His Word are true. Sound doctrine always leads us to the truth of God’s Word.

We live in a time where information is readily available. Now people have so many sources to gather information, whether it’s good or bad. Now people can just “Google it,” or listen to the news from all over the world, podcasts with a wide array of opinions, where many of those people who do podcasts profess that their opinion is the truth, and of course books of various and different content.

When I was growing up, (and I am going to age myself) the internet wasn’t invented yet, and MapQuest was using a real map for driving. But, when the internet came about, it was a total game-changer. The internet provides endless sources that people tap into. But, what is essential for a person’s life is to understand and believe sound doctrine, which is the Word of God. God has revealed Himself through His written word. When it comes to our faith in God and His written word, having a strong foundation of sound doctrine is absolutely necessary for every believer. When we adhere to sound doctrine, we won’t be easily swayed away from the truth of God’s Word. When the challenges of life come our way and the temptations that try to draw us away from the truth of God’s word, if our foundation isn’t built upon sound doctrine, we will fall.

Matthew 7:24-27. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not
act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

How great an analogy of the two foundations of which Jesus spoke. The first foundation, believing and acting on the truth of Jesus’ words, and the second is the complete opposite. Jesus is warning people that storms will happen in our lives. To be prepared, stand upon the sound doctrine of Jesus’ words. You won’t fall and get slammed when the deceptions come and people teach false doctrines. The deceptions and false teachings will always move us away from God and His word. It will lead us astray.

When we have a strong foundation of sound doctrine in our lives, we won’t be questioning and doubting about what God’s word really says. We won’t be confused about whether God’s promises are true, or whether God really loves us, or if God has changed in any way. We will be able to withstand any challenge or any questions that come our way. Having sound doctrine in our hearts and minds reminds us of God’s love, mercy, and grace; His abundance and every blessing He has bestowed upon us. We will be secure in what lies ahead of us, our future, our eternity with God.

Titus 1:9-11. holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.

II Timothy 4:2-4. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

How sad it truly is that there are people who know better, but for money to fill their own pockets will teach false lies and mislead so many people and lead them astray. They are empty talkers who are out for themselves. They may sound good, but are dead wrong. There are people who will listen to anything and will search out anyone to fulfill their own desires and turn away from the sound doctrine of God’s word. God’s word warns us about people who advocate anything other than sound doctrine.

I Timothy 6:3-5. If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

Galatians 1:6,7. I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

If you don’t have a solid foundation of sound doctrine in your heart and mind, when a perversion of the gospel is preached, it
can quickly turn a person’s heart away from the truth and believe a distortion of the gospel. This perversion of the gospel may sound good and could be close to the truth, but in reality, it is far from the truth.

Colossians 2:8. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

Watch what you listen to and put into your mind. Do you entertain different doctrines that cause doubt? When you have sound doctrine in your mind, you will be able to tell the difference.

2 Peter 2:1-2, 3:17. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,

Remember the purpose of deception is to steer you away from the truth of God’s word. There are today people among us who teach such deceptions. They draw people in and so a majority of people believe such distortions of the truth. Such examples of common deceptions are that my emotions rule over the truth of God’s Word. How I “feel” about something is true. Well, not necessarily so. Just because I may not “feel” I am loved, and I “feel” God has forgotten me, doesn’t negate the truth that God loves me and has engraved me upon the palms of His Hands. I John 3:1. Isaiah 49:16.

Another deception that many Christians believe is that Jesus is God. It sounds holy, and many people praise Jesus and give him the glory and worship him as God. It is so wrong. There is only one true God and Father, Yahweh. Jesus is my lord and messiah, but he was a man and never proclaimed himself to be God. He told us to worship and pray to God our Father. Matthew 6:9.

I love this quote by Booker T. Washington.

“A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.”

Remember, the purpose of deception is to steer you away from the truth. We must resist it. It is absolutely imperative that we stand upon a sound doctrine.

Proverbs 4:2. For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.

Psalm 119:160. The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

Titus 2:1. But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

Set your heart to study God’s word. Know the sound doctrine of God’s word. Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that life is too busy to read God’s word, and then just listen to anything. Yahweh gave us His word so that we may know what is the truth!

Really ask yourself what are you listening to? Is it God’s word or another gospel?