The Need for Sound Doctrine: (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

As Christ followers, we live in times where the prevailing theology is man-centered, mostly subjective and relative. When I say man-centered, I mean that people view God as the servant of mankind. In other words, God is not seen as the Sovereign, Almighty, Creator-God who made man for His purpose! In our man-centered theology, God is viewed as some sort of genie who exists to make man happy. The emphasis of this theology is on man's needs rather than on God's glory! I'm talking about the need for sound doctrine! Also, most American theology is not only man centered, but is subjective and relative. In other words, a person's "experience" of God takes precedence over the objective truth about God. God is not viewed as an objective, absolute Being with certain unchangeable attributes and with absolute moral laws that come from His nature. Instead, God is however you experience Him. I've heard professing Christ followers say things like, "If you are into a God who judges sin, that's fine for you. But "my" God is a God of love." Did you catch what just happened with those words? Personal feelings and experience are what matters, not objective revealed truth! How can we measure sound, healthy doctrine? The answer is found in verse three of our text. It reads, "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" (1 Tim. 6:3). Pay very close attention to what Paul is saying. Sound doctrine always points to the centrality of Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross. "Christ Jesus as Lord" (2 Cor. 4:5), "Christ is all" (Col. 3:11), "Christ crucified" (1 Cor. 1:23), "Christ the power and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:24), "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27), all point to the centrality and supremacy of Jesus that Paul kept as the main thing! We have to learn to keep the main thing, the main thing! And the main thing is sound doctrine which exalts Christ! Sound theology doesn't center on man. Also, sound doctrine conforms to godliness! In other words, it's not relative and subjective, it's not "God however you may experience Him." Godliness means "Conduct in line with God and His revealed truth" (Titus 1:1). Whenever you hear a person promoting man-centered theology, where God exists to please man, and subjective theology, get out of there! They're promoting gain, not godliness, through wrong content! Unsound doctrine will not and can not sustain you! Your move. Be encouraged!