The Need for Longsuffering and Sound Doctrine in the Modern Church
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2 KJV
Something that the Lord has brought to my attention in recent months is that much of the Scriptures remain a mystery. Even figures like Paul—who by the grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10) had great knowledge of the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:3-5)—acknowledged that there are several great mysteries in the Scriptures that were not revealed even to him, someone who God had obviously entrusted with knowledge and many great works and powerful miracles (Acts 19:11-12, etc.).
The calling that I feel for this moment when there is so much division in the church is to return to the pure perfect Word and earnestly dispute Biblical topics relating to the kingdom of God. In the Scriptures there are examples of such discussions, most notably in Acts 15 when the question was raised whether or not circumcision is necessary for salvation. Paul and Barnabas disputed with believers about this topic and decided to bring this question to the attention of the elders in Jerusalem.
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
Acts 15:1-2 KJV
Ultimately after much disputing between the apostles and elders of the church (Acts 15:7) the question was answered by Peter and James, with the church signing letters in agreement. These letters reflected the conclusion that the early church had reached by the Holy Ghost, to lay upon the early believers no greater burden than what is necessary, which is to abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication (Acts 15:28-29). What is important to note is that the church sent these letters all in one accordance (Acts 15:25) meaning that everyone was on the same page and there was no more dissensions or disputing. The church had agreed that circumcision was not necessary for salvation.
Scripture is clear that we must “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3) and that believers should all be of one accord and Spirit (Philippians 2:2). If there is great division in a church regarding doctrine that church will lack power and effectiveness and ultimately fall, as the church is a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5) and no house divided against itself can stand (Mark 3:25).
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV
God has highlighted certain Scriptures to me that best reflect the principles of the early church and the calling for unity in Spirit, mind and judgement. First God led me to Proverbs 18:13, which describes how if we answer a matter before we hear it fully it is foolishness and shame unto us. This Scripture is important to consider because God condemns us if we decide that a certain teaching is false doctrine without fully searching it out. We are called to be like the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures to see whether or not Paul’s teaching was true (Acts 17:11). Scripture also tells us to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) which means searching throughout the whole Bible for sound doctrine and doing so without any desire to twist or contort the Word, which, if we do so, will ultimately lead to our own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).
Secondly, we must understand that even if we understand all the mysteries of the Scriptures and have all knowledge, but have not love, it profits ourselves nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). Without love we have no power as Christians and furthermore what we do will have no meaning or value. As it is written, 'love is patient, love is kind; love does not envy or boast; it does not insist on its own way nor is it irritable or resentful.’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). This is especially important when it comes to sound doctrine because if we do not discuss or dispute with the ultimate goal and aim of love in our minds we are subject to strife, envy, evil thoughts of making personal gain of the Scriptures instead of the highest ideals of love, truth, longsuffering, and forgiveness. When we consider personal victories and selfish, puffed-up pride more important than the communal pursuit of Biblical wisdom we thus fall into “debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults” (2 Corinthians 12:20) and where such are there is “confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16).
Thirdly, we must understand that much of the faith remains a mystery and that this is in fact what Scripture teaches us. Paul himself declares that we should “hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9). Paul acknowledged this fact over fifteen times in the New Testament, declaring that the revelation of Jesus Christ and His Word was indeed a hidden mystery only to be understood by revelation of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:7-14). Furthermore, Paul insisted that there were many topics in the Scriptures that were hard to understand, even mysterious, such as the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:51), the removal of the Holy Spirit and rise of the antichrist during the end times (2 Thessalonians 2:7), and the Godhead (1 Timothy 3:16). Once again, he emphasized the importance of relying on the Spirit for revelation and understanding of the Scriptures while maintaining that even to those who are spiritual there remain many great mysteries.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written,
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:7-14 KJV
Fourthly, we as servants of the Lord must not strive against one another, puffed up by our knowledge of the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 8:1), but rather edify one another in love, being gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient (2 Timothy 2:24) with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2). When discussing doctrine it is easy to get competitive, defensive, and in your flesh, which is why the Word advises us to make sure we are walking in the Spirit, producing the good fruits of gentleness, meekness, and longsuffering, knowing that these qualities will lead to more fruitful conversations in the ultimate pursuit of truth. Furthermore, Ephesians 4:14-16 gives a great description of how the body of Christ works and how it grows, edifies, and strengthens itself: by “speaking the truth in love”, the body of believers is fed the Word, which is the spiritual food that strengthens each individual muscle and joint, allowing it to effectually achieve its preordained purpose and increase itself in love. Once again, sharing the Word and sound doctrine without love and edification is utterly purposeless and vain.
Also, in sharing the Word with unbelievers, we must not forget that we ourselves were once deceived, hating one another and serving diverse lusts and pleasures (Titus 3:2-3). With this in mind, we should be lowly and gentle, understanding that we were also once destitute of the truth ourselves at one point, and should have empathy and understanding to those who God is drawing closer to the truth and out of the snare of the devil.
“To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Titus 3:2-5 KJV
Lastly, we should recognize the importance of earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints, as the Scriptures tell us to (Jude 1:3). Conversations regarding sound doctrine and walking properly in the way of truth are very important and as discussed previously they must be done with love, longsuffering, meekness and gentleness. The Apostles and elders of the early church through the Holy Ghost (Acts 15:28) were able to come to a single unanimous conclusion on doctrine, leading an example for us to follow. And if we cannot come to an agreement of a single accord perhaps there may be mysteries in the Scriptures and of Christ—which Paul often acknowledged—which we simply cannot understand, even if we are being led by the Spirit.
In light of these revelations of the Word and God’s Will, I have created a YouTube channel and currently have an Instagram account where I discuss what God has revealed to me in the Scriptures. I do my best to only say what I know to be true, and what God has personally revealed to me. Personal revelations are like this: perhaps half or a third of a Scripture comes to my attention throughout the day, usually at the perfect or right moment. For example, I might be struggling with lust and part of a Scripture comes to my spirit, like “do not lust after her beauty in your heart”. I search this on the internet and find Proverbs 6:25-29, which describes the torment and hellfire that those who engage in adultery with their neighbors wife face in the next life. I maintain that it is both the fear of God and the goodness of God that make men turn away from evil and towards righteousness which is by the Spirit of the living God. Both are extremely important and this is what the Scriptures say.
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”
Proverbs 16:6 KJV
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
Romans 2:4 KJV
To conclude, longsuffering and sound doctrine is very much needed in the modern church. Jesus Christ is the Word (John 1:1-3) and if you want to know Jesus better you must begin with His Word. How can a church claim to know Jesus if they do not know His Word, which is Himself? By hiding the Word in our hearts (Psalms 119:11) and letting it lead us as a lamp unto our feet and light unto our paths (Psalms 119:105) we can better overcome sin, not conforming to this world but instead to true righteousness and holiness, which is by Jesus Christ, renewing our minds and discerning what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2). And when we do this, our light shines as a strong church, as a city upon a hill, giving glory to God in heaven.
My prayer is that the Word of Christ may dwell richly in your hearts, and that the Lord may draw you closer to His Word, which will sanctify, cleanse, and perfect you in the way of Christ. Amen.
Here are some great Scriptures about God’s Word that I wanted to share.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Psalms 119:105 KJV
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Psalms 119:11 KJV
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:17 KJV
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
John 15:3 KJV
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32 KJV
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
1 Peter 1:23 KJV
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Ephesians 5:26-27 KJV
“The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”
Psalms 119:72 KJV
Thank you Ryan, an excellent post, and timely
There is one issue that I think you need to look into a bit more deeply, and that is circumcision.
You said “These letters reflected the conclusion that the early church had reached by the Holy Ghost, to lay upon the early believers no greater burden than what is necessary, which is to abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication (Acts 15:28-29).
Yet this is not actually correct, for the decree from the Jerusalem conference was not written to “all believers” but to the Gentiles specifically, which is clear if you read all of Acts 1, and particularly: Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: (Act 15:19)
The entire question was if the Gentiles should be required to be circumcised, it was not about the Jews. Now you may say “but there is no Jew or Greek etc”, but in doing so you would be taking that verse out of context also.
I have written a detailed discussion on the topic of circumcision, what it means both physically and spiritually, and why it was, and still is, required for the Jews but was not required for the Gentiles.
The first post in the series is “God’s Covenants of Love”, which I am sure you will enjoy, and I look forward to your comments.
Here is the link: https://friendswithgod.substack.com/p/gods-covenants-of-love
Warmest regards
Martin
The greatest truth hidden in plain sight is the Word. What everyone thinks it is, is only based on man’s interpretation which has been passed down to us for centuries. If you could remove everything you were ever taught about the ‘Word’, and could start fresh learning about it from the Holy Spirit, your spiritual walk would be much different than it is today. Your understanding of scriptures would be exponentially greater than you could imagine. Pray, the spirit of Wisdom open your understanding of the ‘Word’ as it relates to you as an individual.