I was talking with one of our pastors about Titus 3:5 and 3:8. In Titus 3:5, Paul tells us that we were not saved by “works of righteousness,” but by God’s mercy. In 3:8, though, he tells Titus:

This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

This is very much like Ephesians 2:8-10. In Ephesians 2:8, Paul tells us that we were saved by favor (grace) through faith and apart from works, but in 2:10 he tells us that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works.

Obviously, we can’t have one without the other. If you are not saved by favor through faith, then you aren’t created in Christ Jesus to do good works. As a result, when God calls on you to do good, you won’t be able to because you are dead in your sin and your trespasses (Eph. 2:1-3).

But this post is not primarily about a salvation that is “not by works,” yet leads to people who are zealous for good works (Tit. 2:14); it is about sound doctrine.

Sound Doctrine

“Sound doctrine” is literally “healthy teaching.” By literally, I don’t mean that the Greek means something different than “sound doctrine.” I mean that being “sound” means being “healthy,” and “doctrine” is “teaching,” even in English.

What exactly is healthy teaching?

Interestingly, the words “sound doctrine” are only in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. Titus 2, especially, is focused on sound doctrine. Take a look at what it says:

But say the things which fit sound doctrine, that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance, and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good, that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.

Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded. In all things show yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.

Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. (Tit. 2:1-10)

Is the above what you would expect to hear in a class on sound doctrine?

Apparently, healthy teaching involves telling us how to live with good character (cf. Rom. 5:3-5). Let’s take a look at all of Paul’s uses of the term “sound doctrine.” (He’s the only apostle who uses the term in the New Testament.)

• … as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners … for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers … for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals … for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine. (1 Timothy 1:9-10)

• For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brothers of these things, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. (1 Tim. 4:4-6)

• Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing … but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles. (1 Tim. 6:1-4)

• For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables. But you be sober in all things … (2 Tim. 4:3-5)

• For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him. For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision …

Perhaps 1 Timothy 4:4-6 would be considered “sound doctrine” in modern eyes, as it has to do with food laws, but the rest are focused on behavior, not theology. Sound doctrine teaches us to live sober, righteous, and godly lives … as does favor (grace) itself:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. (Tit. 2:11-12)

Good Works Are Only for Those Saved Apart from Works

I’ve made my case for what sound doctrine is, but this post was prompted by something else which is also emphasized by Paul as sound doctrine, though without using the term “sound doctrine.”

As said earlier, this post was prompted by my discussion with one of my pastors about Titus 3:5 and 3:8, one saying not of works, the other saying we must be careful to maintain good works.

As I lay in bed this morning, I thought, “Why would I have Titus 3:5 and 3:8 memorized, but not be able to remember anything about verses 6-7?”

A Simple Overview of the Christian Faith

Here’s the whole context of the passage in Titus 3. (I know there is a lot of Scripture in this post, making it longer than I would wish, but that’s good, right?)

For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior; that being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you insist confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men; but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Tit. 3:3-9)

I love passages like this. There are several in the New Testament, but my favorite is 2 Peter 1:3-11, which I have gone over in other posts. Here is another one. Let me simply outline this:

1. We were foolish, disobedient, and deceived.
2. The kindness and love of God appeared.
3. Not because of anything we did, God saved us through his mercy.
4. He did this through baptism and a rich outpouring of the Holy Spirit because of Jesus our Savior.
5. Being declared innocent by his favor, we became heirs who await the inheritance of eternal life.
6. Because this is a faithful truth, “confidently insist” that believers “be careful” to maintain good works.
7. These things are good and profitable; ignore foolish controversies because they are not only unprofitable, but “vain.”

In other words, sound doctrine is: We were foolish and wicked, but now, by no power or goodness of our own, the mercy and favor of God have empowered us by an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit (and outpouring of love in our hearts–Rom. 5:8), so let’s love God and do good.

Getting too far beyond this does no good and leads to pride.