Paul's Main Concern - Doctrine | Ep. 115

Why did Paul emphasize the importance of sound doctrine, godly living, and efficient leadership in the Church? This podcast episode is designed to take you on a journey through Paul's last letters to his spiritual sons, Timothy and Titus. We'll explore the profound wisdom and spiritual counsel these letters offer, focusing on the essence and relevance of their teachings even in today's world.

We begin our exploration with Paul's letters as he shares timeless teachings about the significance of truth, the importance of ministering from a pure heart, and the dangers of unsound doctrine. We unpack Paul's emphasis on the selection of elders who are well-versed in doctrine and his reminders to acknowledge their efforts in serving the Lord and the members of His body. Furthermore, we shed light on the significance of Paul's ‘faithful sayings’ and how these can be applied in everyday life.

Toward the end of the episode, we delve into the standards and qualifications Paul highlights for bishops, deacons, and the importance of order in the church. Also, we highlight Paul's guidance for all sectors of society - men, women, mothers, fathers, widows, servants, and even the rich. As we conclude this episode, we reflect on how Paul's letters serve as an enduring reminder of the strength of faith and the relevance of maintaining sound doctrine. 

Transcript

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 0:03

The vision received was that of blood cells traveling throughout the body, supplying the much needed oxygen and other nutrients to the differing members of the body to fulfill their purpose. Once the blood cells are spent, they must return back to the heart to be refilled before being sent out again and fulfill their purpose.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 0:27

This message. I like to focus on three letters in particular. I'm not talking about letters of the alphabet, I'm talking about letters that were written in the New Covenant. They are the letters that were written to Timothy and to Titus and if you consider that, you might have an understanding, before I even give the message, of why I'm focusing on those three letters. Does anybody have or can share with us anything unique that you know about those three letters in the life of Paul? What's so particular about those three letters, murray? What do you got Is Timothy and Titus both deal with church leadership. True, Timothy and Titus do deal with some church leadership and organization structure and order. Yes, that's not why I'm bringing that up, but that is a commonality that they do have. Does anybody know of something in particular unique about those three letters? They are his sons in the faith. Good, they are his sons in the faith. That's absolutely true. That is one reason it's kind of getting closer to there. I will touch upon that. There are two sons in the faith that he had and there are no other letters that I'm aware of that were written to individuals that were specifically his sons in the faith. So that is definitely particular and peculiar about those three letters.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:52

Anyone else want to take a shot at where I'm getting at? What is, in particular, about three letters? And those two statements are true and I will touch upon them a little bit. Anybody know. All right, so I'm going to move on. That's okay.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 2:12

That's a book of three letters. The three letters oh, not the letters of the alphabet the letters written to saints in particular. We're talking about 1st, 2nd, Timothy and Titus. Anything in particular about them that you know of that I might bring up, and my point is that they are the last three letters Paul ever wrote. He wrote many letters. He wrote letters to saints Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians but those were the last three letters he ever wrote, and so, with that in mind, I want us to look at those three letters in the context of those are the last three letters that he wrote. Yes, they are specifically to two particular individuals that he considered, that he called sons in the faith, in the ministry. And what Brother Murray also shared is also absolutely true. Brother Murray, what was that again? That they both deal with the qualifications for truth.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 3:11

Yes.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 3:13

They both deal with. Their emphasis seems like Paul wants them to establish order and structure in the church. So with that in mind, let's go into this, and I'm not going to read every single chapter and verse of all the letters. I'm going to try to summarize and hopefully get to a point that we could all come into agreement with and realize how it does really affect us and what God is calling us to as we move forward in the ministry of His kingdom. Has anybody ever heard of Paul's quote, unquote, faithful sayings? Anybody ever heard of such a thing? John, you know.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 3:53

That his testimony that he was chief among sinners.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 3:56

Very good. There's the first one, first faithful saying. For some reason it wasn't done in Hebrews, it wasn't done in Corinthians or Ephesians or Colossians. He starts using this quote faithful sayings, and the first one that we read of is in 1 Timothy 1: 15. He says this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of who I am chief. Now I guess to kind of modernize it, that's kind of some quote that we might go by some cliche. That is absolutely true that we might walk in today. And he uses this one. But it's not the only time he uses this, because he uses it again in 1 Timothy, chapter 3: 1. He says this is a faithful saying, this is a true saying. If a man desireth the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. So he says that's also a faithful and true saying.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 4:58

But the reason why in 1 Timothy he talks about Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of which I am chief, is because he started out this first letter to Timothy, who was his son, in the faith, and he's beseeching Timothy that the reason or the ending completion of the commandment is so that he would minister charity out of a pure heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith, that is unfeigned. That's 1 Timothy 1: 5 and what that means is that he would not minister hypocritically, but he would minister love out of a pure heart and out of a good conscience. And it comes from the instructions that Paul is giving to Timothy In this first chapter. He's warning Timothy that there are going to be teachers of the law and they don't understand what they're saying or what they're trying to communicate. But he makes the point that they want to focus so much on the law. And we know, if we know anything of the Scriptures of the New Covenant. That's one of the issues that Paul was constantly battling those that wanted to hold on to the law and all of its precepts and commandments and not move on and move over and move into the New Covenant. They wanted to stay in the old.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 6:22

But he says hey, it's not like there's anything wrong with the law. The law is good, the law is just. But who does the law apply to? The law does not apply to the righteous, it applies to the sinners. It applies to those that are unrighteous, those that are disobedient, those that are ungodly, those that are the sinners, the unholy, the profane, the murders of fathers and mothers, and manslayers and hornmongers and that defile themselves with mankind, with men-stealers, for liars, for purged persons, and if there are any other such thing, that is contrary to sound doctrine. That is what the law applies to. That is who the law applies to.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 7:06

And then he starts to say about how he's so thankful of Jesus Christ that he enabled me, that he accounted me faithful and he put me into the ministry even though I was a blasphemer, even though I was a persecutor, even though I was injuring his people. I obtained mercy, but I did it in ignorance, I did it in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord was exceeding and it was abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. And so he ends up saying this is a faithful saying that Christ Jesus came to save sinners and I am the chief, and he did that for a reason. Paul is pointing out that point for a reason and being transparent about his history, not hiding the things that he did before he came to know his father, Jesus Christ. He says the reason why he did that, the reason why he obtained mercy, is that in me first, Jesus Christ showed forth all long suffering for a pattern, for an example to them that should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Because in Paul's eyes there was no one more guilty, there was no one more of a sinner than he was, and he did it believing that while he did the things that he did, he did it in the name of God. He did it believing wholeheartedly that he was actually faithfully serving the God of Israel, the God of his ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and he was persecuting all the Christians that brought about this, this other faith, this, this faith that was coming against all of his traditions, and yet God had mercy on him. If you remember, God said why you kick against the pricks? Why are you persecuting my people? And yet God showed mercy on him. So that is a faithful saying and it's one that he wanted to bring up before Timothy and in transparency, as a father, saying this is where I came from, but know this that Jesus still had mercy upon me. So, even though I am so obviously guilty, look at what he did for me. Remember that, because there's no one far worse than I

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 9:30

when you begin to minister to others. So we begin in going to another faithful saying about those that desire the office of a bishop, desire th a good work, and it begins to list all the standards of a bishop. And we've gone over those. This is not kind of the point of what I want to go through, but they are there. And there's also standards for a deacon. And another faithful saying is in 1 Timothy 4:9.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 9:59

He says bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promised of the life that now is and that which is to come. This is a faithful saying. This is a saying or a quote that they believed was faithful and true. And he compared it to those that get into competitions, those that get into things. They exercise because they want to discipline their body and they excel in their areas of sports activities, but it amounts to nothing. Godliness, good works, those things that the Lord desires us to walk in, is more profitable than being the fittest person on earth, than the one that has the six pack, than the one that they've taken pictures of to flaunt his structure of his body and his chiseledness, and all. All of that amounts to nothing. Godliness is profitable unto all things.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 11:15

The next faithful saying comes from Titus. So he reads another letter to Titus and actually, if you want to, this is one of the reasons, I guess, why the Lord led me in this area. I've been trying to read the letters in the order that they were written in, so that I would have a better understanding of why Paul started out his first letter in such a manner and how it ended up where it did, and to see how his teaching not evolved, but how it kind of changed and how it kind of morphed and become more full, because he taught all the doctrine of God. He withheld, nothing back. And so I wanted to understand how Paul matured in his ministry and how he changed. So the next letter that he wrote was not 2nd Timothy.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 12:02

The next letter that he wrote was Titus and it says in Titus, his faithful saying, in Titus 3, five through eight, 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, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying and I will that thou affirm constantly this faithful saying. And his last faithful saying was in 2 Timothy, chapter 2, 11 through 13. He said it is a faithful saying for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us If we believe not. Yet he abided faithful. He cannot deny himself. He's a three verses and you know, originally his letter wasn't written with chapter and verse, it was simply a letter. It was those statements there. That was a faithful saying in his day regarding the work of God in his life and how we are to remain faithful to him. But even if we doubt, he is gonna remain faithful because he cannot deny himself. He is faithful, he is love, he is purity, he is truth, he is light. He can't help but be those things. It's what he is. It's the attributes that he has that may come God.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 14:09

Something else that jumped out of me is I considered these three letters. There's a word that he continues to use in all three letters and the word is doctrine. In 1 Timothy the word doctrine is used nine times. You flip over the pages you realize that's six chapters. That's not a very long letter, but he continues to use the word doctrine. The doctrine is just the word teaching. The first time he uses it in 1 Timothy 1,3,. As I besought thee to abide, still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou might as charged some that they teach no other doctrine. He charged Timothy to maintain himself in Ephesus and one of the things and it was right at the beginning that he gave him charge over it that you need to teach them, not to teach no other doctrine.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 15:10

If you know anything about the scriptures in the New Testament there is only one doctrine. If you've looked at it before, it's the doctrine of Christ. That doctrine of Christ became the doctrine of the apostles because they didn't teach anything other than what Christ taught them. It's also called the doctrine of God and we'll get to that in a second. But the first thing that he addresses with Timothy is that they teach them to teach no other doctrine. I think that's incredibly important to consider and to think about, because if these are the last three letters of Paul, I look at it and say, well, what was so concerning to Paul? Because these were Paul's last days.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 15:52

If you know anything about this time of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus, this was the time where he was in the Roman judicial system and it was getting to the point where he realized his days are numbered and he understood that. And so he's sending out Timothy, he's sending out Titus because he can't do the work out there anymore. He's in bondage, he's in change, he's in prison. So he's sending his sons in the faith to go and continue the work of God. And that is his main first point Teach them to teach no other doctrine.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 16:35

The second time he brings up this word doctrine is in 1 Timothy 1:10, just a couple verses later. And I read it all previously because we were talking about the law, we were talking about who it actually applies to, and he ends with the law applies to the whoremongers and them that defile themselves with mankind, the menste alers, the liars, the perjured persons, and it applies to those that, if there be any other thing that is contrary to what? Sound doctrine. The doctrine of the apostles and the prophets was sound doctrine. The doctrine of Christ was sound doctrine. The teachings that the Lord had given to the apostles to continue teaching to all the world is sound doctrine. And I'm telling Timothy, Paul is telling Timothy, maintain sound doctrine. Teach them to teach nothing other than the doctrine that you have received. So that, to me, is incredibly important to consider as we walk this faith out, be very careful that what you teach is nothing other than sound doctrine, nothing other than what the apostles taught, nothing other than what Christ taught the apostles.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 17:46

The next time he brings up doctrine it is referred to as good. Actually, no, it is referred to, as well, let's turn there. First Timothy 4:1. You know this one, Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and what? Doctrines of devils. You see, that's his concern. I wouldn't say it's his fear, but I would say it's his main concern, because there's too many other doctrines out there and all doctrines that are contrary to sound doctrine are nothing other than doctrines of devils. That's his main concern. Teach them to teach no other doctrine than that which you have received, sound doctrine. Maintain it, because there are doctrines of devils out there that are seducing the simple-minded and the ignorant. So we realize, just by reading that verse and considering, that there is a doctrine of devils, that's explicit, and there is a doctrine of Christ and the apostles.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 18:57

The next time we read of doctrine it is in 1 Timothy, same chapter 4, verse excuse me 13. He says in verse 12, let no man despise thy youth, Timothy, because Timothy was a young man, probably one that not many would think should have been sent, but he sent him anyway. And he says let no man despise thy youth, but be an example to believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come and give attention to reading, to exhortation and to what doctrine Give heed to that he is consistently emphasizing to Timothy, to maintain doctrine. And yet today there are some people that have the gall to say that doctrine is not important.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 19:54

The next time we read of this word doctrine, I'll just keep reading, because we'll get to it. Neglect not the gift that is given unto thee, which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of hands of presbytery, meditate upon these things. Give thyself holy to them that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, Timothy, I'm warning you, be alert, be watchful, Timothy. Take heed unto the doctrine. Continue in the doctrine. And it says in them plural, because doctrine wasn't just a one word statement. Doctrine was all the teachings of Christ, all the teachings of the apostles. He says continue in the teachings, and in doing so you will not only save yourself, you will save those that are here. Yes, it is emphatically of greatest, preeminent importance of Paul that he maintain sound doctrine.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 21:01

The word doctrine is used again in chapter 5, verse 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. Now, as some of you have already said, you realize these letters were written to Paul. They were written to excuse me. Paul was writing to Timothy and Titus because they had to establish order. They had to choose elders in their cities that they were in, that people could look up to, that people could receive and continue to receive the teachings, the doctrine, and elders were expected to labor, to work at being in doctrine, not just in life but also in teaching. And the next time we read of the word doctrine is it in chapter 6, verse 1.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 22:00

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that, what the name of God and his doctrine be, not blaspheme. It's very easy to blaspheme the doctrine of God when you are not walking in it. It is very easy to blaspheme the doctrine of God when you are ignorant of the doctrine of God, ignorant of his teachings, ignorant of the teachings of the apostles and being ignorant of the teachings of Christ. Do we not see that today, people believing that they are serving God faithfully, just as Paul did? And what was Paul doing? He was the chiefess of the sinners because he was persecuting all the righteous. And that's what we see today. And we see it so easily because we realize that they don't understand nor have received sound doctrine in their life and they are walking as if they know these things and they're walking as if they're pleasing the Lord and they don't realize the Lord is very angry with them.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 23:11

Sound doctrine, they that have believed, believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit. These things, these things that I've just been writing about, teach and exhort and courage, build them up in these teachings. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, what is he? He is proud, he doesn't know anything. He's doting about with questions and stripes and words and envy and strife and railings, and either surmises and perverse disputings of men. And this is what he was telling Timothy Don't get involved in all that nonsense, don't get involved in the endless genealogies, don't get involved in the fables and the traditions and all the things that are contrary to sound doctrine.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 24:14

I marvel as I read these letters, as I got is just brought me through. What was the order I'm supposed to read these things in. I marvel at where this is ending up and how emphatic Paul is about doctrine. So first, Timothy, I had to just kind of summarize it for you because I don't want to get into the whole thing. But Paul is writing to Timothy, his son in the faith he has said I need you in Ephesus, I need you to raise up elders, I need you to raise up teachers, I need you to make sure that they are walking and teaching and living in the doctrine that I have given to you. And it's real, real important that you do this because there's a lot of things, Timothy, that you don't know about that are rising up and they're coming.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 25:06

And he starts to warn him as he continues in the letter. But he says pray, excuse me. He says teach them, exhort them to pray, to intercede, to give thanks for who? The kings, for all those in authority. Now he's counseling Timothy I. We need to teach them these things. They need to be praying for these things. Why does? Why? Does he want the saints to be praying for the kings and for all those in authority?

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 25:32

He says in chapter two, verse two, that they would lead a quiet and peaceable life in godliness and honesty. He's not doing it so that they would create an uproar. He's not doing it so that they would create a rebellion. He's doing it because the Maybe the effective way to be able to minister to the masses and create a great harvest Is not in the midst of great war and turmoil.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 26:05

Has not bishop said that you can't save the people when they're in the middle of the fire. You've got to do it beforehand, don't you? Because once the fire started you, there's too much commotion, there's too much chaos, everybody's going to die, but if there's no fire, can you reach them? Yeah, you don't have all of these distractions. So pray that your kings, that your leaders, that your governors, that your mayors, that your shares, that your president, pray for them, intercede for them, those in authority, so that you can live a peaceful and quiet life.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 26:37

Why, in all godliness and honesty, for this is good, this is acceptable in the sight of God, our savior. Why? Look at the reason he says in verse four He wills that all men be saved. He's not interested in trying to just bring judgment just because he just wants to do away with. No, he wants to save them. Even though they corrupted themselves, even though they rejected him, even though they left him, even though, while they were yet sinners, he died for them, knowing that he was still going to not choose him, he still wants to save them. That is profound, the love of God.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 27:18

He begins to talk about issues in the church and he's reemphasizing letters that he had sent to 1 Corinthians about order between the husband and the wife, which I'm not going to get into today, but he addresses that because the marriage foundation, the family, is what sets the basis for outward ministry. That's why, then, after he talks about wives and husbands, he then talks about well, if he desires to be a bishop, that's a good thing. And see, here's the standards, here are the requirements, the stipulations that they be blameless, the husband of one wife. That they be vigilant and sober with good behavior, hospitable, that they be a teacher, not given to wine, not a brawler, not a striker, not greedy for money, but patient, not covetous. They rule their house well. Their children are subject to him. They're honorable. They're not novices or amateurs. They have a good rep with those outside of the kingdom. These are the type of things that bishops need to be, because if a man is not like this, how can he be a leader inside the church if he cannot be a leader inside his home? Standards for a deacon, very much the same.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 28:36

I used to get kind of confused, or not confused. I used to think that there were differences and I realized number one Paul was the same author and the same stipulations that he gave to Timothy are the same stipulations that he gave to Titus. And I thought about that. I thought about that some more. I thought about that some more. I said wait a second. They didn't have Xerox copy machines. He wrote the letter but it was gone, it was done. He never saw it again.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 29:07

And yet you read Titus and you were like wow, those are almost automatic paper carbon copies of what he told Timothy much earlier. Exactly, he's just the writer. But who's the author? Who's the source? The inspiration is the Spirit of God. So he continues to give all of these things. Why? Because in chapter four he then tells Timothy because, listen, in the latter times there are many that are going to rise up, that are going to depart from the faith and they're going to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and they're going to forbid all of these things about marrying and abstaining from meats, which God has created. And he's telling them to stop all of these things. That's why don't worry so much about bodily exercise, but focus and exhort and encourage and build them up to be godly, that they would walk. Godly Godliness is what is profitable, not just in this life, but that which is to come.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 30:11

He teaches him how to approach because he was young he's probably younger than a lot of the people who are there but he teaches them how do you approach an older person? He says approach that elder like a son does a father, even though I've sent you and I've ordained you and I've commissioned you by the Spirit of God to do exactly what you're doing. Approach them as a son does to his father. Then he starts talking about widows, how they're to be treated, the older widows, the younger widows, the younger women. Then he gets into elders and what they should be doing.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 30:48

This is all in chapter five. Then he talks about servants and what I realize is I come back because I've seen it, but I don't think I've stopped to think and consider is that Paul is addressing every aspect of society: Men, women, mothers, fathers, widows and servants. He's hitting them all and he says at the end that those who rebel against the words of the apostle about how he's proud and how he really doesn't know anything, and he says in verse six but godliness, righteous, living, living, that is, according to the word of God, that is in verse six great gain. These are the things that we should be seeding in this life because they affect our afterlife. He says thou, o man of God, flee these things. Follow after righteousness, follow after godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, fight the good fight of faith and lay hold onto eternal life. These are the things that not only Timothy needed to follow after, but Timothy needed to exhort the saints of God to follow after. And he also addresses among the different elements or aspects of society is the rich. He tells the rich that they should be guard against arrogance, don't trust in your riches, be vigilant to do good, ready to share, willing to share and communicate with others. And that's how he ends. First Timothy he's giving him all the counsel that he needs to continue the work that he himself cannot do. These are things that he would have done, that he had done in times past as an apostle, traveling from city to city Ephesus, Colosse, Galatia but now he has Timothy doing it. So I don't want to go into second Timothy, I want to go to Titus, because Titus was the next letter written and we've already talked about the faithful saying.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 33:46

But the word doctrine is also used with Titus and it is used four times. So we see that there's this emphasis in his last three letters concerning doctrine, because it also happens with Titus. And in Titus 1:9, he says holding fast the faithful word, as he had been taught that he may be able to by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Titus, like Timothy, was told to go to Ephesus, but Titus was told to go to Crete and he was supposed to ordain elders in every city, raise up those that qualified, that were blameless husband of one life, faithful children. Now that's elders in general. Sometimes there are elders that are not bishops. Sometimes there are elders that are not deacons. Elders are people that were important, that were looked up to, that were full of faith, full of the Holy Ghost, that could lead and be examples unto the flock. And then it specifically talks about bishops that they are supposed to have in their qualifications. But again, we're not going into that too much because it's kind of a repeat of what he said to Timothy.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 34:59

But he says to Titus don't give heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth, in Titus 1:14. But he is still comparing those that are getting involved in all of those other doctrines to the doctrines that he has taught. He says that those that are professing those other things in verse 15 and 16, their conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God, like he did once, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient unto every good work. Now these are the characteristics of the wicked that he also spoke about in Romans, in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2. These are those that he was saying beware, beware of those false prophets, those false teachers. But he tells Titus in chapter 2, speak thou the things which become what sound doctrine. He is emphasizing to Titus the same thing that he emphasized to Timothy Focus on sound doctrine.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 36:32

And when you do that and you uplift sound doctrine, it will cause these fruits to abound in old men or aged men. They will be sober, they will be grave, they will be temperate, they will be sound in the faith and charity and in patience. When you uplift sound doctrine, aged women, their behavior, will become a holiness. They won't be false accusers, they won't be given to much wine. They even will be teachers of good things that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children. Sound doctrine, uplifting that amongst the saints, will teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, to be chased, to be keepers at the home and good and obedient to their husbands. That the word of God, what? Be not blasphemed. In other words, talk about illy or evil. Upholding and uplifting sound doctrine will teach the young men like John, Daniel, like Jordan, like Murray to be sober minded sober, not insane with your thoughts, not thinking without clarity.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 37:51

Sound doctrine brings a sound mind in individuals and the young men need to have sound mind because usually after enough of getting beaten with stupid decisions that we make those that are older, they don't deal with that. But the young men need to walk in a sound mind and that only comes through sound doctrine. In all things, young men, you should have a pattern. You should have a reputation of good works in doctrine, showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, not cursing, not being foul mouth, used to have sound speech that cannot be condemned. That he that is of the contrary part might be ashamed. In other words, those that don't walk like you do. When they walk with you and hear you talk and see you act, they should feel in your midst ashamed. And that's not your fault. That's the presence and the anointing of God on your life, sanctioning your walk with him. It will make those that are not walking right feel ashamed. Don't be afraid of that, and they should have no evil thing to say of you. And and something that I've always taught all three of my children is that when you have sullied and dirtied your reputation, it is one of the hardest things to change in other people's minds. Once you do it, once, it could take years for you to actually convince others that you've actually changed. Now, when your heart you may have and the Lord only knows and sees that clearly, purely, but in other people's minds and other people's hearts, once you have offended them, once you have said something or done something that hurt them, it's really difficult for them to get over the hurt and see you in a different light. So your reputation should be the absolute, upmost important thing that you do, that you keep in sound doctrine, sound doctrine.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 40:21

When you uplift sound doctrine, he says the Titus, the servants will be obedient to their masters, they will desire to please them in all things, not answering back at them, not questioning their authority, and I love this. This is where that word comes in again. He says it again not poor learning, but shooing all good fidelity that they may adorn. Adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. Titus, chapter 2, verse 10. Adorn is to clothe yourself, to put on the shirt, the pants, the belt of truth, the gospel of peace, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the spirit. You adorn yourself in the teachings of Christ, the teachings of his apostles. It says for the grace of God that bring its salvation has appeared unto all men. The grace of God is the gospel of God. The gospel of God is what has appeared to all men. Jesus did, and he did for a certain period of time 33 and a half years but it is the gospel of God that has appeared unto all men To bring salvation unto them.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 41:39

And what does the gospel teach us? To deny ungodliness, deny worldly lust, live soberly, live righteously and godly in this present world. In other words, repent, repent of your wicked ways. The gospel of God does not come without that requirement, that prerequisite. You don't just hear it and get saved. You got to hear it, respond to it. And then God responds to your response to His gospel. You repent. He then baptizes you with his Spirit. You repent and you start getting baptized in Jesus name. He responds with baptizing you in his Spirit and anointing the things that you do thereafter, because He's there to follow whatever it is that you teach, and walk in with signs and wonders confirming the word that you have spoken.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 42:41

And he comes back to that idea that we were not, you know, saved by our own works that you know. He, Christ, came to save sinners, of which I am the cheifest. He says here our great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, gave himself for us that he might be able to do. He says he gave himself for us that he might redeem us all from iniquity, purifying unto himself and peculiar people who are zealous of what Good words. And I hope that by this point you could see that all of the good works that He's desiring in his people is sourced in, is rooted in sound doctrine, because we cannot think that we think like God in all areas and facets of our life. We were corrupted in our thinking and we need something to uncorrupt us, and that's the gospel, the doctrine. It teaches us how we should be, how we ought to be, what he desires us to, for us to, in order to please him, and so that's why every time he's speaking to Timothy, I'm telling you to teach this. He's telling Titus, I'm telling you to teach this. You're seeing what they're supposed to be teaching the saints. And so, in chapter 3, this is a general counsel to all the saints that he wants Titus to give.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 44:03

Saints, teach the saints to be subject to all principalities and powers, to obey magistrates and to be ready to do every good work. That's echoing what he said to Timothy Obey your masters, pray for them. The kings pray for the rulers over you. Don't speak evil of any man. I love this because it's not just this, this super spiritual walk. It's very concrete, it's very practical, it's very applicable. What God desires of us as his children? Don't be a brawler, but rather be gentle and meek with all men.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 44:52

And that's where he says that faithful saying that it wasn't by the works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy. He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. He justified us by his grace and he shed this on of us, on all of us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. This is a faithful saying. He's teaching them what they should be teaching the saints, but he also balances it out, and that's why I love this particular piece of scripture, because there's a lot of. This is what you need to do. This is what you need to do, but don't get it wrong. It wasn't by your righteous works that you were saved. Don't get ill-conceived. Don't get off on the wrong track. That's not why you were saved. You were saved by his grace. You were saved because of what he did the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. The born again experience that Jesus afforded you, is what saved you, but you should be overflowing with good new works.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 45:54

You should be overflowing with godliness. He says twice. He says in verse 8 I will that thou Titus affirm constantly. I want you to tell the saints consistently, constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to do what Maintain good works. Godliness.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 46:31

Keep affirming them in that.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 46:33

Keep encouraging them in that he says it again in verse 14 and let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. Now I want to go back to 2nd Timothy. In 2nd Timothy we see the doctrine word used three times. He says in 2nd Timothy, 3, verse 10 but thou has fully known my doctrine, manor of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions and afflictions which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Leistra. What persecutions I adore. But out of them all the Lord delivered me.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 47:24

Why is he saying this? Because he is comparing himself with what he said in the beginning of chapter 3. In chapter 3 he says in the last days, perilous times shall come and there will be men that will display these ungodly characteristics. You'll see it in all of chapter 3. They love themselves, their covetous, their boasters, their proud, their blasphemers, their disobedient appearance. They're so unthankful, they're so ununholy, their natural affections is broken and their false accusers and their incontinent and their fears. And it just continues on and on. But this is what caught my eye. They have all of these ungodly characteristics and in verse 5 it says they have a form of godliness. You look around with enough discernment and you would see, that's exactly the day we're living in All of these things, and they have a form of godliness.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 48:19

This is what preoccupied Paul's mind and heart.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 48:25

Because he knew that he was about to go and this is what he was about to do, that he was about to go and this is what he was concerned with. They have a form of godliness, but they deny the power of their of. Timothy, turn away from these people. Turn away from these people. These are the people that creep into others' houses. They lead captive silly women, laid in with sins, with diverse lusts, warnings, meetings. They're ever learning. They're never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They resist the truth, like Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses. They have corrupt minds. They are reprobate concerning the faith. Their folly shall be manifest unto all men. Don't get me wrong, Timothy. They're ain't gonna get away with it. They're gonna be exposed. But, Timothy, I almost feel like he's trying to make sure Timothy doesn't Get persuaded off the wrong track.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 49:35

Timothy, look at my life and compare it with theirs, and that's when he starts listening. Look at my doctrine. Look at all that I have ever taught you, Timothy. Look at my manner of life, how I have lived it. Look at how I've never taken advantage of people. Look at my purposes. Look at my faith. Look at all the stuff that I've suffered long, that I've been patient with and all of my love. Look at all that I've been persecuted for and all of my afflictions that I have endured and how the Lord has been faithful to deliver me out of them all, Timothy. Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But who are these other people's that I'm comparing myself? They are nothing but evil men. They are seducers and they're gonna get worse. And they're gonna get worse because they are deceived and they are being deceived. But he says continue thou in the things which thou has learned and has been assured of knowing of whom thou has learned them.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 50:40

Timothy, walk in the things that I've taught you.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 50:44

And the wonderful thing is that many of the things that Paul has taught Is found in all the scriptures of the New Covenant.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 50:59

He says in 1st, 2nd Timothy, 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine. So, Timothy, if you haven't yet heard it from me, know that you could go to the scriptures. And I say to the saints here today Know that you can go to the scriptures and receive the doctrine that God wants you to clothe yourself in. It's not impossible. Just because the apostles of old have passed away and gone on to be with the Lord does not mean you have an excuse not to know what you are to clothe yourself in order to please the Lord. Because the scriptures are given for reproof and correction and instruction in righteousness, godliness, so that the man of God may be perfect, the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped, adorned Unto furnished. what, unto what? All, all good works. We should be clothed in the brightness and the glory of good works. All of our behaviors, all of our actions, all of our words, all of our relationships with others should be clothed in the glorious glory of good works.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 52:25

And the next time we see doctrine is in 2nd Timothy 4: 3. It says in verse 1 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Timothy, who's going to judge the quick and the dead? It is appearing and is coming. Timothy, Timothy, I tell you, I charge you. Preach the word, do not stop preaching the word. Be ready at all times to convince and rebuke and exhort with all long suffering and with teaching, because there's gonna come a time, Timothy. I say it again, as I said in 1st Timothy, as I said to my other son, Titus, I now say to you again that there's gonna come a time that they will not endorse on doctrine. They will, after their own lust, heap to themselves teachers having each in ears. They're gonna be attracted to and they're going to attract the teachers that fulfill their lust. They're gonna turn away their ears from the truth. They're gonna turn to fables, to other doctrines of devils.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 53:35

But watch the alert, Timothy. In all things, endure the afflictions. Do the work of an evangelist. Make foolproof of thy ministry, for I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 53:59

I can only imagine how Timothy felt when he read those words.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 54:09

Because Paul wasn't holding anything back, not in the first letter, not in the second.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 54:17

It.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 54:17

I just see so much love that has been poured out in these words to Timothy. I Can only imagine how close they were and how, when he reads these letters, how tears could have welled up in his eyes because he's realizing he may not see his father again. His father's telling him I'm ready to go and I'm telling you that I'm gonna leave pretty soon. But I'm telling you all these things, my son, because you need to continue in the doctrine. No matter what happens to me, no matter what afflictions come your way, no matter what persecutions come about, you must endure and make it to the end. In the beginning of first of second, Timothy Paul says I am always praying for you. I am consistently without ceasing remembering you, night and day, in my prayers.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 55:22

He Tells about how Timothy had an hypocritical faith, like that of his grandmother, like that of his mother. He says don't be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. And then he says in verse 9, like he said to Titus in verse 3, 5 through 7, that we were saved by his mercy. We were saved by his grace, not by a word. He says to Timothy he who has saved us called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to what his own purpose and his grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began. He says I am not ashamed.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 56:05

In verse 12, paul says I am not ashamed, for I know whom I ever believe. I am fully persuaded that he is able, my God is able, to keep that which I have committed unto him into that day. What is that? His life? I'm telling you a couple chapters later. I'm about to go, but I have committed my life unto him. I know that he, he will be found faithful in regards to my life, just as Jesus was in the Garden of Consimony realizing I know in whom I have believed and he will be faithful to his word that he Spoke of in times past in the old prophets regarding me, that I will not see corruption.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 56:51

He says in verse 13 hold fast the form of sound words, doctrine which thou has heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. He began to be thankful about people that have helped him, like the house of Onesiferous. But he began. He gets transparent because he says In the end of Titus, after he said I'm ready to be offered, he tells Timothy coming to me shortly. In verse 9 of chapter 4 he says Demas have forsaken me, having loved this present world. He said only Luke is with me. He's being grievously transparent to him, he's feeling alone. And he even says straight up at first in verse 16, at my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. I Pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. He sounds like Jesus, father.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 58:03

Forgive them, for they know not what they do and as I read the letters of Paul and I see how he had conflicts with Barnabas early on in the ministry, I see now that he has come to that place of such maturity that he's not gonna hold offense at those that forsook him, but praying that mercy would come into them anyway. Because he knows, and he says in verse 17 notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me that by me the preaching might be fully known, that at all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. So even in the end, when he knew was about to be all said and done, his faith isn't that the Lord is going to be faithful to him. So I share that all with you. Because there's one in particular verse I want to read to you that, because of the many elders meetings we've been having recently, I think it's very important that we all hear this and understand, because most of the elders are here except, well, maybe Luther's here by phone. But this jumped out at me, and it jumped out at me because of our, our elders meetings that we're having on Tuesday nights. It says in chapter 2, verse 2 and the things that thou has heard of me, of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 59:42

I've been here and involved in this ministry for about 10 years 2006 and we've been talking about how we need to maybe change and adjust a few things. How maybe we need to be doing some ministry, some teaching, some Bible studies in our house and reaching out a nd this jumped out of me because I believe it's confirming the word that we have talked about for about two months now, and I see all that he wrote in these last three letters and all that was important to Paul and the council that he gave to Timothy and Titus is that the teach sound doctrine to all the saints and Timothy here, teach it to faithful men that what that they may be able to teach others also, and I think that that time is for us all to do that more actively. I think that's just simply where I want to conclude to think about all that has been emphasized in these three letters and think about how does this apply to you and how this is so practical and applicable that you can go out and do these things Because you've been anointed, you've been called, you've been appointed, you have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It's time, if you have been born again and you've been in this ministry for many years and you've been sitting under the doctrine of the Apostles and the prophets like me, just in 10 years is long enough that you should be going out and ministry more actively, because we need to get others to, to experience what we've experienced for these last 10 years here and just being fed and equipped with the doctrine, with the adorning, so that we can go out and share the same with others. So with that, I don't know what the other plans are.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:01:36

I think Luther is already starting some things in his house. I plan on having Bible studies in my house and I'm gonna try to invite those that I know are closest to me, which would be Dan and the Greer's and Melvina, possibly Monica. I'm planning on do it in on every Friday's, just having people come around, and I'm kind of leaving that open because sometimes Friday gets all clogged up, so maybe Wednesdays and we may switch, would try to be flexible. We're gonna try to do that consistently so that we can start going out and doing the Great Commission Saying that said come ye.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:02:16

Saying that said go so.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:02:19

With all of that as the basis in the foundation, I pray that you would consider the same for you, especially if you know that you're ready, and especially if you know that you have the calling, and especially if you know you have the support of the Saints here and the elders.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:02:33

Amen, we, acts 20, verse 27 through 29, before we go, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost have made you over seers to feed the church of God, which he had purchased with his own blood. For I know this that after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the fly. Y'all see the connection I Mean. That hits, that sums everything up in those three letters. That was his main concern, and we may not all be here very much longer, and so the same concern that he had should be the same concern that we have. That if we were to go, if God were to call us home, before we Know, before we expect it, have we left the legacy of others that they could continue preaching the doctrine, the gospel, so that others may be saved when we do go.

j - Jesus M. Ruiz: 1:03:54

Amen. Thus is the ministry of our father's heart through us. Our utmost desire is to be in the father's heart, to know the father's heart and express the father's heart to you. If you appreciate listening to this podcast, and we're blessed, pass it along to someone else by text email, a word of mouth, in the hopes that they might be positively impacted, as you were. If you are interested in supporting our efforts, we would ask you to consider the following one, pray for us To leave a positive rating, a review, with whomever you listen to our podcast with. And three, if you desire to contribute monetarily, you can do so at paypal. me/ J Ben Jesus or Cashapp $J Ben Jesus or Venmo J Ben Jesus. That's jbenjesus. God bless.