In the month of September we ex-plored the idea of simple and sound. We had a great week in the Lord as we heard the word of God on a nightly basis. We saw the simplicity of the gospel in a few ways. We noticed the singleness of the same message and the benefits of the application of it. The gospel message involves the death, burial, resurrection and appearance of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15.1-8). Furthermore, the gospel in-cludes the kingdom of God, which is the church of Christ (Mark 1.14-15). These bibli-cal ideas help us to understand the biblical narrative and God’s plan for saving man through His Son and His kingdom.

Paul instructed Titus to speak those things which are proper for sound doctrine (Titus 2.1). Healthy teaching, when applied properly, will promote sound or healthy living. For this reason we have the obligation to preach and demand the whole counsel of God be proclaimed (Acts 20.27). If the brethren are going to have any chance or opportunity to please God, sound doctrine must be preached and upheld. Only sound teaching will position the church to be well pleasing to the Lord (Col. 1.9-11). Furthermore, when we please the Lord Jesus, this should help us to have confidence in our lives before the God of heaven.

Simplistic and sound teaching will pro-mote sound living. This has been true since the beginning of time. Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had a perfect law from God and when they applied it, they were pleasing to God. However, when they went against the command, sin entered into the world and death passed down to all men (Rom. 5.12). It is similar for us today, when we abide by the Law of Christ, our lives will reflect the very words given to us by Him. This should encourage us to learn the will of the Lord and apply it daily (Eph. 5.17). Straight teaching will result in straight living every single time.

So what is the Lord expecting from His brethren as He walks in the midst of them (Heb. 2.11)? What is the Father desiring from His children as they live in a crooked and perverse gen-eration (Phil. 2.15)? Our Lord is expecting us to be sanctified and our God is desiring for us to shine as lights in the world. Friends this requires self denial, sacrifice, love for the truth, being honest with self and others, and the list could go on and on. Again, sound teaching promotes sound living. When we expose ourselves to the word and will of God, then our lives will reflect what we are reading from our God. Let’s do it.

There are things we should see as a result of being in the word of God more and more. We should see more desire to separate from the things of this age. Paul told the brethren at Philippi, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1.23). This world has so much to offer and being made from the dust and being in physical bodies, there is a natural attraction to the world around us (Gen. 2.7). We have to be mindful to prioritize the things of the Spirit above our will and desires. This can be challenging, especially if we are not reading and studying as we should. This CANNOT BE neglected and there are NO SHORT CUTS to holiness.

Furthermore, we have to pay attention to our lives and not become negligent, lazy or apathetic to the cause of Christ and our need to be sanctified. The Hebrews writer said it this way, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…” (Heb. 2.3). We have to dig deeper into our souls to read and study so we are not charged with sexual sins or mentalities of covetousness and pride in this fleeting short life. Again, coming out from among the world and being separate is God’s aim for His people. Why? He wants us to live with Him in eternity. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22.14). This will happen when the word of God and our lives match on a daily basis (Heb. 11.1).

In conclusion to these thoughts, we have the obligation and privilege of making our lives better, more wholesome and eternal if we will simply take the words of God and apply them properly. Let us read and study the word to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Tim. 2.15). Let us learn to deny ourselves that the word of God can take root and produce fruit according to the amount the Lord has willed for us personally (Mark 4.13-20). Let us sincerely make the effort to imitate Christ in all we do (1 Cor. 11.1; Eph. 5.1). When we accomplish these things, the environment we foster at 9th & Main will be one that many would desire to be a part of for many years to come. Simplistic and Sound Teaching Promotes Sound Living. Let God be True.