In Acts 3, we see Peter saying the miracle at Gate Beautiful was done by the resurrected Jesus.  Why do you look on us as though by our own works, our own power, our own holiness we have made this man to walk?  You need to understand it’s by Jesus Christ whom you crucified, whom God has raised from the dead, that this man stands here whole.  “Repent therefore,” verse 19, “and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”  So, we’re seeing, again, this message, practically, of the sound doctrine of God.  We’re talking about the law and sound doctrine being the manifest presence of Jesus in His church, you’re going to see that signs and wonders and miracles are foundational doctrines of the church.  But the reformed church of today denies it.  “No, that passed away in the first century.”  No, it’s foundational.  It’s by these signs and wonders that He did in your midst, it’s the evidence that God raised Him from the dead and that He is the Lord of glory.  The promotion and the preaching and the living and obedience of a people who will stand and, regardless of circumstances regardless of experiential evidence will say, “Sound doctrine is this.  By his stripes we’re healed,” praise God; amen?  Sound doctrine.  Matthew makes it very clear.  They brought unto Him all that were sick and demonized and He healed them all that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah.

When you think sound doctrine, think obedience, lifestyle.  Christ being revealed in the church.  In Acts 2:38 the people are admonished to, “Repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins, and you’ll receive the gift of the Holy Ghost…And with many other words he testified,” verse 40, “and exhorted them saying, ‘Save yourselves from this unbelieving generation.  Save yourselves from these Judaizers.  Save yourselves from these liars who will cross the sea to make a convert but won’t live it themselves.’”  What hypocrisy.  Then he says there were those who received the word and were baptized.  They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Fear came upon every soul.  Many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.  And all that believed were together and had all things in common.  And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, breaking bread, the church meeting daily, house to house.  Eating their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

What is the apostle’s doctrine?  Well, we know at this early date there was surely nothing systematized.  The church had just been birthed hours ago!  What was this apostles’ doctrine?  The word doctrine simply just means “teachings.”  The gospel is the power of God unto salvation; amen?  We’re admonished to preach the gospel and to live the gospel; preach the gospel and, when necessary, use words.  We are epistles read of men; amen?  The doctrine that was being promoted at that time, that these thousands of new converts were giving themselves to, was to be followers of those who through faith and patience were inheriting the promises of God. 

How many hearers and not doers are there?  People that give their lives to study in the Word in the Hebrew and the Greek and will hear, “I never approved of you, depart from Me.”  But we’re a church admonished to hold fast to faithful words that lead us to sound doctrine.  The Word.  Sound doctrine, the Word.  The seed is the Word of God.  Good doctrine.