When we read and study the Bible, what exactly are we looking for? What is it that our hearts are hungry for, and greedily seek? It is the memorization of a plethora of Christian doctrines? Is it the mere recognition of the outlines of religious practices? Friend, is this thought to be sufficient? I do not believe so. Why? Because Jesus said, "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" (Jn 6:63).
Often, for some reason, we Christians habitually weep and pray over beautiful truth, only to draw back from that same truth when it comes to the difficult job of putting it into practice! Reader, we are no better off by learning the "ins and outs" of the Christian life if we do not, in turn, demonstrate these truths, putting them into consistent operation. Strangely, many seem to have been deceived into believing that the learning and the memorizing of Christian doctrine is all-sufficient. They actually think that somehow they are better off for having learned the doctrines of religion, even possibly accumulating them in a notebook.
Contrariwise, Paul has said, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in DEMONSTRATION of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor 2:4-5).
And again, "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake" (1 Thess 1:5).
Wee see this in the life of Noah as well; He was asked to demonstrate His faith in everyday life: "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood" (Gen 6:13-14). It is evident that God did not say to Noah, "I am depending on you to hold the proper orthodox doctrines. Everything will be just fine if you stand up for the right doctrines." Rather, daily he would visibly construct the ark, little by little, even amidst the ridicule of those around Him: "What are you doing? It's never rained before", they surely must have pleaded with him. Yet, his faith was continually put into visible practice, day after day. What a demonstration!
As Martin Lloyd-Jones has so aptly put it, "It is perilously close to being sinful for any person to learn doctrine for doctrine’s sake." I could not agree more. Christian doctrine is always best when it is incarnated — when it is seen fleshed out in the lives of godly men and women! The Lord Jesus Himself appeared at His very best when He came into our world and lived in our flesh, demonstrating His character and doctrine.. Why should it be different with us?
"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Cor 4:20).
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