THURSDAY July 16, 2020
Obeying Doctrine
But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:17-18
Paul was one of the greatest theologians who existed in the history of the Church. Even though he was so scholarly, he made understanding the Bible so simple. Through the power of the Holy Spirit’s work, Paul, along with the other Apostles, were men of the Word, men of faith, and men full of the Holy Spirit.
Paul explained to us the doctrine of regeneration and sanctification––we are set apart. When a person has been born again of the Holy Spirit––regeneration––they begin to obey the Word of God and do what is right. Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they cannot do anything evil and get away with it. They will feel convicted, which leads them back to the Cross to ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Christ’s forgiveness sets us free in so many ways.
Understand, if the book of Romans was the only book of the Bible we owned, it would give us enough theology to fully live the Christian life. It gives complete insight into the heart of God and the heart of man. Paul had painted a bleak and black picture of man’s hardened and darkened hearts. Man’s heart is wicked––cruel. Even as believers, we have our old nature constantly rising up within us. We need to guard ourselves against our old nature and all the unrighteous acts we are capable of committing.
The heart of man is so deceitful, and it is difficult for people to humble themselves and admit they are sinners in need of a Savior. Yet people must become as little children and simply confess their sins. They desperately need Jesus as their Advocate!
Doctrine is never meant merely to make us knowledgeable, but to make us godly.
~James Philip~
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