A Biblical Way to Understand Theology

"If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:17). Obedience is the key to understanding Biblical Truth. It's not a cognitive thing in God's economy. God starts with an obedient heart.

It makes sense, doesn't it? God is not going to waste time sharing His Truth with someone who doesn't intend to obey. He communicates with those who listen.

Obedience helps you move your knowledge of the Truth beyond the theoretical. Many believers live in the realm of theory. They haven't put their theology to work in real life. "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13). An example from everyday life is that a child doesn't really know what "hot" is until he/she touches something hot. So the experiential enhances knowledge.

Many intellectual unbelievers can run circles around Christians when it comes to discussing our theories. In fact, unbelievers aren't interested in faith as theory. They need to see how it works. I believe we would win more people to Christ, and save more people from error if we knew how to really apply what we believe to real life. People can dismantle theories, but they can't argue with a living example of faith applied.

Of course, our theology has to be Biblical, or it won't work out in real life, but that's the subject of another blog.