Balancing doctrine and the Christian experience

by | Posted April 16th at 7:13am

For in Christ Jesus the guidance of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law-alone doctrine of sin and death. Romans 6:22

Some Christians focus primarily on intellect and right doctrine and they forget about right living. Others focus primarily on mystical experiences concerning God and they forget about right doctrine. ¹ 

We need to get a clear connection between both right doctrine and right living. Firstly both need to inform our living – they can’t be separated. For example, doctrine should not be used to bash another’s beliefs. Jesus taught that Gospel, well understood, is “to open our eyes, so we may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then we will receive forgiveness for our sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.” (Acts 26:18 My Personalized Version)

Any antithetical disgust for another Christian’s belief offers only divisional theological turmoil. It can lead to subconsciously priming oneself to hunt for more divisional differences distancing oneself from Christ himself who cautions/commands us to not despise others in the faith. In the home of Lazarus Judas scolded Mary for anointing the feet of Jesus with her hair, yet the Lord saw that her actions rose above the doctrine of the accuser. (John 12: 1-7) We are rather to love one another. Thus theological differences can deceive us to wander from the faith unto degeneracy.

Well understood biblical doctrine and right living,  both used wisely, motivate sanctification unto holiness. Learned doctrine without experiencing the blessings of our Lord is not sanctification. Doctrine is to help stimulate you to listen to God in his scripture, trust and obey. This way the two stimulate sanctification just as the sun and the rain stimulate the growth of a plant.

¹ Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Article posted by Glen R. Jackman, founder of GraceProclaimed.org

Glen has optimized his eldership role to teach the full scope of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ without boundaries.
You can read his testimony.