Some seem to think that there is no connection between "doctrine" and "practical living," that "doctrine" is somehow in
the realm of the theological or philosophical, and "practical living" relates to everyday matters with no connection to the
former. Not so! True doctrine is exceedingly "practical" and relates directly to how we live, to how we ought to conduct ourselves
every day.
The apostle John relates three simple truths about God. Notice those, and consider how those truths about God relate directly
to our lives.
1. WHO GOD IS & HOW WE LIVE. John says, "...God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (I
John 1:5). From that simple statement about the nature of God, that God is light, John proceeds to relate that truth directly
to us: " If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth
us from all sin " (1 John 1 :6- 7). Because God is light, we must walk in the light, and not in darkness! There is a direct
connection between Who God is and how we live. Do you walk in the light? You should, because of Who God is!
2. WHO GOD IS & HOW WE LOVE. John says, God is love 11 (1 John 4:8). Does the truth
that God is love have any connection with us? Indeed! Because God is love, we must love! Loving others is the proof we are
in the light (1 John 2:9-11); it is the message we have heard from the beginning, and shows we have passed from death to life
(1 John 3:11, 14-15); it shows we are born of God, and know God (1 John 4:7-8); it is because God is love, and loved us, that
we are compelled to love one another (1 John 4:11-12, 19-21). Because God is love, and loved us first, we love others. Our
daily practice of brotherly love is directly related to the fact that "God is love."
3. WHO GOD IS & HOW WE WORSHIP . John relates Jesus saying, "God is a Spirit ..."
(John 4:24). Does that have anything to do with us? Yes! For Jesus proceeds from that truth -that God is a Spirit -to say
" ...and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. " Because God is a Spirit, we worship in spirit.
Our worship in spirit and in truth is not only according to God's command, but also founded upon the Biblical truth concerning
Gods nature.
Thus these truths concerning God's nature- that he is light, love, and spirit- directly relate to how we live, love, and
worship. Don't ever let anyone try to convince you that there is no contradiction between doctrinal truth and practical living.
Every Biblical doctrine stated in the Word of God is for a purpose: all relate to how we believe; belief relates to
how we live; and how we live relates to what we do.
