"As He 'Feeleth' in His Heart, so is He?" ...Feel Right, Live Right Dawg.

I think I had too much fun with the title of the post this time. Anyway, to make things clear, I want first to make known that I stand, as many of you are too, on Pauline theology. Saying that, I also believe, as Paul taught, that all things are permissible but not all things are expedient (1 Cor 6:12). To expound a little, it means that we, as Christians, are not bound to any law nor any form of legalistic obligation, but in the entirety of the Christian Life, we are singularly bound by the Spirit of God, being infinitely indebted to the Gospel that saved us, we just cannot help but to live otherwise, to live in such a way that pleases our Lord, in living and preaching alike.

With that in mind, the only way to live as stated, I believe, is first to live true to God. Secondly, to live true to Scripture. Thirdly, live true to conscience. Lastly, to live true to self and others. I wonder what would happen if the church of the Lord Jesus Christ today would take into serious account what it means to live true to God and Scripture.

To me it seems that our culture today gives first importance to living true to oneself rather than living true to the God he professes to believe.

...Feel Right, Live Right Dawg?

A.W. Pink

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim 3:16-17).

"Doctrine" means "teaching," and it is by doctrine or teaching that the great realities of God and of our relation to Him—of Christ, the Spirit, salvation, grace, glory, are made known to us. It is by doctrine (through the power of the Spirit) that believers are nourished and edified, and where doctrine is neglected, growth in grace and effective witnessing for Christ necessarily cease. How sad then that doctrine is now decried as "unpractical" when, in fact, doctrine is the very base of the practical life. There is an inseparable connection between belief and practice—"As he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Pro 23:7). The relation between Divine truth and Christian character is that of cause to effect—"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32)—free from ignorance, free from prejudice, free from error, free from the wiles of Satan, free from the power of evil; and if the truth is not "known" then such freedom will not be enjoyed. Observe the order of mention in the passage with which we have opened. All Scripture is profitable first for "doctrine"! The same order is observed throughout the Epistles, particularly in the great doctrinal treatises of the apostle Paul. Read the Epistle of "Romans" and it will be found that there is not a single admonition in the first five chapters. In the Epistle of "Ephesians" there are no exhortations till the fourth chapter is reached. The order is first doctrinal exposition and then admonition or exhortation for the regulation of the daily walk.

- A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God