The Application of Doctrine

About this sermon

It’s what you do with doctrine. Doctrine is learned so that doctrine is lived. The goal of all instruction is the transformation of the life. In Romans 6:12 you come to the application of the doctrine that we learned in Romans 6:1-11. *We have all been joined to Jesus Christ in His death *We will all, then, certainly be joined to Jesus Christ in a resurrection like his *The purpose for this union is so that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. *This is a change that is final and permanent – the old self has been crucified with Christ, and BURIED, so that we have died a death to sin never to be repeated. All of this points to the fact that a believer has a changed relationship to sin. It is a fact, and it has been accomplished through union with Christ. This means that to continue in sin so that grace may abound is not only unthinkable, it is impossible, if you understand what it means to be “in Christ”. ESV 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Now, the question is, what are we to do with this doctrine? How do we respond to these truths? This is a new section from that standpoint. So, as we come to this point of application there are some lessons to observe. As we often like to do when we come to a new section, it is good to think about it from a bird’s eye view before we descend into the details. What are lessons from the very fact that this next section exists? There are two main points I want to share with you, both having to do with the relationship between doctrine and application. THE PURPOSE OF DOCTRINE IS APPLICATION (vs.12) That word “therefore” is a very important word. He then gives an imperative. He gives a command. Considering what I have just taught you, here is what you are to do. The purpose for the doctrinal section, the proper outcome of the doctrinal section, is what you find in this application section. **Doctrine is always to be applied. And we should always keep this in mind. If we ever forget this, then we have lost our way. We listen and we learn in order to LIVE. What is the goal of Christian instruction according to the New Testament? The goal of our instruction is love, a right heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. ESV 1 Timothy 1:5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. There are 2 errors when it comes to the understanding of doctrine.

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• Bible Study