THE MOST PRACTICAL THING IN THE WORLD IS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BIBLE DOCTRINE. Our Lord, in His earthly ministry said, "Man shall...live... by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). In our Lord’s estimation, then, nothing could be more practical than to direct our lives moment by moment by what God has said.

Jeremiah tells us that "It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). This is an absolute. All men are minus the ability to live life intelligently. This is confirmed by the catastrophe of human history. Man’s life lived solely on the basis of human intelligence, when measured by God’s Word is a failure.

Paul’s "doctrinal" epistles (Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians) can be divided into two main sections. Many commentators name the first of these divisions "Doctrinal" and the second "Practical." The problem with this is that it conveys the suggestion that the "doctrinal" sections are not practical and that the "practical" sections are not doctrinal. This, of course, is not true. Some choose to designate them "Positional" and "Experiential." I prefer this wording because God and Paul, in these Epistles, begin by telling us of our immutable position in Christ, and follow this by an appeal to us to live according to our position. The positional section comes first because it provides the foundation for the experiential. A building without a proper foundation would be impractical indeed. Our Lord reminded us that it will stand only until tested by a violent storm, and then it will surely fall (Matthew 7:24-27).

In Ephesians, for example, the main thought in the first, or Positional section is that God has already given us every possible spiritual benefit in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Positionally we already possess everything we are ever going to need in the spiritual realm for time and eternity. While it may shock some to hear it, God Himself could not invent something additional to meet our spiritual needs!

The main thought in the second, or Experiential section is that a people so well provided for (the Body of Christ), should live appropriately by submitting joyfully and completely to the absolute mastery of our Head (Ephesians 4:1). Fully understanding our eternal position in Christ is the greatest possible motivation we could have to begin to live our lives according to what our Lord wishes and not to live them selfishly any longer (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). God’s will becomes more important to the believer than his own will (Acts 20:24).

This is not to teach "sinless perfection," for failures will continue to stud the life of the believer who has chosen God’s will over his own...but attitude is the important thing! (Philippians 2:5). Failures aside, is it my heartfelt purpose to live that life which pleases Him...a life lived in dependence upon the indwelling Spirit and directed by His Word? If so, my life will be increasingly characterized by decisions that glorify God rather than those that fulfill my own desires.

The first three chapters of Ephesians, the "Handbook of Blessing," treat the completeness of our Salvation; the last three deal with the believer’s only logical response to what God has so graciously done--total submission to the will of God our Savior. If seeing God on Calvary’s cross dying my death, fully paying the wages of my sin does not move me to want to know Him better, love Him more, and serve Him only...no lesser motivation will do it!

In Romans Paul spends eleven chapters telling us that we died forever to the Adam life, and what that means to us now in our new and permanent standing before God as dead to sin. Then he invites us to join him as slaves of Christ by presenting our bodies living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2).

In Colossians Paul spends three chapters telling us that we have been raised out of death with Christ and what it means to be able to approach God as new creatures on resurrection ground. Then he counsels us to occupy our minds with the risen Christ and to cease concentrating on material things, earthly things -- "things below."

In Ephesians Paul spends three chapters telling us that we have received ultimate blessing already, having been seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father. Then he challenges us to live each minute as the royal family should live. Paul’s main thought in the Experiential Section (chapters 4-6) is the submission of the Body of Christ to her Head.

SALVATION FIRST, SUBMISSION SECOND! The chief end of Sound Doctrine is to make the believer a voluntary slave of Christ. Only a believer can submit. The unbeliever is shut up to one choice: trust, or refuse to trust. He cannot submit his life to Christ until he has a life Christ can accept. He cannot submit the Adam-life to Christ! We are not saved by submitting to the Lordship of Christ; we submit to the Lordship of Christ because we have been saved.

Submitting to the Lordship of Christ is the same as presenting one’s body a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2); it is only possible to a Believer. It is walking worthily of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). It is walking carefully (Ephesians 5:15). It is walking in love (Ephesians 5:2). When the believing husband walks carefully he loves his wife (Ephesians 5:25); when the believing wife walks carefully she submits to her own husband (Ephesians 5:22). When the believing child walks carefully he obeys his parents (Ephesians 6:1); when the believing parent walks carefully he encourages his child (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). When the believing employee walks carefully he serves faithfully (Ephesians 6:7); when the believing employer walks carefully he stops using intimidation and applies Bible Doctrine as motivation (Ephesians 6:9).

Nothing in this life could be more practical than to know who we are and how to act accordingly!