Grocott's Mail
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Saturday, May 24
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Grocott's Mail
    • NEWS
      • Courts & Crime
      • Features
      • Politics
      • People
      • Health & Well-being
    • SPORT
      • News
      • Results
      • Sports Diary
      • Club Contacts
      • Columns
      • Sport Galleries
      • Sport Videos
    • OPINION
      • Election Connection
      • Makana Voices
      • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
      • Newtown… Old Eyes
      • Incisive View
      • Your Say
    • ARTSLIFE
      • Cue
        • Cue Archives
      • Makana Sharp!
      • Visual Art
      • Literature
      • Food
      • Festivals
      • Community Arts
      • Going Places
    • OUR TOWN
      • What’s on
      • Spiritual
      • Emergency & Well-being
      • Covid-19
      • Safety
      • Civic
      • Municipality
      • Weather
      • Properties
        • Grahamstown Properties
      • Your Town, Our Town
    • OUTSIDE
      • Enviro News
      • Gardening
      • Farming
      • Science
      • Conservation
      • Motoring
      • Pets/Animals
    • ECONOMIX
      • Business News
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Personal Finance
    • EDUCATION
      • Education NEWS
      • Education OUR TOWN
      • Education INFO
    • EDITORIAL
    Grocott's Mail
    You are at:Home»OUR TOWN»Faith and practice
    OUR TOWN

    Faith and practice

    Grocott's Mail ContributorsBy Grocott's Mail ContributorsAugust 8, 2017No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Faith
    Radical Faith: Preparing for Answered Prayer | Cheryl Barker | Creative Commons Flickr photo by familymwr

    “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1

    The first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the Christians at Ephesus are full of weighty doctrine, describing the unfolding of God’s glorious plan of salvation, and explaining what God has done for us in Christ. However, in the second half of the letter Paul shifts the focus to practical Christian living, and this is why Chapter 4 begins by urging us to “live a life worthy of your calling.” In other words, we are being encouraged to live a life that is consistent with the great calling, or salvation, that Paul has described in the first part of his letter.

    Paul’s approach here is instructive, for many people today try to separate faith and practice. On the one hand, some who profess to be Christians have a profound knowledge of theology and truth, and perhaps even have a great understanding of the Scriptures, and yet this knowledge is not matched by practical godliness in their everyday living.

    On the other hand, some avoid doctrine and truth, preferring to focus on being “practical Christians”. However, the fact that Paul lays a doctrinal foundation before giving practical instruction shows us that practical godly living is built on the foundation of truth and understanding. To live a life that is pleasing to God, one must first understand who God is and what He has done for us in Christ. The more we know and understand God and His will, the more thoroughly we are equipped to live in a way that is pleasing to him.

    Therefore Paul’s approach warns us against separating faith and practice. The goal is for us to develop a sound understanding of spiritual truth, not as an end in itself, but for the purpose of practical, godly living.

    Bryan Marx

    Grahamstown Baptist Church

    Previous ArticleManaging elephants in Addo Elephant National Park: a conservation conundrum
    Next Article DA gathers in no confidence show in Gtown
    Grocott's Mail Contributors

      Grocott's Mail Contributors includes content submitted by members of the public, and public and private institutions and organisations - regular and occasional, expert and citizen, opinion and analysis.

      Comments are closed.

      Code of Ethics and Conduct
      GROCOTT’S SUBSCRIPTION
      RMR
      Listen to RMR


      Humans of Makhanda

      Humans of Makhanda

      Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

      © 2025 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.