SEPTEMBER
2000

Issue I
Volume 1

Title:      "Thinking and Acting Biblically"
Author:   JoyPals, Editor&Publisher: "Heavenly Notes" 
Source:   Heavenly Notes 2000, c.1984-2000 

"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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16, 17)
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One of the most meaningful quotes that have really grabbed my attention is one by the late Dr. James Boice. He said, we as Christians are to "think and act biblically."  In other words, everything we do is to be put under the scrutiny of the Word of God.  We ask the question:  "What does God's Word, the Bible, say about this subject, this decision, this issue?  The Bible speaks to everything.  God has not left us to our own counsel in matters of life and godliness but has given us everything in His own Word to counsel us on how to live a godly life. Thus, for our first on-line article, I wanted to lay a foundation for the articles that will follow. 

All “Heavenly Notes” articles are based on the Word of God, it's doctrine and application.  God’s Word is the guidebook for our life.  It teaches us how to live in this present world.  It teaches us everything we need to know for life and godliness.  We are “women of the Word” and believe what God’s Word says because IT IS the Word of God.  We bow to the authority of Scripture and submit to its doctrine (teachings).  "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.[1]  Thus, we believe the Word of God and its authority over our lives.

Our Confessions put it this way:

 IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man, or church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God. [2]

And from the Larger Catechism

Q. 3. What is the word of God?

A. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience.

Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the word of God?

A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.

Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

"Scripture is quite simply God communicating, God talking, God teaching, 
God preaching: God telling you - yes, you, with me all other Bible-readers and Bible-hearers everywhere -things about himself which call here and now for faith, worship and obedience, prayer, praise and practice; devoting, denying and disciplining ourselves in order to serve God; in short, our complete conversion and our total commitment."[3] 

The Lord tells us in James 1:5:  “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  Thus, we are to “think and act biblically” by going to God’s Word and in each practical situation we ask the question, how does the Scripture apply to this decision?  For instance, we know that the Bible teaches us to “train our children in the way they should go.” (Proverbs 22:6) When we apply our how-to “think and act biblically” to their training, we go to the Word of God, we find out how the Word instructs us to teach them. We do not go to the world for instruction on how to raise godly children; we go to God’s Word.

 “God has given us His Word not only with the design of instructing us, but for the purpose of directing us: to make known what He requires us to do. The first thing we need is a clear and distinct knowledge of our duty; and the first thing God demands of us is a conscientious practice of it, corresponding to our knowledge. "What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8). "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (Eccles. 12:13). The Lord Jesus affirmed the same thing when He said; "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).[4]

Sinclair Ferguson in his book "The Christian Life" speaking on II Timothy 3:14-17 and Paul's connection between Scripture, teaching and training, sums it up this way:  "At the end of the day all doctrine has this essentially practical quality about it.  It forms our thinking in such a way that it becomes a determining factor in our living."  And, "...our understanding of Christian doctrine shapes Christian life.  It begins to influence even our unconscious bearing and our responses to all kinds of situations.  Christian doctrines are life-shaping.  They show us the God we worship, and illuminate our understanding of his Son's love and his Spirit's work.  They form the foundation of the Christian life."[5]

We can see here how important it is for us to apply what we know – to “think and act biblically” – to submit to the Word of God in every aspect of our lives that we might joyfully serve our blessed God.  Let us study His Word, read it faithfully, believe it, apply it and obey it!  Let our decisions be “Bible-based” and God-glorifying.  Our lives will be richer for it, our families blessed, our faith strengthened, our church and brethren edified and our God glorified. 

May our blessed God, who abundantly gives more than we can ask or think, richly bless you with wisdom in applying His Word to your life that you may truly be a “woman of the Word” to “act and think biblically.” 

Blessings in Christ, joan
Editor & Publisher,
“Heavenly Notes 2000”

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