No 2

(Applied to everyday life)

In the Bible, doctrine is never separated from real life.  Let us look at the doctrine of water baptism. As we know, John the Baptist is the one who introduced it for the remission of sins.  In Luke 3:3 the Bible says: "And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". 

However,  water baptism was very well known amongst the Jews because they had a ceremony for proselytes where they were circumcised, taught the Word and immersed in water (baptized ) to become Jews.  So when we say that doctrine is always attached to real life, imagine the reaction of the Jews when John required them to be baptized to become followers of the One for whom he was unworthy to tie His sandles.  The Jews who accepted this baptism must have been ostracized by their families and their acquaintances for their blatant disregard of Jewish tradition; they were already Jews, they didn't need to be baptized.   Biblical doctrine has always been attached to real life because without that the Bible would not be the life-transforming tool in the hands of God.  Doctrine must be applied to real life if we are to:" Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"   Matthew 5:48.