What a question, the one with which I have entitled today’s Bible Study Lesson!

Isn’t the truth something to be obeyed?

As in John 8:24, Jesus talking to a group of lost Jews: “For if ye BELIEVE NOT that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” If they do not “believe” that Jesus is the Son of God, an absolute Truth for sure … they will die lost, die and go to an eternal Hell! (TRUTH TO BE BELIEVED!)

But Paul, in Galatians 3:1 implies (no, outright states, preaches) that the truth is also something to be obeyed!

Here it is: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not OBEY THE TRUTH?” (TRUTH TO BE APPLIED, OBEYED!)

So, there must be a Scriptural “linkage” between “believing” and “doing!” 

In fact, one can graph (outline) most any one of Paul’s Epistles that way. In the first half he tells us what to believe about the things of God. In the second half he tells us how to behave (obey) in reference to those things. How to react to them!

To Paul … belief must be balanced by behavior!

To Paul … doctrine must be balanced by duty!

“Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” 

Here the Greek verb “obey” is “peitho,” and it’s translated as such (“obey”) 7 times in the New Testament. What does it mean, “to trust” 8 times. Then “to be confident” 2 times! But 22 times it is translated (in the King James Version) “to persuade!”

It means to believe so deeply, to accept as true, that one is PERSUADED of a given fact! Assured of it in his or her mind!

And comprehension (acceptance) that DEEP always leads to a resultant change in behavior!

If you really believe something … you will act like you believe it!

Enough said!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Does your LIFE match your stated BELIEF?

Does your WALK match your TALK?

Wow!

“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22, the inspired Word of God!