A sermon is never rightly heard—until it is practiced. “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” John 13:17
Christ does not put happiness upon knowing—but upon doing. It is not
knowledge of the points of religion—but practice, which renders a man
truly happy and blessed.
Luke 6:46,
“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?” It is
not the mere knowledge and acceptance of the most glorious Gospel
truths—which will bring a man to heaven. If a man could fluently
discourse on all Scriptural truths, if his head were a treasury of
wisdom, an ocean of learning—yet this could not entitle him to
happiness. His knowledge might make him admired by men—but not blessed
by God. If a man knew and believed all the doctrines of Scripture—this
would not crown him with happiness.
Knowledge is a fair garland to look upon—but it is like Rachael. Though
she was beautiful—yet being barren she said, “Give me children or I
die!” Just so, if knowledge does not bring forth the child of
obedience—it will die and come to nothing.
I would by no means disparage knowledge. Knowledge is the pilot to
guide us in our obedience. Yet, knowledge must usher in obedience.
Knowledge may put us into the way of happiness, but it is only practice
which brings us there! Knowledge alone, cannot make a man eternally
happy and blessed.
Knowledge alone, does not make a man better; therefore, it cannot
make him happy and blessed. Bare knowledge has no influence; it does
not leave a spiritual tincture of holiness behind. Knowledge
informs—not transforms. Knowledge, of itself, has no power upon the
heart to make it more holy. Bare knowledge is like weak medicine, which
does not work. It does not warm the affections nor purge the
conscience; it does not fetch virtue from Christ to dry up the bloody
issue of sin.
A man may receive the light of the truth—yet not love the truth,
“They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10. The Apostle calls it “a form of knowledge,” Romans 2:20.
Knowledge alone, is but a dead form, having nothing to animate it. He
who has knowledge alone—is a spiritual stillborn! He looks like a
Christian—but has neither appetite nor motion.
Knowledge alone, makes men monsters in religion! They are all head—but no feet! They do not walk in Christ, Colossians 2:6.
A man may have Scriptural knowledge—and still be profane! He may have a
clear head—and a foul heart! The understanding may be illumined—when
the foot treads in unholy paths. If knowledge is divorced from
practice, and does not make a man better—then it
cannot make a man eternally happy and blessed.
If bare knowledge will save, then all who have knowledge shall be
saved. But that is not true—for then Judas would be saved, for he had
knowledge enough. Then the devil would be saved! A man may have right
knowledge, and be no better than a devil! Hell is full of learned
heads!
Knowledge alone, makes a man’s case worse! Knowledge takes away all
excuse. Knowledge adds to a man’s torment. “Woe to you! I tell you, it
will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment
than for you!” It will be better with heathen—than with professing
Christians living in a contradiction to their knowledge. Luke 12:47, “The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it!”
Knowledge without practice, serves only as a torch to light men to hell—the brighter the light, the hotter the fire!
- Thomas Watson, “The Good Practitioner”