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-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–yet this could not entitle him to happiness. His knowledge might make him admired by men, but not blessed by God. …
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!
Because Knowledge alone, does not make a man better; therefore, it cannot make him happy and blessed. Knowledge informs-not transforms.
Knowledge, of itself, has no power upon the heart to make it more holy. 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. He looks like a Christian, but has neither appetite nor motion.
Knowledge alone, makes men monsters in religion! 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!. 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 and takes away all excuse. “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!