Believing the Truth: Godly Living

Hi, I’m David Feddes, and this talk is about believing the truth about godly living.

The Christian Leaders College and Institute Statement of Faith says:

• Marriage and family: sexual intimacy is for marriage only. Marriage is a lifelong union of a man and a woman. God’s covenant addresses not only individuals but also their families.

• Walking with God: we need daily conversations with God through Bible reading and prayer. God calls us to a life of love, as depicted in the Ten Commandments.

God’s Design for Marriage

Jesus said: “At the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

That, in a nutshell, is the teaching of Jesus and the entire Bible on marriage.

• God instituted marriage.

• It is between a man and a woman.

• It is meant to be for life.

Anything contrary to that is contrary to God’s will. Divorce, except for the most serious reasons (such as a spouse violating the marriage covenant), goes against God’s intention.

Sex before marriage is ruled out. The Bible calls this porneia—fornication. Pornography is also ruled out, because God designed sexuality to be expressed and enjoyed only within marriage.

Homosexuality is also excluded. Jesus taught that God designed marriage to be between male and female. The rest of Scripture confirms this with strong prohibitions against same-sex relations. No matter how many books or theories try to argue otherwise, marriage is male and female, lifelong, exclusive, and covenantal.

So whether single or married, we are called to live according to God’s design: chastity outside marriage, faithfulness inside marriage.

God’s Covenant with Families

Marriage leads to family. Family is God’s creation and covenant gift. God’s covenant deals with individuals personally, but it also deals with families generationally.

Deuteronomy 7:9 says: “The Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.”

Joshua declared: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

So faith is not just personal—it’s also household and family faith. God intends His covenant to be passed down from generation to generation.

Daily Walk with God

Walking with God involves daily conversation with Him—listening to Him in the Bible and responding in prayer.

When you love someone, you want to know what they think, what pleases them, and what they desire. God has given us His written Word. Psalm 1 says: “Blessed is the one who meditates on God’s law day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water.” Daily time in Scripture is daily time listening to God.

This is not only individual but also family-based. Deuteronomy 6 says: “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.” Families are to read Scripture together, discuss it throughout the day, and let God’s truth shape conversations and activities.

Prayer is the other side of conversation with God. Daniel valued prayer so much that he prayed three times a day even when it meant being thrown into a lions’ den. If Daniel wouldn’t let lions keep him from prayer, what keeps us from praying daily?

Prayer should be constant: “Pray without ceasing.” That doesn’t mean praying aloud every moment, but never giving up on prayer—making it a continual rhythm and response to God throughout the day.

A Life of Love

Godly living is a life of love. Jesus said the greatest commandments are:

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.”

• “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

All the law and prophets depend on these two. God is love, and whoever lives in love lives in God.

But love is not just a vague feeling. Love has a shape. The Ten Commandments reveal the boundaries of love.

• The first four commandments show how to love God: no other gods, no idols, no misuse of His name, honor His day.

• The last six show how to love your neighbor: honor parents, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, do not covet.

Love is obedience in action. Jesus said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Paul wrote that all the commandments are summed up in: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

So godly living is not just warm feelings but a concrete life shaped by God’s commands, lived in love for Him and others.

Conclusion

When we think about walking with God and living a life pleasing to Him, we confess:

• Marriage is between one man and one woman, for life. Sexual intimacy belongs only within marriage.

• Family is part of God’s covenant purposes, passed on from generation to generation.

• Daily walk means listening to God in Scripture and talking with Him in prayer, both personally and in our families.

• Love is the supreme calling, expressed through the Ten Commandments and fulfilled in Christ.

Godly living is marriage and family according to His design, daily conversation with Him, and a life of love.