Things a Christian Ought to Do: Walk as Jesus Walked
Name of Assembly: United Apostolic Church
Type of service: Bible Study
Date: December 6, 2022
Topic: “THINGS A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO DO: WALK AS JESUS WALKED”
Scripture Text: 1 John 1:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:1
“1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” – 1 John 2:1-6.
“1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” – 1 Thessalonians 4:1.
INTRODUCTION
“Walk” in our text involves more than a method of physical locomotion. More is involved than going about on foot for either exercise or pleasure. Unless disabled, most people can use their legs and feet to take steps, creating an action known universally as walking. However, the Scripture opens to us a concept of walking other than the physical exercise of taking steps with our feet.
From Genesis to Revelation, we encounter the terms walk, walked, and walking concerning both God and man. Often these terms apply to a spiritual exercise where either God or man is involved. The earliest use of the term is in Genesis 3:8: “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” From then until now, God, who is Spirit and invisible, accommodates Himself to our thinking by employing terms such as “dwell in them, and walk in them” (II Corinthians 6:16). From the day of Enoch, who was described as one who “walked with God; and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24), until this present time humans have used and understood the scriptural terminology of walking with God.
In the New Testament era, Bible writers continued to use this centuries-old term as applicable to Christian experience and conduct. By doing so they have provided us with a profound, yet simple, insight into our relationship with God. Even a child can grasp what it means to walk with God or to walk after certain things.
God’s Word has many references with terms such as path, tread, pilgrim, step, way, and lead. These are all interwoven with the concept of walking in one way or another. Therefore, when we encounter the scriptural injunction that we ought to walk as He walked, we are not taken aback by some deep theological, hard-to-understand term. We have learned that when we are told that we “ought” to do something, it is an obligation or necessity for us.
“Walk,” as used in this lesson, comes from the Greek word peripateo (per-ee-pat-eh’-o), which means to “tread all around, walk at large, live, deport oneself, follow, or be occupied with.
I would like to engage us in a study of how we are to walk. Christ’s walk is visible and definable throughout the Scripture, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” – 1 Peter 2:21. Ordering our way, as set forth in the Bible, will place us in the steps of Christ.
HOW WE ARE TO WALK
God shows us and even commands us to walk in the manner He established in His Word. As we study the Scriptures the paths, we are to journey become well-defined and distinct.
Let’s consider the following teachings on how we all must walk:
1. Walk in Newness of Life
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” – Romans 6:4.
“Newness” comes from the Greek word kainotes (kaheenot’-ace), meaning renewal, newness, and freshness. Paul referred to Christ’s burial as a type of baptism and His resurrection as a type of the Holy Ghost in the verse above. When we are born again of water and Spirit (John 3:1-8), we become new creatures in Christ Jesus, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” - 2 Corinthians 5:17. As Christ was raised from the dead, so are we raised from spiritual death in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:1-6). Now we serve God in the newness of spirit. Walking with Christ is walking in a new life.
2. Walk in the Spirit
“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” – Galatians 5:16-25.
Now that we are Spirit-filled, we are to walk after the leadership of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Paul established three beautiful truths for the saint relative to the Spirit in Galatians 5:16, 18, 25:
a) we are to walk in the Spirit,
b) we are to be led of the Spirit, and
c) we are to live in the Spirit.
The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in those who walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Walking in the Spirit will protect us from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. The flesh and Spirit are contrary to one another; the victor of the two will exhibit itself either in the works of the flesh or in the fruit of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5-9)
3. Walk after His Commandments
“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it” – 2 John 6.
Concurring in lifestyle and spirit with the teachings of the Scripture is the responsibility of every born-again Christian. John declared, “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments” (2 John 6). “Commandment” here is the whole of Scripture as is applicable to Christian conduct. Obedience to scriptural commands demonstrates our love for God. “15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” – John 14:15,21, 23-24.
Loving God and submitting to His Word are inseparable forces in our lives, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” - I John 5:1-3(NKJV).
Accompanying our love for God will be a love for our brethren, a further extension of proof that we truly love Him. (1 John 4:7-21)
Paul admonished us to “walk according to this rule” (Galatians 6:16), and “let us walk by the same rule” (Philippians 3:16). “Rule” is from the Greek work kanon (kan-ohn’), meaning a straight reed, i.e., a rod, a rule, a standard of faith and practice, a boundary, a sphere of activity. We are to measure ourselves, not by one another but according to God’s standard “12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you”- 2 Corinthians 10:12-13. Nothing less than God’s Word could be the rule that Paul referred to in this passage.
When we walk in truth (III John 3-4), after His commandments (II John 6), and according to the rule God has distributed to us (II Corinthians 10:12-13), then we can truly say that we are walking in Him (Colossians 2:6). Zacharias and Elizabeth “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” - Luke 1:6.
4. Walk in the Light
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” – 1 John 1:7.
Scripture compares living in sin to a person sitting or walking in darkness. “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” - 1 John 2:11. It compares salvation to a person leaving or being called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, “9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” -1Peter 2:9.
Now that we are in the light, we are to “walk” in the light. Outside the church, darkness pervades the spiritual atmosphere. Each of us should take care lest the light in us become darkness, “22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” - Matthew 6:22- 23.
Let us hear the warnings to believers concerning walking in the light, giving heed lest darkness engulfs us again:
a) Cast off works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12).
b) Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them (Ephesians 5:11).
c) Light and darkness have no communion (2 Corinthians 6:14).
d) When we walk in darkness we do not know where we are going (John 12:35; I John 2:11).
e) The day of the Lord will overtake as a thief those who are in darkness (2 Thessalonians 5:1-9).
f) We are to be blameless, harmless, and without rebuke in a crooked and perverse nation, “among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).
g) Our loins are to be girded and our lights burning as we await the Lord’s return (Luke 12:35-36).
Holding to, walking in, or keeping aflame this marvelous light is a solemn charge but also a rewarding experience.
5. Walk by Faith
“7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” – 2 Corinthians 5:7.
In contrast to walking by faith is walking by sight. Walking by sight involves walking in paths calculated by human reasoning as the best way of life. Here we depend on carnal thinking to direct us in our choices. Whatever our physical eyes desire we choose, and we become influenced by the times to keep in step with society. Walking by faith is trusting the Word and Spirit when doing so seems in direct contradiction to human reason.
The hope that saves us is embodied in this experience, “24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” - Romans 8:24- 25; it is that unseen force of eternal optimism. This walk requires the innate ability to see the unseen, which is eternal, “17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” - 2 Corinthians 4:17- 18.
Moses walked this road where no visible footprints appeared, “27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” - Hebrews 11:27. Abraham knew what it was to walk this walk; we too are called to walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham.
6. Walk Honestly
“11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” – Romans 13:11-14.
In the text above, we find the words of this topic along with other pointed instructions to believers:
a. Let us cast off the works of darkness.
b. Let us put on the armor of light.
c. Let us walk honestly as in the day.
“Honestly” in the original text means decorously, decently, honorably, and becomingly. Contrasting this, Paul told us to “walk not in” (1) rioting (a night-time and riotous procession of half-drunken and lively fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor some deity, and sing and play before houses of male and female friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry), (2) drunkenness, (3) chambering (sexual immorality; lewdness), (4) wantonness (extreme indulgence in sensual pleasures), (5) strife, and (6) envying. Scripture enjoins Christians to walk honestly in every aspect of life, especially before the unsaved, “12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing” - 1 Thessalonians 4:12. It further admonishes us to walk in wisdom toward non-Christians, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without…” - Colossians 4:5. Wisdom and honesty should be the hallmark of every saint, especially in the presence of sinners.
Webster defines honesty as: “(1) The state or quality of being honest. (2) A refraining from lying, cheating, or stealing; being truthful, trustworthy, or upright. (3) Sincerity, fairness, straightforwardness.” These characteristics should define the life of every professing Christian. The Bible teaches honesty in every measure and aspect as set forth in these definitions. Let’s consider the following passages relative to this subject: Hebrews 13:18, Acts 6:3, 2 Corinthians 8:21, Romans 12:17, 1 Peter 2:12.
7. Walk in Love
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” – Ephesians 5:1-2.
Love is one of the major themes of the Bible. It is something we are to walk in (follow, be occupied with, order our behavior in, regulate our life by) according to Paul (Ephesians 5:1-2). Love is a powerful motivator; we should always allow it to guide our lives. 1 Cor.13:1-8
8. Walk Worthy of the Vocation Wherewith We Are Called
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” – Ephesians 4:1.
“Vocation” in this verse comes from the Greek word klesis (klay-sis’), meaning an invitation; its verb form means to be invited, appointed, or called. Paul’s emphasis here is on conducting or ordering our lives (walking) in a fashion worthy (appropriately, after a godly sort, deserving, fitting) of such a high call. Although we are unworthy of God’s grace and call, we can and must conduct ourselves corresponding with such a holy invitation.
a) We are to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).
b) Paul prayed for the saints in Thessalonica that “God would count you worthy of this calling” (2Thessalonians 1:11).
c) We are to “walk worthy of God, who has called us into his kingdom and glory” (I Thessalonians 2:12).
Consider the call or invitation God has given you to be a part of His glorious kingdom. If you have accepted that call and taken His name upon you in baptism and have been filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38), then act like a Christian.
a) We are called with a holy calling (II Timothy 1:9).
b) We are partakers of a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1).
c) We are to be holy since the One who called us is holy (I Peter 1:15).
d) We are called to be saints (I Corinthians 1:2).
e) We are called out of darkness into his marvelous light (I Peter 2:9).
f) We are called to peace (I Corinthians 7:15).
g) We are called to glory and virtue (II Peter 1:3).
Beyond the original call to be a Christian, God often issues a special call or invitation to one of His servants for some specific work (Acts 13:3), ministry (Romans 1:1), or place (Acts 16:9-10). These, too, should walk worthy of the vocation wherein they are called.
9. Walk in Good Works
Ephesians 2:1-10
Many times, people isolate verses 8-9 from the text above, resulting in a misunderstanding. It should be clear to all of us that we cannot be saved from our sins by good deeds, human works, effort, or any like thing. God’s grace alone saves us through faith. It is not of us; it is a gift of God. However, this does not prevent our being obedient to God’s plan of salvation (John 3:1-8; Acts 2:1-4, 38). Those who misuse this passage by taking it out of context often criticize and condemn those who strive to live a life of separation, holiness, and purity. They tell us that we are trying to obtain salvation through our works. Salvation comes by grace through faith as a gift of God; it then empowers and motivates us to manifest works of righteousness. Those who lack works of righteousness lack salvation, since they lack genuine faith, which invariably produces good works. Works do not produce salvation; works proceed from salvation.
God has ordained and designed Christians to walk in good works (Ephesians 2:10). Our body without our spirit is dead! Faith without works is dead! (James 2:26). Faith without works is dead; works are an exhibition of the unseen force of faith in the believer. At every opportunity we are to do good to all people, especially those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). God has ordained for those saved by His grace through faith to walk in good works.
10. Walk Circumspectly
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” – Eph. 5:15.
“Circumspectly” comes from the Greek word akribos (ak-ree-boce’), meaning exactly, diligently, perfectly. “Circumspect” is found in Exodus 23:13, “And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. It was used by the Lord in warning Israel. It comes from the Hebrew word shamar (shaw-mar’), meaning to hedge about, protect, guard, attend, beware, take heed, look narrowly, and preserve.
From these words, it becomes obvious that God expects us to conduct our lives in a careful, circumspect manner. Throughout His Word, the Lord condemns broad, liberal, undefined interpretations of Scripture. He also condemns loose, compromising, unholy lives. The walk of a Christian is through a straight gate and on a narrow path, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” - Matthew 7:14. Every Christian should be circumspect in every aspect of his life.
The Word of God clearly defines our path as Christians. Our responsibility now is to walk in the way God has ordained. While this is impossible within ourselves, He will empower us by His Spirit and enable us to follow Him. Obscurity often clouds our way, but during those times let us commit our lives to keep the Word, holding to His unseen hand.