Let’s Take a Walk (part 3)

Let’s Take a Walk (part 3)

 

We must “walk in wisdom” in our dealings with those who are not in Christ (Colossians 4:5, 6; and confer Ephesians 5:15-17). Carelessness in word or deed may slam a door that could have been opened. We need to give thought to know how to answer each person. Speaking “the truth in love” does NOT look at the message, the message is always to be “the truth”.  Speaking the truth in love looks at the messenger, and his attitude and handling of the word, to speak that word in the most effective way possible.

“WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE CALLING TO WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED” (Ephesians 4:1)

We should walk in “good works”, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”. Do some have the idea that “Christianity” simply requires abstaining from that which is evil, with no concern about doing good? When Scripture says we are created in Christ Jesus FOR good works?

Jesus called us the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”, and said, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). Here is instruction looking squarely at our duty for good works; and people are failing in their reason for being if they fall short in this responsibility shared by all, Hebrews 10:24.

 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7). Understanding “walking in the light” is helped by considering walking in darkness. One does not have to do nothing but sin, to be walking in darkness; he is just indifferent to the light, walking (living) as it suits him; and occasionally, maybe, doing something good.

By the same token, one does not have to be sinless, to be walking in the light – his aim and preference is to be obeying God, and when he stumbles, if he repents and confesses his sin, the blood of Jesus will cleanse him.

People who are “in the light” are already acquainted with the blood of Jesus. There is no forgiveness of sins “without the shedding of blood” (Hebrews 9:22) but “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). The writer of Hebrews talks about the impossibility of goats’ and bulls’ blood for purification of the flesh; then asks, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:13,14). The blood of Christ is the price of forgiveness for every person. It is, therefore, the price of forgiveness for a straying Christian.

This is what John is saying, in I John 1:7. We must watch, where we walk. “Blessed is the man, who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly …”

Pat