We now come to the second part of our series, SIT, WALK, STAND.
The Christian experience does not begin with walking, but with sitting.
We do not walk to sit. We sit to walk.
Every time we reverse the divine order, the result is disaster.
The Lord Jesus “HAS DONE” everything for us, and our need now is to rest confidently in Him.
ALL TRUE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE BEGINS FROM REST.
BUT IT DOES NOT END THERE.
Though the Christian life begins with sitting, walking always follows sitting.
When we have been well and truly seated, and have found our strength in sitting down, then we do in fact begin to walk.
“Sitting” describes our position with Christ in the heavenlies.
“Walk” describes our life towards man. It is the expression of our life in the world.
Walking” is the practical outworking of that heavenly position here on earth.
As a heavenly people, we are required to bear the stamp of that heavenlienss upon us in our earthly conduct.
“To Walk” comes from the Greek word “peripateo” (from peri = about, around + pateo = walk, tread) and means literally to go here and there or to tread all around.
Most New Testament uses are figurative referring to the daily conduct of one's life or how they order their behavior or pass their life. In the figurative sense then “peripateo” refers to one's habitual way or direction of life, and so to their life-style. In simple terms to walk in the Christian life pictures (1) activity and (2) an advance step by step.
“Peripateo” then came to mean, to make one’s way, to make progress, to make due use of one’s opportunities and finally (as used by Paul in Ephesians), to live, to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self. Most of the New Testament uses refer to the daily conduct of one's life or how one orders their behavior or passes their life. The present tense points to a habitual action; don't fall back into the habitual practices of those who do not know Christ as Lord.
To walk indicates motion. There are many words that indicate motion, such as leap, run, float, drift, creep, but you cannot substitute one of them for the word "walk."
To walk implies purpose, starting for a goal; progress, steadily advancing step by step; perseverance, keeping on until the goal is reached. Walking stands for steady, sustained motion, and involves the action of the mind in the decision to start; of the heart in the desire to continue, and of the will in the determination to arrive.
Then what does “to walk" mean in relation to the Christian's life? The whole course of his daily living; his habitual conduct before men; his life lived out in the open.
So how do we walk?
In the following passages of Scripture, Paul outlines our Christian walk:
ROMANS 6:4 we are exhorted to “walk in newness of life.”
ROMANS 8:4 says, “in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
EPHESIANS 4:1-2 Paul exhorts us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”
EPHESIANS 5:1 reads “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
EPHESIANS 5:8: “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light”
EPHESIANS 5:15-16: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:27: “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
PHILIPPIANS 3:17: “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
COLOSSIANS 1:10: “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:12: “so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory”
1 THESSALONIANS 4:1: “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God, just as you actually do walk, that you may excel still more.”
So let’s look into some of these passages of Scripture and find out exactly how we are to walk.
ROMANS 6:4 “Walk in newness of life”
“Newness” (“kainotes” from “kainós” = new in sense that it brings into the world a new quality of thing which did not exist before) refers to a renewal, not simply an experience similar to the past, but a qualitatively different one, one that is new in quality and character. Of note is that the word Paul chose is not “neos” which refers merely to newness in point of time. The life every believer now has the potential to walk is a life of a brand new kind, new because the believer is now in union with and identified irrevocably with Christ.
Wuest makes a subtle distinction in regard to "newness"...
"The newness of life therefore refers, not to a new kind of life the believer is to live, but to a new source of ethical and spiritual energy imparted to him by God by which he is enabled to live the life to which Paul exhorts in Romans 12–16." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Studies in the Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament: Grand Rapids: Eerdmans)
Paul's point is that just as sin characterized and dominated every one of our lives in Adam, so now because of our position in union with Christ every believer possesses the potential to live a righteous lifestyle. Before their union with Christ, even man's best was but filthy rags in light of God's holiness and His perfect standard.
In light of this truth Wayne Barber applies this truth asking the question...
"Can a Christian go back and live like he used to live?" Well, how can you if you are dead and you have been raised to walk in newness of His life? A life that is brand new, qualitatively different? "How different?" In the sense that sin no longer controls you. In the sense that you have Someone who lives in you now that gives you power to do what you couldn’t do before; Someone to convict you of sin; Someone to give you knowledge that you didn’t have before. I can’t go back! I’m walking in newness of His life." (Barber, W: The New Life in Jesus)
Scripture is filled with descriptions of the believer’s new spiritual life. We are said to receive a new heart:
EZEKIEL 18:31: “a new spirit”
PSALM 40:3: “a new song”
REVELATION 2:17: “a new name”
II CORINTHIANS 5:17: “a new creation”
GALATIANS 6:15: “a new creature”
ROMANS 8:4: “in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Robert Haldane explains that...
“The expression, to “walk,” is frequently employed in Scripture regarding any particular line of conduct, as when it is said, Acts 21:21, “that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs”; or it denotes the course of life in which we are proceeding as in Ephesians 2:2, “Ye walked according to the course of this world.” In this way, comparing our life to a journey, in the usual style of Scripture, the Paul comprehends all our actions under the figure of walking. To walk, then, according to the flesh, is to act agreeably to the principles of corrupt nature. To walk according to the Spirit, means to regulate the conduct according to the influence and dictates of the Holy Spirit, who has given us a new nature, serving God in newness of spirit.”
The Amplified paraphrases it as those "who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit]."
Walking according to the flesh means behaving as the flesh dictates, so that the sinful nature entirely governs ones life. It means to have one’s life determined and directed by the values of this evil world system in total rebellion against God. This is the only way an unsaved person is able to walk - according to the flesh.
On the other hand the regenerate person can and should walk according to the Spirit which means to live in submission to and dominated by the Holy Spirit's leadership and enablement. The saved person’s life in totality cannot be said to be dominated by the flesh. As saved men and women, unfortunately we occasionally "fall into" sin but we will not persist in sin as the habit of our lives or as our lifestyle (1John 3). If the latter situation is the case, the person hasn't lost their salvation. The truth is that they were never genuinely born again and given a new heart with an inherent disposition toward holiness, however imperfect that might be manifest in one's life. But when the regenerate man chooses (bad choice) to walk in submission to the flesh, he is not walking rightly and he grieves the Spirit which makes him miserable (Ephesians 4:30). A sinning saint is a sad sight!
EPHESIANS 4:1-2:
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love,” (NASB)
It is interesting to note that out of the 10 passages of Scripture listed in our study, 6 of them refer to “walking in a manner worthy of God. (Ephesians 4:1-2; Philippians 1:27; Philippians 3:17; Colossians 1:10; I Thessalonians 2:12; I Thessalonians 4:1)
Paul tells us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” What is he saying”
“To walk worthy” is a call to walk on a plane commensurate with our heavenly position in Christ and our possession of every spiritual blessing in Christ. Our walk must have an "equal weight" with the truth in God’s Word. Our calling and our conduct should be in balance. We do not become Christians by living the Christian life; rather, we are exhorted to live the Christian life because we are Christians, that our lives may measure up to our position in Christ. Paul's call for a worthy walk resonates throughout his epistles. (See listing above)
The point is that it is not enough to just know the truth, but we must live it out.
In other words, we must “walk out what we talk about.” Are our actions consistent with our words? Are we walking the walk, before we talk the talk?
S Lewis Johnson writes...
“There’s an old story about St. Francis of Assisi, who one morning said to the disciples that he was responsible for training, let’s go down into the village from the monastery and preach. And, according to this ancient story, St. Francis went out with a group of young men, they walked down from the monastery into the village, they walked through the streets of the village, they made contact with a number of people, primarily about the things of ordinary life. They walked up and down the few streets of the village, finally walked out of the village. They walked to the next little community and then finally made their way back to the monastery when one of the young men said, “But, sir, you said we were going down to the village and preach.” And he is reported to have said, “That’s exactly what we did. We went down to preach. My sons, it is of no use that we walk anywhere to preach unless we preach as walk.” He was trying to make the point that in our daily life, we preach.” (Unity of One Body)
“In a manner worthy” (“axios” from “axios” = having the weight of another) means weighing as much as, of like value, worth as much. It means having the weight of another thing and so being of like value or worth as much. Worthy (axios) is literally "bringing up the other beam of the scales" and hence indicates equivalence. In other words “axios” has the root meaning of balancing the scales—what is on one side of the scale should be equal in weight to what is on the other side. By extension, the word came to be applied to anything that was expected to correspond to something else. A person worthy of his pay was one whose day’s work corresponded to his day’s wages. True grace in the heart must show itself by true goodness in the life. Walk is on one side and calling on the other side of the "scales".
Paul is saying in essence, "I implore you to let your walk be balanced by your calling." He is exhorting them to demonstrate a balance between their profession and their practice.
Your conduct should "balance the scales" the other side of the scale being Christ's life and His unfathomable riches! It's a high calling but is to be our goal and is our potential since the Spirit of Christ is in us to strengthen our inner man for such a supernatural walk. There is no way a man or woman can "balance the scales" in their own strength or self efforts.
Ruth Paxson writes that...
“The characteristics of a worthy walk are given in Eph 4:1-6:9... But here let us consider briefly the Godward and the manward aspects of such a walk. God has already determined both its starting point and its goal, and the road over which the walk is to be made. His starting point is Ephesians 1:4, His goal is Ephesians 5:27, and His path of travel is 5:18. God has determined that we shall "walk even as he walked" (1John 2:6). God's goal for every Christian is complete conformity to the image of His Son, and He would have every step in our walk bring us that much nearer to the goal.
Such a walk requires on the manward side fullest co-operation with God. It demands a set purpose, a steady progress, and a strong perseverance. The Christian must resolutely purpose to "put off the old man and to "put on the new man" he must not be content without a step-by-step growth "up into him in all things"; and be must keep steadily on his course without faltering or fainting in spite of all opposition by not "giving place to the devil," or "grieving the Spirit," but rather by being filled with the Spirit and empowered by Him.
But how exceedingly difficult is such a walk! The old habits of life are so binding; the worldly currents about us are so strong; the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil are so subtle; the fear of being considered peculiar is so gripping; the opportunity of fellowship with spiritually-minded Christians is so limited. To maintain a steady, sustained consistency in daily conduct is not an easy task. It is far easier to float downstream with the tide of nominal Christianity; to drift in the listlessness and lukewarmness of a worldly church; to creep along as a spiritual babe, fed on the milk of elementary doctrines of salvation; easier even to mount up with eagle's wing and soar to spiritual heights of sudden inspiration on some spiritual Mount of Transfiguration only to relapse into a backslidden condition when facing the stern realities of Christian living in an unsympathetic atmosphere; very much easier, even, to run, rising to some particular task such as teaching a Bible class, or leading a meeting, or preaching a sermon, than to practice consistently in the home, office, or social circle the truth preached. A daily, consistent Christlike walk; no stagnancy, slump or sloth -- how hard!
So the aged apostle devotes the very heart of this epistle to telling us what a worthy walk is. Eight times he uses the word "walk." What shall we do with this divine standard set for the Christian's walk? We may reject it as impossible and impracticable, or we may receive it as possible and livable and rejoice in it, as daily our faithful Father enables us "to walk even as he walked" by the power of the divine Spirit.” (The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of the Christian. Page 86-88).
“Calling” (“klesis” from “kaléo” = to call) means a call and was used for an invitation to a banquet. In the context of Ephesians the calling is the sovereign, saving calling of God to the Gentile resulting their receipt of every spiritual blessing and their new position as fellow heirs, fellow members of the body and as fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
“Calling” places the emphasis is upon what God has done, which is the point Paul has been elaborating in the opening chapters of Ephesians. Because God has set His hand upon us and called us, changing us from what we were into what we have now become, we are to live as Christians in this world.
Hoehner adds that...
“The calling” refers not only to believers’ salvation (1Cor 1:9) but also to their union in one body. Therefore a Christian’s conduct concerns both his personal life and his responsibility to other believers in the church. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary. 1985. Victor)
In verse 2 Paul goes on to tell us how to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called:
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love.”
“Humility” (“tapeinophrosune” from “tapeinos” = low lying, then low or humble + phren = to think) means humiliation of mind, lowly thinking, a humble attitude, modesty (modesty = unassuming in the estimation of one’s abilities) or without arrogance. It is the opposite of pride. Contemplating what we were before grace lifted us from the miry clay should cause us to have a humble attitude.
In a word humility is "low mindedness", an attitude that one is not too good to serve. Humility is that grace that, when you know you have it, you have lost it. Humility means putting Christ first, others second, and self last.
The word indicates that one esteems (not makes) themselves as "small" and lacking sufficiency to walk worthy while at the same time also recognizing the power and sufficiency of God to enable a worthy walk because Paul knows that humility promotes unity but that pride promotes disunity.
Humility is not thinking less of ourselves but is really not thinking of ourselves at all. This supernatural attitude in believers has its source in our association with the Lord Jesus and the enablement of His Spirit. Humility makes believers conscious of their own nothingness and enables them to esteem others better than themselves, a good antidote for a spirit of disunity in the body. The opposite attitudes of conceit and arrogance on the other hand promote disunity.
“Gentleness” (meekness) (“prautes” from the adjective “praus”) describes the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance. “Prautes” is a quality of gentle friendliness - gentleness, meekness (as strength that accommodates to another's weakness), consideration, restrained patience, patient trust in the midst of difficult circumstances.
“Prautes” suggests having one’s emotions under control (indicating the need for the strengthening of the Spirit) and is the opposite of self-assertion, rudeness, and harshness. Although “prautes” connotes meekness, it is not weakness but is knowing how to get angry at the right time and for the right reason. People who are angered at every nuisance or inconvenience to themselves know nothing of gentleness.
A gentle person is one whose emotions are under control. It describes the attitude that submits to God’s dealings without rebellion, and to man’s unkindness without retaliation.
Albert Barnes writes that...
“Meekness (gentleness) relates to the manner in which we receive injuries. We are to bear them patiently, and not to retaliate, or seek revenge. The meaning here is, that we adorn the gospel when we show its power in enabling us to bear injuries without anger or a desire of revenge, or with a mild and forgiving spirit.” (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary)
The meek person does not have to fly off the handle because he has everything under (Spirit) control. A perfect picture is found in our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 21. Quoting from the Septuagint (LXX = Greek of the Hebrew Old Testament) rendering of Zechariah 9:9, which predicts the Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Matthew uses the adjective form of prautes (praus) to describe Jesus as
“gentle (praus) and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden” (Mt 21:5).
Meekness is a willingness to waive one's rights for a good cause, just as Jesus waived His rights to His rule as King as he rode into Jerusalem mounted on a donkey (see above). Set aside your rights! Do not demand that you be satisfied, but for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ be willing to suffer loss. Meekness is the opposite of rudeness and abrasiveness.
Meekness and weakness are not synonymous. Meekness says,
"God, in this situation, You have a purpose. You're in control, sovereign, and ruling over all." Meekness is thus a willingness to stand and do the will of God regardless of the cost.”
John MacArthur writes that...
“Meekness is the opposite of violence and vengeance. The meek person, for example, accepts joyfully the seizing of his property, knowing that he has infinitely better and more permanent possessions awaiting him in heaven (Heb. 10:34). The meek person has died to self, and he therefore does not worry about injury to himself, or about loss, insult, or abuse. The meek person does not defend himself, first of all because that is His Lord’s command and example, and second because he knows that he does not deserve defending. Being poor in spirit and having mourned over his great sinfulness, the gentle person stands humbly before God, knowing he has nothing to commend himself.” (MacArthur, J: Matthew 1-7 Macarthur New Testament Commentary Chicago: Moody Press
Ray Stedman describes meekness as "strength under control" adding that
"It is real strength, but it does not have to display itself or show off how strong it is. This is what our Lord beautifully displayed He described himself as "meek and lowly in heart." The first curriculum of the Holy Spirit is that we must do what Jesus said, "take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart."
“Patience” or “Longsuffering” comes from the Greek word “makrothumia” (from makros = long, distant, far off, large + thumos = temper, passion, emotion or thumoomai = to be furious or burn with intense anger) is literally long-temper (as opposed to short tempered), a long holding out under trial before giving in to passion, a tumultuous welling up of the whole spirit or a might emotion that seizes and moves the entire inner man.
It is bearing patiently with the foibles, faults, and infirmities of others. It is a patient holding out under trial; a long-protracted restraint of the soul from yielding to passion, especially the passion of anger. Our old nature is so quick to take offense that we need longer "fuses". The new life in Christ enables one to endure with unruffled temper any wrong suffered without retaliation and to turn the other cheek.
“Showing tolerance(forbearnce)” (anechomai from aná = in + écho = have) means literally to hold one’s self upright or firm against a person or thing, to put up with, to bear with (equanimity or evenness of mind especially under stress), to tolerate, to forbear. It pictures restraint under provocation and includes liberal allowance for the faults and failures of others. The present tense calls for this to be our lifestyle.
The idea is to hold out in spite of persecution, threats, injury, indifference, or complaints and not retaliate. It conveys the sense of putting up with others and of undergoing something onerous or troublesome without giving in.
Paul encourages the saints to make allowance (tolerate, bear, endure) for the faults and failures of others, or differing personalities, abilities, and temperaments. Forbearance is not a question of maintaining a façade of courtesy while inwardly seething with resentment but is a Spirit empowered positive love to those who irritate, disturb, or embarrass you! Not a natural but a supernatural response!
We can understand why Paul prayed for the Ephesian saints to be strengthened by the Spirit in their inner man! Ephesians 3:16) This attitude and action is not possible naturally, but only supernaturally!
How are you bearing up with the idiosyncrasies of your brethren at church, your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your fellow students, etc? You can't, He can and He lives in you to transform your temperament and attitude to those who irritate you.
“One another” (allelon from állos = another) means just what it says. It is like the sequoia trees of California which tower as high as 300 feet above the ground. You might be surprised to discover that these giant trees have unusually shallow root systems that reach out in all directions to capture the greatest amount of surface moisture. Their intertwining roots also provide support for each other against the storms. That's why the giant Sequoia trees usually grow in clusters. Seldom will you see a redwood standing alone, because high winds would quickly uproot it! That's what "one another" means!
“In love” - describes the spirit in which such forbearance was to be exercised.
John Eadie writes that...
“Retaliation was not to be allowed; all occasionally needed forbearance, and all were uniformly to exercise it. No acerbity of temper, sharp retort, or satirical reply was to be admitted. As it is the second word, which really begins the strife, so, where mutual forbearance is exercised, even the first angry word would never be spoken. And this mutual forbearance must not be affected coolness or studied courtesy; it must have its origin, sphere, and nutriment “in love”—in the genuine attachment that ought to prevail among Christian disciples.” (John Eadie, D., LL.D. The Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians)
Love (agape) is unconditional, sacrificial love, the love that God is and in the New Testament defines a supernatural love, commanded by God, empowered by His Spirit, activated by a personal choice of our will, not based on our feelings toward the object of our love and manifested by specific actions especially as summarized in 1Corinthians 13:
“Love is patient (makrothumeo), love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag (self display, boast, praise oneself excessively) and is not arrogant (inflated, puffed up, haughty); does not act unbecomingly (an ugly, indecent, improper, unseemly manner); it does not seek its own, is not provoked (aroused to anger, not "touchy"), does not take into account a wrong suffered; does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1Cor 13:4-7)
In combination with showing tolerance, the idea is to love those who don't deserve it or who irritate, disturb or embarrass us. This supernatural, Christlike behavior is only possible by the strengthening of our inner man by the Holy Spirit.
Thomas à Kempis wrote that...
“If Christ is amongst us, then it is necessary that we sometimes yield up our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise as to have perfect knowledge of all things? Therefore trust not too much to thine own opinion, but be ready also to hear the opinions of others."
D L Moody quipped...
“There are two ways of being united -- one is by being frozen together, and the other is by being melted together. What Christians need is to be united in brotherly love, and then they may expect to have power.”
This is not easy to do. From my own personal experience, it is hard to love someone who abuses you, lies to you, talks bad about you, refuses to apologize for the wrong they have done to you, and believes they have done nothing wrong. It’s even harder when the person is a Christian.
You have to make a decision to love them no matter what. Yes it hurts. Don’t get offended and fall into unforgiveness. Don’t give bitterness a foothold. The best thing you can do is to start praying for that person, and every time the devil brings the offense up, you have to refuse to keep rehearsing it in your mind. The more you rehearse it in your mind, playing it over and over again, the more it grows and that root of bitterness will start to take hold in your spirit. Let the Lord deal with that person. Pray for that person, pray blessings for him. This will help keep the root of bitterness from growing.
EPHESIANS 5:1: “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
Paul uses the present imperative which is a command calling for their way of life and daily conduct to be in the sphere of unconditional, sacrificial love, the love that God is, the love that is a fruit of His indwelling Spirit in the yielded, obedient saint.
Paul's point is that the believer now as a new creation in Christ is to be constantly ordering your behavior within the sphere of love.
“Love” (agape) describes the love God gives freely, sacrificially and unconditionally regardless of response -- love that goes out not only to the lovable but to one’s enemies or those that don't "deserve" it.
“Agapao” speaks especially of love as based on evaluation and choice, a matter of will and action. This love is not sentimental or emotional but obedient and reflective of the act of one's will with the ultimate desire being for another's highest good. Since it is unconditional, this love is still given if it's not received or returned! “Agape” gives and gives and gives. It is not withheld.
“Agape” love is commanded of believers, empowered by His Spirit, activated by personal choice of one's will, not based on one's feelings toward the object of one's love and manifested by specific actions (see 1Cor 13:4-8 for a succinct list of these actions).
“Agape” love speaks of a love called out of one’s heart by the preciousness of the one loved, a love that impels one to sacrifice one’s self for the benefit of the object loved. It is the love shown at Calvary. The prototype of this quality of supernatural love is the Father's love for sinful men as manifest by the Son's sacrifice on the Cross.
Wuest adds that...
“This love is the “agape” love which God is, which God exhibited at the Cross, which Paul analyzes in 1 Corinthians 13, and which is the fruit of the Spirit in the yielded saint. The saint is to order his behavior or manner of life within the sphere of this divine, supernatural love produced in his heart by the Holy Spirit. When this love becomes the deciding factor in his choices and the motivating power in his actions, he will be walking in love. He will be exemplifying in his life the self-sacrificial love shown at Calvary and the Christian graces mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13.” (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans
S Lewis Johnson speaking of living our lives now based on faith in the Son of God asks...
“But do we have good reasons to rest in Him? The final words of Galatians 2:20 supply ample grounds. Our faith is in the Son of God, "who loved me and gave himself for me." Cf. Gal 1:4. All of the essentials of the atonement are found here. His redemptive work is grounded in the love that expressed itself in the cross, the word "loved" being an aorist in tense and referring to the event of the cross as the issue of eternal, electing love (cf. Eph 1:3-6; 2:4, etc.). The verb, "gave," means to hand over, to deliver over (cf. Romans 4:25; Ro 8:32; Eph. 5:2). It in this context suggests these important things:
(1) First, His death was voluntary. He gave Himself.(2) Second, His death was a penal sacrifice, for He had to deliver Himself over to the cross. The aorist of the participle again points to the cross as the event at which the delivering took place. And it was a delivering of Himself over to the divine penalty for sin. He, thus, was a sacrifice.
(3) Third, His death was substitutionary. It was "for me," Paul says, a personal reference that is expanded to all the elect in other places in his writings (cf. Eph. 5:2; Gal. 1:4). The use of the first person here "indicates the deep personal feeling with which the apostle writes."
EPHESIANS 5:8: “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light”
Darkness describes the character of the life of the unconverted as void of truth and virtue in intellectual and moral matters. It's all the things Paul has already described about the Gentiles in their unconverted state. It's all the things he has described which characterized the old self or old man. Formerly all of those things were the only life they knew.
It is that very darkness from which salvation in Christ delivers sinners.
Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
(Jesus again said) "I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)
For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (See note Colossians 1:13)
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2:9)
So how are believers to respond? What is true about us now in regard to the darkness? Paul summarizes how we should relate to the darkness writing...
“The night is almost gone, and the day (of our Lord's return) is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on (like a new garment) (aorist imperative) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision (present imperative = with negative means stop making provision) for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:12; 13:13; 13:14)
Wayne Barber explains now you are light in the Lord this way...
“It is all because of Him. Outside of Him there is no light. In Him is where the light is. Remember, I am not the light. He is the light. I am light because the Light is within me. He has come in and turned it on, and now I can understand and comprehend. I can walk the way He wants me to walk. His Spirit can teach me the things I need to know, and I can live a life that reflects the essence of light. We were once darkness. Now we have been made light. Not just put in the light, we are now made light because He is in us. The Light is in us...We are accountable for sin now...Now that you are in Christ, you are responsible to call them by name because you have light within you and you know what you are doing is by your own choice. You choose not to put that garment on (the garment of the "old man"). You have light in you. That is why confession of sin is such an important word in the vocabulary of the believer.”
In contrast to those who walk in spiritual darkness, Paul uses the present imperative to command believers to continually walk in the light into which they have been transferred. Keep walking in the light, step by step, ever making progress.
Walk as children of light for as Paul says
"what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2Cor 6:14)
The point is that there is none. Thus it makes "good sense" that those who walk in the darkness (as manifest by their deeds just described) would not enjoy fellowship in the Kingdom of Light in the presence of the One Who Alone is the Light of the World and in Whom there is no darkness at all.
F B Meyer has the following devotional comments...
“God is light; and when we live in daily, hourly communion with Him, in such a frame of mind as that His name is frequently in our hearts, or murmured softly by our lips, or spoken as a talisman when temptation is near, we may be said to be walking in the light. And it is just in proportion as our steps tread the crystal pathway of light, that our understanding becomes enlightened. In God's light we see light. When the heart is pure, the eye is single.The contrary to this is also true. When we are alienated from the life of God, our understanding is darkened to the truth of God. The seat of infidelity is in the heart. Once let a soul become shut out from the life of God through the hardening of the heart; once let it give itself up to lasciviousness, and to make a trade of uncleanness with greediness: then the light of the knowledge of the glory of God beats against a shuttered window, asking for admittance in vain.If you would know God, you must resemble God. If you would learn God's secrets, you must walk with God. If you would know the doctrine, you must be willing to do his will.
But there is something even better than walking in the light; it is to become children of the light. What an exquisite conception! Dewdrops sparkling in the light of dawn; star-dust glittering on the vault of night; humming-birds flashing in the tropic sun; children dancing in light-hearted glee, none of these are so truly sons of light as they who have been begotten by the Father of Lights; who carry within them the Light that lights up hearts, and who, in goodness, righteousness, and truth, prove what is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Let us live as such.” (Our Daily Walk)
EPHESIANS 5:15-16: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
See to it that you walk circumspectly (akribos - accurately, diligently, carefully). Walk warily, exactly or diligently. Our English word circumspect is from the Latin (circum- = around + specere = look) and conveys the literal picture of looking around or figuratively being cautious. One who is walking circumspectly is one who is surveying all circumstances and possible consequences before acting or deciding. A great word picture!
The idea of "akribos" is that our walk is in strict conformity to a standard, and as such calls for carefulness against any departure from what is proper to a believer's walk.
How does one accomplish this charge to be careful how we walk?
By not walking unwisely, but wisely, as those who are continually redeeming for themselves the precious time God gives, by understanding His good and acceptable and perfect will and by not being filled with wine but being filled with His Spirit.
The present imperative commands one to continually pay especially close attention to how they walk. “Be constantly taking heed how accurately you are conducting yourselves.” We need to remember that our heart is more deceitful than all else and that the enemy of our soul constantly prowls around and his desire is for our soul.
Wuest adds that you are to...
“see to it that your conduct is accurate with respect to the demands of the Word of God. It is like a motorist accurately following on the right side of the center line dividing traffic.” (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)
To walk circumspectly is to walk in the light of our exalted position and privilege as beloved children of God. To walk in an unwise manner means to descend from the high plane and privilege to the profane practices of the fallen world. To walk wisely is to redeem each day, "buying up" every precious moment God gives.
The Amplified Version conveys the thrust of Paul's command rendering it...
“Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately... “(Ed note: Good advice. God's formula for real success!)
Wayne Barber writes that...
“Ephesians 5:15 tells us we are to be very careful as we walk. When we put on this new garment and walk out into a world penetrated by darkness, this garment, Christ in us, has the power to first of all refuse the deeds of darkness, secondly reprove the deeds of darkness, and thirdly remove the deeds of darkness. Light puts out darkness. Folks, when you put on the garment, when you are living what you have in Jesus Christ; it is a powerful weapon against the darkness that is residing in this world.”
To walk as fools means to descend from this high plane to the conduct of worldly men.
The NKJV has a good rendering...
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.”
To walk circumspectly and thus wisely is to live in the light of our position as God’s children. To walk as fools means to descend from this high plane to the conduct of worldly men.
To walk any way except in the path of holiness, the ancient paths, turning neither to the left or the right, is to walk as a fool!
CHECK YOUR WORK
Ephesians 5:15 February 27, 2001
I'm getting pretty good at math. That's because every day my son Steve and I have a little math session. He does his 30 junior high math problems, and I help him check them over. Sometimes we even get them all right. As I go over Steve's math, I notice that he understands how to do his problems. In fact, in some areas he's better at it than I am. But occasionally, despite knowing how to do the problem, he gets the wrong answer. He either gets a little sloppy in using the right formula or he just doesn't check his answers carefully. Aren't we all a little like that in our Christian life? We know what we should do. We have a good understanding of how to live the Christian life, but we get careless or lazy. We know better, but we fail. For instance, we know we aren't supposed to gossip. But before we know it, we're roasting a fellow Christian. Or this: We know God wants us to keep our mind and heart pure, but we let down our guard and watch a TV program or movie we know is not edifying.
It's true, isn't it? We all get a little sloppy in how we live for God. Let's be more careful and pay closer attention to our Christian walk (Ephesians 5:15). Let's make sure we're doing quality work for our heavenly Father. —JDB (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Lord, help me to apply Your Word and move it from my head
“Making the most”(redeeming) (exagorazo from ek = out or from -- If something is in something else, then “ek” describes separating it in respect to place, time, source or origin + agorázo = buy, acquire possessions or services in exchange for money with the result that whatever has been bought is the buyer's by right of possession <> from “agora” = market place where things were exposed for sale, a forum, a place in which the people assemble and where public trials were held) means literally to buy out of (ek = out of) the market place. It means to completely redeem. Believers are to take advantage of every spiritual opportunity because we know that the night is coming when no one can work. There is an open window in time for the gospel. We must seize the moment!
Pastor Ray Pritchard writes that "exagorazo"...
“is a word from the market place. You go down to your supermarket and look for bargains because you know they will not last long; they are passing, changing. Therefore, make the most of them and buy them up. This is exactly the word he employs here. Buy up the opportunities which are created constantly by the evil days.” (Ephesians 5:15-20: Watch How You Walk)
Warren Wiersbe laments...
“How foolish to stumble along through life and never seek to know the will of the Lord! Instead of walking “accurately” (which is equivalent to “circumspectly”), they miss the mark, miss the road, and end up suffering on some detour. God wants us to be wise and understand His will for our lives. As we obey His will, we “buy up the opportunities” (redeem the time, v. 16) and do not waste time, energy, money, and talent in that which is apart from His will. Lost opportunities may never be regained; they are gone forever.” (Wiersbe, W. W. Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books)
The idea then is turning each season (kairos) to the best advantage since none can be recalled if missed.
“Every time you can do something good you should”.
As someone else has said
"Beware of wasting the present. Instead of killing time, redeem your spare moments today. Wasting the gift of time insults the Giver of time."
Redeem the time! God only knowsHow soon our little life may close,With all its pleasures and its woes,Redeem the time! — Anonymous
The idea is not to make best use of time as such (although that is certainly advisable), which is what we should do in the sense of not wasting it, but of taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.
HOW NOT TO WALK:
Do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saint
There must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting.
No immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words.
Do not be partakers with unbelievers.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.
Do not be foolish
Do not get drunk with wine
Do not walk as the Gentiles:
Walk in the futility of their mind.
Being darkened in their understanding.
Excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance in them, because of the hardness of their heart.
Have become callous.
Given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF OUR WALK:
With all humility and gentleness.
With patience.
Showing forbearance to one another in love.
Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Lay aside the old self.
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Lay aside falsehood, and speak truth each one of you with his neighbor.
Be angry and sin not, do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Do not give the devil opportunity.
Let him who steals steal no longer, but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.
Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
HOW ARE WE TO WALK?
WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
WALK ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT
WALK IN A MANNER WORTHY OF OUR CALLING:
IN HUMILTY AND GENTLENESS WITH PATIENCE
FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE
WALK IN LOVE:
WALK AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT
WALK A WISE MEN:
NOT AS UNWISE
REDEEMING THE TIME
WALK IN A MANNER PLEASING TO THE LORD
I don’t know if you have realized this, but if you read about Jesus in the Gospels, this is how He walked, and we are to walk in the same way.
