09/18/2019
Do you know a Christian who claims to follow all the tenets of the Christian faith but is mad all the time, mean spirited, or unfaithful to their friends or spouse? How about a person who says they are Christian, and behaves in a morally sound manner, but doesn’t believe that the Word of God is truth? Well, these people are living a lie in one manner or the other. They are attempting to call darkness light, or light darkness.
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:24-25 ESV
I like sayings and quotes, even secular ones if they contain truth, or good guiding principles. One that pops into my mind as I read this scripture is “don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk.” The Cambridge Dictionary describes the meaning of this secular axiom in this way...
“If you say that someone talks the talk but does not walk the walk, you mean that they do not act in a way that agrees with the things they say” - Cambridge Dictionary
As Christians we must not only talk God’s commandments, and the words of Jesus, but we need to walk these things in our lives by living them every day. It is impossible to love your neighbor, as Jesus instructs, if you are gossiping about someone, or coveting their possessions. It is impossible to love your wife as Christ loves the church if you are being unfaithful to her, or mistreating her. Our behavior, and the beliefs we claim to follow must support one another. Charles Spurgeon says it in this way...
“You will never find true faith unaccompanied by true godliness. On the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life that does not have at its root a faith living on the righteousness of Christ.” - Charles Spurgeon
Jesus warns us of such behavior. He specifically chastised the Scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites of faith, when He said this...
“"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Matthew 23:27-28 ESV
In this case Jesus spoke of men who presented themselves as righteous, but didn’t live that righteousness in their lives. They did such things as praying in public, but those prayers were not first meant for God, but to be seen and heard by others to make themselves look righteous...
“"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
Matthew 6:5 ESV
If we want to be Christian we must do both these things; we need to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, and we need to act out that belief in our lives as the new man or woman that is our transformed, and righteous, selves.
“Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
1 John 2:4-6 ESV
These are not ambiguous scriptures. Talking the talk means nothing unless we are also walking the walk. One without the other is hollow, and meaningless; it is like a shadow with no substance, or a rock that doesn’t casts a shadow when the light of Christ shines on it.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
1 Peter 2:21 ESV
So how is our life today? Are we talking, and walking as we should? Are we Christians through and through, or merely half truths that are in fact whole lies? Are we morally sound, but lack a true belief in God and Jesus? Maybe we believe the Word of God, and can quote from the gospel of Christ... but don’t live our lives accordingly. If this lack of walking, or talking, describes us then it is time to search ourselves, and work out our salvation in fear before it is too late, and judgement is upon us.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for not only revealing your truth to us in your Word, but for showing us how to live that truth as your Son Jesus lived it. Thank you Holy Father for providing the way we should travel, and then sending your Son, and your Holy Spirit, to walk it with us. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace which allows us to find our way once again when we have wandered in either word or deed. Help us Gracious Father to believe, and behave as the transformed person you desire us to be. As we confess our faith let us also live it out in its entirety. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who commands us, and then expects us to obey in action. Praised be your name for the new people we are becoming through Christ in both belief, and behavior. As we speak our faith, and live out those things spoken, all glory is yours, because it is only by your grace that flows from Jesus that we are able to live the pure and transformed life you demand.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
Rich Forbes