Elder Ko Swee Chay

Walk with God in God’s Way

(Part 2 of 3)

Introduction
Part 1 of 3 of this article published in Pandan News Weekly for the Lord’s day on 10th July 2016 covered five "walks" mentioned in the Bible, namely: "walk in all his ways"; "walk in the light"; "walk in newness of life"; "walk in the Spirit" and "walk by faith". In the Bible, "walking" is used symbolically or figurativelyof a believer’s relationship with God, his spiritual state, how he lives, and how he conducts his life in a consistent manner.
Part 2 of 3 covers the next five aspects of "walk with God":
"walk as children of light" (Eph 5:7-8)
"walk circumspectly" (Eph 5:15-16)
"walk in love" (Eph 5:2)
"walk in truth" (3 Jn 1:4)
"walk in wisdom" (Col 4:5)

1. Walk as children of light

"Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:" (Eph 5:7-8).

What is "walk as children of light"?
The idea of light and darkness is widely taught in the Bible. Light refers to the holiness of God, the knowledge of the truth and the glory of God; it is a language of life and knowledge and righteousness. John said that "…. God is light, in him is no darkness at all." (1 Jn 1:5). Paul said that God gives this light to the believers, "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor 4:6). Born again Christians have the light of God in their hearts, and are called the children of light or sons of God. Children of light are those that are in the state of light, endued with the knowledge and holiness of God. Conversely, darkness pictures the unbelieving and sinful state of this world, and the spiritual blindness and ignorance and unbelief and the sinful deeds of unbelievers because of the blindness of their minds and heart (2 Cor 4:4 and Eph 4:18).

Why "walk as children of light"?
Paul said in Eph 5:8 that we were darkness in the time past. We were born in sin. We were blinded spiritually. We didn’t see and didn’t have the ability to see God’s truth and glory, and we didn’t seek God. We were dead in sin and bound for hell. God the Father out of His marvelous love and wonderful grace and mercy "hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Col 1: 12-14). We as the children of God, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, are called to walk as children of light, i.e. to conduct our lives in a manner fitting of children of light. This is what God expects us to do after salvation.
Paul said in Eph 5:7, "Be not ye therefore partakers with them." The "them" here refers to the children of disobedience (Eph 5:6). What we need to do therefore is to stop fellowshipping with the children of darkness (as listed in Eph 5:5 - whoremongers, unclean persons, covetous men and idolaters; see also Gal 5:19-21), for our own protection against condoning and adopting their sinful lifestyles, as well as to stay away from their deception and depart from evil. We are not to be partakers with them in their sins.

How to "walk as children of light"?
The answer can be found in Eph 5:9-11. Our actions should reflect our faith and our beliefs, and reflect Christ and exemplify the fruit of the Spirit, that is to always obey and speak the truth according to the Word of God (Eph 5:9, see also Gal 5:22-23). Proving (testing) what is good, and acceptable and pleasing to God (Eph 5:10, also Rom 12:2). Not only must we not have anything to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, but we must also reprove and expose all the sinful deeds (Eph 5:11).To keeping silence in the presence of sinful deeds is deemed as approval. God needs His people to take a stand for what is right. The bottom-line for "walk as children of light" isto conform our life to the will of God expressed in his holy commandments, live above reproach morally and always do what is right in the sight of God.

2. Walk circumspectly

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Eph 5:15-16).

What is "walk circumspectly"?
The word circumspectly conveys the meaning of thinking or considering carefully, accurately and exactly about things before doing or acting on them. "Walk circumspectly" means to live carefully, cautiously and rightly according to God’s way and God’s truth based upon God’s Word; to look where one is stepping; to be vigilant, watchful, diligent and attentive to things that are dangerous to us. We are not to walk as foolish people but as wise. Be circumspect in each step we take, asking ourselves: Is it a right step? Or is it a walk of sin?

Why "walk circumspectly"?
Firstly, the Bible tells us the devil is seeking to destroy our holy witness for Christ. Peter said "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Pet 5:8). Secondly, our example influences and impacts other people around us, both within and without. Jesus taught us in Matt 5:12-16, we are to be the salt of the earth and light of the world, whereby others may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.

How to "walk circumspectly"?
Firstly, be mindful to study the Bible regularly and consistently to know the right way to walk circumspectly, in every step of wisdom: go or no go, do or don’t do, follow or not to follow. Secondly, get rid of those things which are sinful and will hurt us, things like smoking, alcohol, womanizing, gambling etc. Thirdly, be aware of the various temptations associated with various activities, and make every effort to guard ourselves against the devil’s traps to avoid falling into sins. Fourthly, be careful in choosing our friends. The Bible warned us of the bad influence of our companions on our lives. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the council of the ungodly, nor standeth in the seat of the scornful." (Ps 1:1); "…. a companion of fools shall be destroyed." (Prov 13:20).
"Redeeming our time" is a great part of Christian wisdom to walk circumspectly. We must be wise at managing and spending our time, in that we use it properly and carefully, in doing good works while it is in our power and ability to do so for the glory of God. Time is a gift from God, but it is wasted and lost when it is not used according to His will and purpose. Paul communicates his sense of urgency because of evil’s pervasiveness. We need the same sense of urgency because our days are even more evil. We must keep and obey God’s Word, walk circumspectly, act wisely, and do good and right in the sight of God.

3. Walk in love
"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." (Eph 5:2).

What is "walk in love?
Love is the central theme of the Bible. It is this love that caused God the Father to send His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sin. It is this love that made Jesus Christ willingly, unconditionally and sacrificially endured all the humiliations and sufferings and finally allowed himself to be nailed to and die on the cross. As demonstrated by Christ, biblical love is an unconditional and sacrificial love. Simply put, "walk in love" is to live a life of love: to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, and love fellow men in deed and in truth as taught throughout the Holy Scriptures.
Our love for others should be patterned after Christ’s great love for us that led Him to sacrifice himself so that we can live - an unconditional love that goes beyond mere affection. "Walk in love" is to obey all of God’s law and commandment to love God, to love our neighbour and to love one another, including our enemies. This is the fundamental attribute of a believer. Our approach to God and how we treat God; and our conduct, attitude, behaviour and relationship to others; are all part and parcel of our lives of walking in love.

Why "walk in love"?
We are commanded to walk in love as Christ has first loved us and gave himself as an offering and sacrifice for us (Eph 5:2). In the OT, Moses taught the importance of loving God to the people of Israel – "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deut 6:4-5). In Matt 22:37-38, Jesus Christ confirmed this is the first and great commandment: "37…., Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment." In addition, Jesus declared in Matt 22:39-40 that "love thy neighbour" is the second greatest commandment - "39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets." Paul in Rom 13:10 teaches that love is the fulfilling of the law. The phrase "love one another" appears 5 times in 1 John - "7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1 Jn 4:7-11). Loving God and loving one another are the very heart of the Christian life.

How to "walk in love"?
- Be imitators of God, be like God. Paul said "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear Children. And walk in love…." (Eph 5:1-2). Paul commanded us to be imitators of God and be like God.
- Put away characteristics of an unloving heart (Eph 4:31) and put on the characteristics of a loving heart (Eph 4:32). "31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." (Eph 4:31-32). In order to be kind and tender-hearted and forgiving, we must imitate God and be like God. It is love that manifests in kindness, tender-heartedness and forgiving spirit. It is because of no love that bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking and malice came in.
- Obey God’s law, the Ten Commandments. It is interesting to note that the Ten Commandments focused on love: ten aspects of love. The Commandment No. 1-4 relate to love toward God and Commandment No. 5-10 relate to love toward others. Paul in Rom 13:8-10 conveyed the same ideal of how to love one another:"8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9For this, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THOU SHALT NOT KILL, THOU SHALL NOT STEAL, THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESSES, THOU SHALT NOT COVET; ….. THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. 10Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."

4. Walk in truth
"For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 Jn 1:3-4).

What is "walk in truth"?
Webster’s Dictionary defines truth as: Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be." Carnell holds that "truth is a property of that judgment which corresponds with the mind of God; test: systematic consistency."
The word "truth" occurs 235 times in the Bible. 40 times used by John. All the scriptures in the Bible are truth, because God’s Word says so: God is truth in his own person, His revealed Word is truth, His moral law is truth; Christ is truth, both in His person and revelation. This is the very foundation of Christian faith. To walk in truth is to live a life according to Holy Scriptures, God's perfect truth.
God is truth in his own person – proof texts:
"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deut 32:4).
"Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth." (Ps 31:5).
His revealed Word is truth – proof texts:
"And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth." (1 Kgs 17:24).
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (Jn 17:17)
His moral law and commandments are truth – proof texts:
"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth." (Ps 119:142).
"Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth." (Ps 119:151).
Because God is truth, Christ is truth, both in His person and revelation – proof texts:
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (Jn 1:17).
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jn 14:6)

Why "walk in truth"?
Walking in truth is the God-given duty to all believers. In 3 Jn 1:3-4, John rejoiced greatly when he learned that Gaius came and testified of the truth that is in him. John further proclaimed that he (as their spiritual father) has no greater joy than to hear that they walk in truth. Sadly, many talk of truth but few walk in truth. We don’t believe what we say we believe. How often we observe people who heard the truth, believed that it is true, even taught it, and still refused or failed to act on it. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will certainly be pleased that we are walking in His truth just like the well-beloved Gaius.

How to "walk in truth"?
From 1 John 3, we can get a few ideas of how to walk in truth:
- have the truth in the heart (3 Jn 1:3)
- do all things for the brethren and strangers faithfully (3 Jn 1:5)
- extend charity by receiving God’s servants and be fellowhelpers to the truth ((3 Jn 1:6-8)
- follow not which is evil, but which is good (3 Jn 1:11)

Know the truth by studying and hearing the truth in the Bible, believe that it is true, and act on the truth in obeying and living in it. Be a truthful and righteous Christian by living a life according to God’s truth. Wherever we are, in the church or at home or in school or in the work place, always do what is right and just according to God’s Word. Never tell lies and deceive others for this is a serious sin; "let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into temptation." (Jas 5:12).

Paul talked about "Speaking the truth in love" (Eph 4:15) and John talked about "…. in truth and love" (2 Jn 1:3) and "… whom I love in the truth" (3 Jn 1:1). It is important to take note that love and truth cannot be separated. There is interdependency between truth and love. Those who love God love truth, but those who love themselves hate truth. Those who "walk in truth" obey God’s Word without question. Truth without love is legalism. Commandment cannot be separated from truth. Commandment without love is death. On the other hand, love without truth is sentimentalism. Love must be backed up by obedience, truth, righteousness and actions.

5. Walk in wisdom
"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Col 4:5-6).

The word "wisdom" appears 146 times in the OT. The adjective "wise" is used 105 times and as "wise men" 15 times. Most of the use of these words is found in Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which are often called the wisdom books.

The word "wisdom" has several different meanings. For example: Exodus 31:1-11 and 35:30-35 state that the LORD filled the two workmen whom He had called to build the tabernacle with wisdom of heart, i.e. skills to work as goldsmith, carpenter, engraver, embroiderer etc., and to teach their assistants. In Job, wisdom often refers to intelligence. But in Job chapter 28, wisdom and understanding refer not to mere intelligence, but rectitude – "…. Behold, the fear of LORD; that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." In Proverbs the usage of "wisdom" is quite distinctive and is the same as that in Job chapter 28. In Proverb 1:7 and 9:10, "wisdom" is defined in religious terms – "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." "Wisdom" here is not mere skill or intelligence; it is rectitude; it is moral and religious quality. Proverbs teaches that the LORD gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding (Prov 2:6); wisdom (and understanding) is the principal thing to be secured (Prov 4:7); wisdom is better than rubies (Prov 8:10); wisdom to have existed eternally in God (Prov 8:22-30).

Wisdom is from above. Wisdom is spiritual and consists in the knowledge of God’s will. It is not the wisdom of man or wisdom of the world. In 1 Cor 2:6-7, Paul preaches not the wisdom of the world, but the hidden wisdom of God by which man may know the things of God with the help of the Spirit of God.
To "walk in wisdom" is to acquire spiritual wisdom through studying and knowing God’s Word, and applying them so that we can live our lives in wisdom and in the knowledge God. Wisdom enables believers to make godly choices and to exercise discernment between good and evil according to God’s Word and God’s will; to know how to conduct ourselves towards others, to relate and work with other people; and to serve God rightly and faithfully and to be a good witness and testimony for God. "Walk in wisdom" would also require us to "walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God…." (Eph 4:17b-18a). God desires that men have and know His wisdom – "If any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5).

To us believers, "them that are without" refers to people who are outside the body of Christ, i.e. people who have not believed and accepted Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord.

We should be wise in our dealings with non-Christians, making sure that our conduct and behavior are consistent with our faith and are Christ-like; what comes out from our mouths are always gracious, profitable and edifying; our deeds are righteous, selfless and blameless; and we know how to give a biblical answer to everyone who asks concerning our Christian faith and the gospel. In so doing, the non-believers around us may see Christ in us and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our time on earth to witness for Christ is short and limited, therefore we ought to exercise Christian wisdom to redeem or "buy back" the time, meaning to make full use of all our time wisely and prudently to reach out to unbelievers, for the saving of souls.

AMEN.