How We Should Walk

On Tuesday, December 20, 2016, Carrol R. Sutton was tragically killed in an automobile accident at the age of 84. He preached the gospel of Christ for over 50 years with the East Albertville church of Christ in Albertville, Alabama. He will be greatly missed by those of his immediate family along with many, many faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who loved him so much. Brother Sutton lived his life devoted to Christ, living each day striving to be with Him in eternity. He published so many great articles over the years and I have chosen to borrow this one that was recently posted by the brethren at the New Georgia church of Christ in Rogersville, Alabama this past week. My blog is called "Walking in the Light" and these 13 points truly show us how we should walk in the ways of God.

How We Should Walk

Carrol R. Sutton

As we travel the journey from time to eternity, we have access to the Scriptures in which we have directions provided for us (in the Scriptures) as to how we should walk that we may be saved eternally. (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:25; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6: Romans 10:17; 2 John 9-11; James 2:12).

WE SHOULD WALK:

BY FAITH! In 2 Corinthians 5:7 Paul said: "(For we walk by faith, not by sight.)" One cannot walk by faith unless he listens to and learns the Word of God because "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17). One cannot walk by faith unless he walks according to the teaching of God's word.

IN THE LIGHT. John said: "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). To walk in the light is to walk according to God's Word. (See Psalms 119:105, 130; Acts 26:18; John 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

IN TRUTH. John said: "I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father." (2 John 4). Since God's Word is truth, to walk in truth is to walk according to God's Word, (see John 17:17)

AFTER HIS COMMANDMENTS. John said: "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 2). To walk after them, one must know them. Study to learn them.

WALK AFTER THE SPIRIT. We learn from Romans 8:1-6 that "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit...who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." In Galatians 5:16 Paul said: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." To walk after the Spirit is to walk according to the revelation of the Holy Spirit as written in the Scriptures. When one engages in the works of the flesh, he is walking after the flesh and not after the Spirit. When a person follows the teaching of the Holy Spirit as revealed in the Scriptures, he is walking after the Spirit and not the flesh.

BY THE SAME RULE. Since we are following the same God, we should be walking by the same standard or rule of authority. Jesus Christ is our Lord and His Word should be our rule of faith and practice. Most denominational churches have their own rule of faith and practice. All who are a part of them are expected to accept and follow them. The apostle Paul said: "...let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." (Philippians 3:16). As Christians we must all follow the same standard and rule of faith and practice if we expect to please God.

IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. We learn from Romans 6:1-5 that one must die to sin in repentance and be buried with Christ by baptism and be raised to "walk in newness of life". We must "put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit" of our mind and "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24). As new creatures we must live lives of "newness". (See 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15).

IN GOOD WORKS. Paul says: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10). We are "to be ready to every good work" and "always abounding in the work of the Lord" because we know our labour is not in vain in the Lord." Faith without works is dead. (See James 2:14-26).

CIRCUMSPECTLY. Paul said: "See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16). The word circumspectly means carefully.

HONESTLY. "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." (Romans 13:13). (See Romans 12:17; 2 Corinthians 8:21)

TO WALK IN CHRIST AND TO WALK AS HE WALKED. John said: "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (1 John 2:6). Paul said: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him..." (Colossians 2:6). Also see Colossians 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 4:1; Colossians 1:10; Ephesians 5:8; Romans 4:12).

IN LOVE. Paul said: "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us..." (Ephesians 5:2) 2 John 2:6 says: "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments..." To walk in love, we must agree with God. Amos 3:3 says: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

IN THE LIGHT. According to Paul in Colossians 1:13 and Ephesians 6:12 the world is in darkness. Darkness represents wickedness. Colossians 3:5-7 teaches that we live in wickedness as we walk in it. Instead of walking in darkness, we should walk in the light. (See John 12:35; 8:12; I John 1:6-7; 2:11).

To walk acceptably in the sight of God it is essential that we give diligence to learn His will, believe and obey it from the heart! Are you walking with God? Is He pleased with your walk? Is your walk a good influence on others? It should be.