As new creations in Christ, the Bible says that we were baptized into the death of Christ (the death He died to sin once for all); then we were buried with Him through baptism into death, “that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life.” (see Romans 6:3-4). Hence we are dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ. (see Romans 6:11). Because we died to sin (with Christ), we can no longer live in sin. (see Romans 6:2). We have been raised with Christ to walk in love, to walk in the light, to walk in good works, to walk in the newness of life. Jesus Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we, having died to sins, might LIVE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (see 1 Peter 2:24). "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." (Colossians 3:5 NASB). If in this life, we call ourselves believers and desire to be vessels for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, then we have to depart from iniquity and live a life that brings glory to God our Father. Paul in his second letter to Timothy said, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY.” But in a great house there are NOT only vessels of gold and silver, BUT also of wood and clay, some FOR HONOR and some FOR DISHONOR. Therefore IF ANYONE CLEANSES HIMSELF from the latter (that is, dishonor), he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and USEFUL for the Master, PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. Flee also youthful lusts; but PURSUE righteousness, faith, LOVE, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:19-22). When we walk in love, we will not walk in selfishness, envy and pride; we will not sin, and we will flee youthful lusts — we will depart from iniquity, and make ourselves useful for the Master as vessels for honor, prepared for every good work. The Bible says, "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." (James 3:16). This means that self-seeking, together with envy is the opposite of everything love stands for. Hence, the Bible says, “Owe no one anything EXCEPT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, for HE WHO LOVES ANOTHER HAS FULFILLED THE LAW. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, ARE ALL SUMMED UP in this saying, namely, “You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS, and LET US PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT. Let us WALK PROPERLY, as IN THE DAY, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and MAKE NO PROVISION for THE FLESH, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:8-14).
Beloved, you cannot walk worthy of your calling in Christ or walk in the newness of life without first putting on the Lord Jesus Christ or knowing and being conscious of who you are in Christ, without first knowing that you are the light of the world, without first knowing that you are a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17) created in true holiness and righteousness (see Ephesians 4:24), created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that you should walk in them. (see Ephesians 2:10). Throughout the New Testament epistles, we are exhorted to rest in the reality of our NEW NATURE in Christ and to “die daily” and allow Christ to live in us. (see Galatians 2:20). We don’t have to struggle to be like Jesus, because we are already as Jesus is in this world (see 1 John 4:17) — He is the Vine and we are the branches (see John 15:5); He is the Head and we are the Body. (see Colossians 1:18). All we need to do then is to remain in Him and allow His life to flow in us and through us. This is our true calling, and this is true Christianity! We are to walk worthy of our calling (see Ephesians 4:1) — walk in love as Christ has loved us (see Ephesians 5:2); walk as children of light (see Ephesians 5:8-14); walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise (see Ephesians 5:15); walk in newness of life (see Romans 6:4); walk in good works (see Ephesians 2:10); etc. Unfortunately believers who don’t have a full revelation of who they are in Christ would approach every one of these instructions as a law or work to be accomplished by self-effort. But for the New Covenant believer, these are all good works that God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in them, through the power of the Holy Spirit that is in us.
In Ephesians 4:17-24, Paul tells believers: “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should NO LONGER WALK as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM, because of the BLINDNESS OF THEIR HEART; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. BUT YOU have NOT so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you PUT OFF, concerning your former conduct, THE OLD MAN which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, and that you PUT ON THE NEW MAN which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:17-24). The legalistic or carnal Christian, or believers who walk “in the flesh” will read these verses and say, “You see, we must behave as Christians; we must work hard not to be lewd, unclean and greedy. This is what God requires of a Christian. We must keep the Law to be righteous and holy. If you do all of these in obedience to God, you will be blessed.” Have you encountered that kind of thinking? That kind of approach would be similar to a baby trying to walk before learning how to sit!
When read in its context, however, it becomes clear from the verses that unbelievers walk in lewdness, uncleanness and greed because they DO NOT have the revelation of the gospel. Their MINDS have been DARKENED. You, however, HAVE the revelation of the gospel. When you believed in Jesus Christ you became a new creation. You received a new nature in Christ — the new man. This new man is created in true righteousness and holiness (in the same nature as God). Your sinful self — called the old man has been crucified on the cross and no longer exists. Because you have this revelation, you have learned how to sit. Hence, these verses are not about a Christian trying to keep the law to try to be righteous and holy. Rather, it is about what Christ has already done — He has made you righteous and holy so that you can live a life of holiness, and practice righteousness. Therefore, your part is to know and believe (or rest in) this truth and be perpetually conscious of your holy and righteous identity. When you are conscious of your new identity in Christ, it means you have put on the NEW MAN. And the Holy Spirit (who is at work in you with the full power of God — see Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 3:20) will cause you to walk in your new nature — in true righteousness and holiness. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit and be “led by the Spirit.” Those who keep the law to be righteous are walking “in the flesh” (or self-effort) and are not led by the Spirit. The Bible says that all of us who are led by the Spirit are not under the law (see Galatians 5:18). And because the Spirit leads us, we walk in the Spirit, and do not walk in the lusts of the flesh. (see Galatians 5:16). Galatians 5:24 emphasizes that, “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Thus, because we’re led by the Spirit, we do not fulfill the desires and passions of the body; we walk in the fruit of the Spirit, which is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (see Galatians 5:22-23). And the Bible says against the fruit of the Spirit, there is no law. In other words, the fruit is greater than the law. For example, the law says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” but it does not empower you to obey it. Nor does it empower you love your spouse. Only the Spirit can empower you to both stay away from adultery and love your spouse at the same time, as you get a revelation of how much Christ has loved you, and allow His love (which is the fruit of the Spirit) to flow through you to your spouse and to others.
As believers in Christ, our understanding is now enlightened so that we can walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise. (see Ephesians 5:15). We cannot be friends with the world (its lusts and pleasures) anymore, because we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God. (see 1 Corinthians 2:12). The Bible says that friendship with the world is enmity with God; and so whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (see James 4:4). As believers, we are in the world but not of the world (see John 15:19; John 17:16); we are of God. (see 1 John 4:4). God has put His Spirit in our hearts (see 2 Corinthians 1:22), so we have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to open the eyes of our understanding. When we walk in the wisdom that the Spirit gives, it will reflect in our conduct. James asks, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show BY GOOD CONDUCT that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom." (James 3:13). Many Christians, rather than walk in the wisdom and understanding of God, try to walk in their own wisdom and understanding (that comes from self) — be it from their education, or years of life experiences. But the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and LEAN NOT on your OWN UNDERSTANDING; In all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE Him, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. Do NOT be wise in your OWN eyes; Fear the Lord and DEPART FROM EVIL.” (Proverbs 3:5-7). A person who trusts in his own wisdom will naturally reject the wisdom of God when God gives a new revelation or direction. Needless to say, that is a dangerous way to live. In all the wisdom of the learned Pharisees, they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah (or the Christ). In all the wisdom of Saul (Paul), he persecuted the church of God, and he did it in all good conscience. (see Acts 22-23:1).
Before we can walk circumspectly as wise, we need to rest (or trust) in the fact that Wisdom is a person, that Jesus is our wisdom. Paul says, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us WISDOM from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB). Jesus is our wisdom, and since Jesus lives in us, wisdom lives in us. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation is at work in us, and the Bible declares that we have the mind of Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). So when we rest in the reality of Christ living in us, when we depend on the Holy Spirit who is in us, we will begin to walk in true wisdom which is of God. And when we walk in the wisdom of God, we will not behave as fools by living in sin. We will walk as children of light, which we truly are. (see Ephesians 5:8-9). Remain blessed.
I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).
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