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Walking with God

What does that involve?

Ephesians 4:17-32

In Ephesians 4:17-32 the Apostle Paul shows us how we are to behave in this world. He here specifically tells us some things that are involved in true godliness, things that are inseparable from a life of faith in Christ, things by which we are to honor God our Savior. — This is the walk of godliness.

Your Lusts

Child of God, ever be aware of the horrid lusts of your own flesh, and guard against it, seeking the grace of God not to behave like those who do not know God.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (vv. 17-19)

Adorn the Gospel

God’s saving grace, which we have experienced, and the Gospel of the grace of God, which we hold dear, teach us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present, evil world (Titus 2:12).

“But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye (have) put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be (have been) renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye (have) put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (vv. 20-24).

Since this is what we have experienced, and this is what we profess, let us so live for the glory of God. My brother, my sister in Christ, chosen of God, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, sanctified by God the Holy Ghost, let us ever seek grace in all things, to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior” (Titus 2:1-15).

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (vv. 25-29).

Grieve Not

Let us ever seek to speak and do that which is good for, beneficial, and edifying to one another. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God by injuring one another.

“And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (vv. 30-32).

Ever remembering what God has done for us by his great grace, forgiving us of all sin, let us be gracious, kind to, and forgiving of one another. C. H. Spurgeon once said to his congregation in London, “God for Christ's sake hath forgiven thee. Get hold of that grand truth, and hold it, though all the devils in hell roar at thee. Grasp it as with a hand of steel; grip it as for life: ‘God for Christ's sake hath forgiven me.’ May each one of us be able to say that. We shall not feel the Divine sweetness and force of the text unless we can make a personal matter of it by the Holy Ghost.”

When I think of the amazing forgiveness of my sin by my God, I blush with shame at my hesitancy to forgive others, my lack of forgiveness, and my terrible, terrible cherishing of hardness toward those who wrong me. O my God, teach me the blessedness of forgiveness — the forgiveness of others, for Christ’s sake!

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s