the Holy Spirit shows us that, as “dear children,” we should follow, or imitate God in our daily walk. The heavenly Father knows that if we can imitate His love all the rest of our walk and behavior will take care of itself. Therefore, He says, “walk in love.” What kind of love is the believer to walk in? Notice, “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour” (verse 2).
How can poor fallen sinners love as Christ has loved? They cannot unless they are saved by grace and made to be new creatures in Christ, but even though we have been saved and are made new in our Lord and Saviour, aren’t we still weak through the flesh as a result of the fall of the entire race through Adam? Isn’t it a Scriptural fact that even the “dear children” of God have to say, “the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41)? Didn’t Paul say, “I delight in the law of God after the inward man” and at the same time he said, “when I would do good, evil is present with me” (Romans 7:21-22)?
If Christ Himself has told us that our bodies of flesh in which we live are “weak” and Paul, who had been saved by grace and had been taught of the Holy Spirit to “delight in the law of God after the inward man,” had to admit that when he would do good evil was present with him, how are we to ever gain such spiritual heights as to enable us to “walk in love as Christ also hath loved us?”
We must admit the weakness of our flesh. We know from the Word that in us (that is in our flesh) “dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). We also know that there are weights to be laid aside, and we are mindful of the “sin which doth so easily beset us” as we try to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:2). Yet, along beside all this truth concerning our human weakness, God has said, “Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7). This measure of grace is amply sufficient to enable every one of us to “walk in love, as Christ hath loved us.”
How much love would we be walking in if we manifested the same love that God had manifested toward us? The Father “so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever lasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). He “spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). “In 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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9-10). The Son “loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). He “suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (I Peter 3:18).
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us and His love is perfected in us. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (I John 4:11-12and 3:16). This doesn’t necessarily mean that we ought to lay down our physical lives for our Christian brethren. It means that we should be crucified with Him and continue to live in the flesh “by the faith of the Son of God” who loved us and gave Himself for us (Galatians 2:20). This is the only way to let the same mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus: “Who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).
As dear children walking in love, fornication, uncleanness and covetousness are not to be so much as even “named” among us; “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whore-monger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (verses 3-5).
The God of glory, whom we follow, also warns us saying, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” (verses 6-10).
It is interesting to note with what clearness God has warned His dear children against the works of men. He has said:
- “Let no man deceive you with vain words” (Ephesians 5:6).
- “Let no man beguile you of your reward” (Colossians 2:18).
- “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days” (Colossians 2:16).
- “Beware lest any man spoil You through philosophy and vain deceit” (Colossians 2:8).
It was the doctrines of men that caused Paul to fear for the spiritual welfare of the church at Ephesus when he was about to leave them for Jerusalem. He said, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous, wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:28-30).
It is impossible for God’s people to “walk in love as Christ hath also loved us” and to “walk as children of light,” and at the same time be the disciples of men. Men never draw away disciples after themselves through teaching the Word of God rightly divided. They get their followers by “speaking perverse things,” and by “handling the Word of God deceitfully” (II Corinthians 4:2). These are things that the faithful servant of God will not do.
In these days of highly organized churches and hireling preachers who serve them, it is of the utmost importance to call the “dear children” of God back to the first love, and to the walk in light, and to the proving of all things by the Word. God tells us to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (verses 11-17).
