p. 4 | As and So by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 4, 1902

As and So

By Uriah Smith

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” Col. 2:6. This scripture goes back to first principles. There is safety in such a course. The old adage is, “Well begun is half done.” To make sure that we are in the right way, it is well to look back to the gate by which we have entered.

This scripture is addressed, not to the ungodly, the “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” (Eph. 2:12), but to those who have “received” Christ. Those addressed had begun well; but it is not enough to begin well; and it is not enough to run well, simply for a season. Hence the apostle adds this exhortation, “So walk ye in him.”

First we may take comfort from the great fact here stated, that those addressed had “received” Christ. It does not read, As ye therefore have earned Christ, or purchased him, or merited him by good works. The way to become connected with Christ is not by any process of evolution from within, but only by a gift from without. The word “received” is “free grace” language. But mark the restriction: it is not simply his word that is received, though that is necessary and essential; but it is Christ himself, in his divinity, his humanity, and all his attributes. His followers receive him into their affections and trust. They receive him as new life at their new birth; for when they receive him, he gives them power to become the sons of God. John 1:12. In the words of the scripture, They receive him as “Christ Jesus the Lord.” They receive him as the anointed One, commissioned of the Lord as their Saviour to redeem and sanctify them, and as the one to reign and rule over them. Thus to receive him is to look away from self. It is not said that they fought for him, and thus procured him by conquest, nor that they received him by making any new discovery or great invention. But they simply “received” him. This strips away from us all occasion for boasting; for all we do is just to receive him.

But there is a blessed certainty in the language of the apostle, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord.” They had found the blessing to be real; and no uncertainty remained as to their being in possession of it. There is also food for thought in the counsel given by the apostle, “As ye have therefore received . . . so walk ye in him.” The word “walk” implies life; for no one can walk unless he is alive. And it implies continuance; for if we are to “walk” in him, it implies that we are to make him the object of our daily movements and occupation. The idea of activity is involved in this. Believers are to busy themselves, not with any strange doctrine, merely because of its novelty, nor with any new way of salvation, but busy themselves in working for Jesus, and working with him, in obedience to his requirements. For obedience is better than sacrifice. And the word “walk” implies also “progress.” He would be a poor walker who made no progress, and who did not continually advance; but in all our advancement, our thought must remain in, and with him. A frequent caution uttered often by Elder James White used to be, “Brethren, don’t get ahead of the Lord,” meaning, “Don’t get ahead of the Lord’s providence, and in advance of his work.”

Lastly, we are to study the model that has been set before us. We are to walk in him, as we have received him. How gratefully, humbly, and joyfully we received him! We also received him effectually. How many spiritual fruits we brought forth, to the glory of his name! “Herein is my Father glorified,” says Christ, “that ye bear much fruit.” John 15:8. And when we received him, it was unreservedly. We made no conditions with him, and shared no division of heart with him. Let us, then, continually remember the words of the apostle with which he closes his statement, “So walk ye in him.”

But how about those who have never received him?—Such refuse mercy here, and heaven hereafter. Who can refuse so great a boon? The terms are easy. It is offered without money and without price. We have only to yield our wills and accept the gift. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Let conversion be crowned by consecration, and our self-devotement to Christ answer to his self-devotement to us. If we would know how faith is to be exercised in him, let us look back to the time when first we received him. Look at the obstacles which then rose up in our way. How our vileness and guilt first appeared! How impossible it then seemed that God could pardon and accept such a sinner! Then there was the sense of weakness, and we felt unable to surrender, to trust as we felt called upon to do. Then the misgiving for the future stood in our way. How many dare not undertake to be disciples of Jesus, they are so sure they will soon fall? And how have all these difficulties been met?—Simply by the word of God. The promise was sure that Jesus would accept and save us. We were not deceived. Jesus did accept and save us. Just apply the experience we passed through in coming to Jesus, to the work of abiding in him. None who have received Christ, can part with that acceptance without convicting themselves of imprudence or instability. If your belief is not good, why did you accept it at first? and if it is good, why do you propose to change it now? Though it be a heinous sin not to receive the Lord Jesus, when he presents himself to us in the gospel, yet how much more evil it is to cast him off after having received him! It is a much greater offense to a man to thrust him from your house after you have admitted him, than it is to shut your door against him at the start.

U. S.