He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Anyone who claims to abide in Christ is bound to live as Christ lived, walking as He walked. Keeping His commandments and keeping His word is how it is known that a person knows Him and is in Him, and that obedient keeping is the walk required. His walk was perfect obedience to the Father's will with the law in His heart, and a life of disinterested benevolence that gave up heaven's glory to do good and lay down His life for sinners. Walking in this way is possible only by abiding in living union with Him as branches of the Vine, partaking of the divine nature and being renewed by the Holy Spirit who writes the law on the heart. Mere profession is not enough, for true conversion transforms the character into visible Christlikeness in holiness, purity, love for others and active self-denying service, while to claim to know Him without keeping His commandments is false.
Claim and Obligation
Anyone who says he abides in Christ is obligated himself also to walk even as Christ walked, living as Christ lived. That walk is keeping God's commandments and keeping His word, and by this obedience it is known that a person knows Christ and is in Him, with the love of God perfected in whoever keeps His word. Remaining in Him is shown by a life that follows His example, lifting the cross and walking in His steps from the judgment-hall to Calvary, which brings fortitude and courage and points the follower to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The walk belongs to abiding in the light by loving the brother rather than hating the brother and walking in blind darkness, while Jesus Christ the righteous stands as advocate with the Father and propitiation for sins so that believers sin not yet need not despair. True conversion transforms the character so that Christlikeness becomes visible and pride no longer rules the heart.
The verse is practical instruction and a personal test of whether the believer's walk matches His. It is a solemn pledge to live as He lived, an individual responsibility for every believer to copy the Pattern rather than follow human leaders, opinions, or a false standard. Copying the Pattern means keeping self out of sight and God's glory in view in everything, even in eating and drinking, with every thought and motive under the control of the Spirit because every act influences others. It means imitating Christ in disposition, being full of pity, tenderness and compassion, living by the Spirit, doing God's will and serving others rather than living for self, with willing and cheerful self-denying, self-sacrificing love that leads souls to Him. Refusing this obedience is a cause of weakness, and following Christ as the Light of Life is the only safety against following a strange path after Satan's leading.
That service helps reveal faults that need correction and strengthen weak points as believers grow toward Christian perfection, making conduct answerable to the Scripture professed. No excuse is accepted for falling short of the divine standard, so self must be crucified daily rather than now and then, bringing the physical, mental and spiritual into subordination to God's will. This requires thoroughly overcoming and resisting hereditary and acquired peculiarities, love of esteem and pride of opinion, becoming like Him who lived not to please Himself, hid in Christ and clothed with His righteousness, with perfection of Christian character and the glory of God as the aim of life. In these last days this is the duty to look unto Jesus and give a Christlike example in character to fellow church members and to the world, with words of genuine faith and love, tenderness and true brotherly kindness.
Mere profession or acknowledgment that the truth is correct is not enough; the claim must be matched by doing. Abiding in Him cannot be an empty profession but requires practical holiness, purity of heart and life, right conduct and love for others, with the truth having a sanctifying influence on the life. Being a Christian means becoming like Christ, following Him closely and striving to conform to God's will in humble obedience, in humble life, heavenly conversation, blameless conduct and the fruits of the Spirit. No one can be Christ's follower without imitating Christ as the Pattern and walking as He walked, and failure to do so shows a failure to understand what constitutes a Christian and leaves a person under perfect deception, for God will not be trifled with. A person can confess Christ with words yet deny Him through selfishness, love of ease, worldly ambition and conformity, outward pride and vanity, or an impatient and passionate spirit.
Christ's mind and Spirit must live within, producing outward fruits such as humility, blameless conduct and a character shaped by truth, which requires constant watchfulness and persevering prayer. The closer people consider Christ's pure and holy character, the more they recognize their own sinfulness and the less they boast of their holiness.
Context in Epistle
John's test surrounds the walk: keeping His commandments is how it is known that a person knows Christ, and keeping His word is how it is known that he is in Him, and walking even as Christ walked is that obedient keeping. Experimental knowledge of Christ and communion with Him as Redeemer and friend leads to true obedience and to fervent love for God and for human beings, with the love of God producing the fruits of His Spirit. The first chapter of the epistle makes this demand in the second chapter clearer, completing the test of knowing Christ.
To say I know Him while not keeping His commandments is to lie, with no truth in him. It is a boast like that of the Pharisees, whose heart is destitute of love. A harsh, dictatorial, ungentlemanly spirit toward His blood-bought heritage is no evidence of Christ's presence but of Satan's control, showing the person is not yoked with Christ and is not learning in the school of the Master but in the school where Adam learned disobedience, out of harmony with God and bringing wicked charges against Christ in the person of His saints.
In whoever keeps His word the love of God is perfected, and obedience is the test and proof of love and faith. Forgiveness leaves the obligation to obey, and there is no safety for the churches except as the necessity of keeping the commandments is enjoined, with religious people called to come to this light. Love, compassion and tenderness are offered to all who obey, while God's principles of righteousness are maintained.
The need of sinful, erring man is met by nothing but the perfect sacrifice of Christ, who is Jesus Christ the righteous, advocate with the Father and propitiation for sins not for believers only but for the sins of the whole world, for which God is to be thanked with all the heart. Sinners therefore need not despair and are not left in hopeless despair, but are to leave darkness to come into the light into the presence of God, confessing sins and believing the promise to be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness, freed from the law's penalty because He bore sin. That provision is given so that believers sin not, but cease from sin, and remain obligated to obey.
The walk belongs to abiding in the light by loving the brother, with fellowship one with another and cleansing by the blood of Jesus, rather than hating the brother and walking in blind darkness with occasion of stumbling. Hatred is darkness and blindness and causes stumbling, while he who loves his brother abides in the light with no occasion of stumbling and with sins forgiven for His name's sake, not knowing where he goes being the portion of him who hates and walks in darkness blinded. Individually this calls for taking heed that the truth as it is in Jesus abides in the heart, and for refusing to sit in judgment on brethren, because there is only one Judge, the One who died and took human nature with all the infirmities of humanity so that believers may stand on vantage ground with God.
The requirement is no new commandment but the old commandment, the word heard from the beginning, true in Him and in believers because darkness is past and the true light now shines. It is the same unchanging law with no change made from the beginning, obeyed in heaven before Satan's fall and obeyed in the heavenly courts by the angelic family when the foundation of the earth was laid and the morning stars sang, before Jews were distinguished. Christ kept His Father's commandments and abode in His love, putting the righteousness of Christ first and making the service of God first business, and those who abide in Him must keep His commandments in the same way by fully obeying and not merely admitting they are of God. Rejecting God's commandments because that law condemns iniquity and crooked practice repeats the Jewish cry against Christ, while accepting the truth as it is in Christ Jesus and honoring God brings honor from God.
Holding fast and letting what was heard from the beginning abide and remain keeps a person continuing in the Son and in the Father unto the promised eternal life, with confidence and without shame before Him at His coming. Profession of knowing Christ without that walk is deception, and those who love self, put Christian principle low, and do things that dishonor Christ's name do not meet the conditions of acceptance with the Father, have no true assurance, and are found wanting when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. They cannot approach God with His promise and ask Him to fulfill it, for God would dishonor His name by doing so, and Christ cannot take their name upon His lips.
Christ's Walk Portrayed
Christ's walk was perfect obedience to God's law and the Father's commandments, delighting to do God's will with the law within His heart and always doing what pleases the Father. His life is the practical example of keeping God's law and the standard of moral perfection, so to walk as He walked is to put God's righteousness and service first and fully obey, not merely admit the commandments are of God. That obedience brings forth fruit, with the word received into the soul manifest in good works and seen in a Christlike character and life, accepting all the conditions and requirements of God's word even when it collides with hereditary and cultivated traits, habits, customs and practices. It brings habits, customs and practices into submission to God's word, counts the commands of finite, erring man as insignificant beside the word of the infinite God, and with whole heart and undivided purpose seeks eternal life and obeys the truth even at the cost of loss, persecution or death. The commandments kept are no new commandment but the old commandment from the beginning, with no change made, the same law obeyed in the heavenly courts by the angelic family when the foundation of the earth was laid, before Satan's fall.
His life was noble, disinterested benevolence without one selfish act, lived for the benefit of others, doing good, loving others as He loved, and overcoming penuriousness, selfishness and acquisitiveness. He gave up heavenly honor, royalty, glory and riches, laid off His kingly crown and royal robe, clothed divinity with humanity to stand at the head of humanity, and lived in toil, privation, self-denial and sacrifice to do good. Under covenant with the Father He laid down His life for sinners and purchased the fallen race by the sacrifice of His own blood, and possessing and practicing that selfless love is necessary to be an overcomer, to be benefited by His mediation and to inherit eternal life. His self-giving sacrifice illustrates a life of liberality, giving rather than selfishly seeking to get, and those who claim to abide in Him stand apart from a faithless, careless, unbelieving world with mind and eye single to God's glory, talking faith and bearing heaven's fragrant influence upon character.
Walking as He walked means being full of pity, tenderness and compassion, meek and lowly, humble, patient, gentle, kind, forbearing and pure, learning His meekness and loveliness rather than pleasing self. That walk is humble, self-denying and self-sacrificing, refusing a divided life and all compromise with the world, refusing to serve God and mammon, living out the law of God, feeding upon Christ and partaking of the divine nature. It is prompt obedience that follows closely in His footsteps, pure and elevated, not self-pleasing or self-gratifying, but denying self, taking up the cross daily and submitting to Christ, purifying the soul from everything that defiles. As He journeyed so His followers must journey, and that same path of obedience is the price and way to heaven and leads to the mansions He is preparing, fitting them to benefit others by presenting the sufficiency of Jesus as all-sufficient.
His life was centered on glorifying the Father and doing the Father's will rather than His own, seeking not His own will but the will of the Father who sent Him. Following Him means seeking God's glory with singleness of purpose rather than self-glory, pretense or human approval, doing one's work sincerely for the Lord by faith in the unseen God and making Him the example for conduct. It means keeping self out of sight and God's glory in view in everything, even eating and drinking, with every thought and motive under the control of the Spirit because every act influences others, imitating Christ in disposition and copying the given Pattern with no excuse accepted for falling short. Genuine faith so works against selfishness and pretense, requiring daily crucifixion of self, subordination of the physical, mental and spiritual to God's will, and thorough overcoming of hereditary and acquired peculiarities, love of esteem and pride of opinion, with perfection of character and God's glory as the aim.
His walk was active, self-denying service supplying temporal wants and spiritual necessities on every side, filling aright each position in the world, in society and in the church. Following Christ means lifting the cross and walking in His steps from self-denial to courage and fortitude, being lifted by the cross that is lifted and pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That service leads souls to the Lamb of God and to the Light of the world, revealing Christ through words and actions in a pure and holy life, with Christian teachers caring for orphaned children and educating them to act like Christ in society and help others. Refusal to obey this command is the cause of spiritual weakness, while obedience requires a firm hold upon righteousness and a steadfast, immovable faith that reaches within the veil, takes hold of God's eternal promises and grasps the realities of the unseen world, since Christ alone can remove envy and self-sufficiency and make a person pure.
He lived in the world but not of the world, distinct from unbelieving maxims, customs, parties of pleasure, dress and practices, shining as light in moral darkness. Keeping God's word shows a person is in Christ and brings God's love to full expression, and walking as He walked is evidence of abiding in Him and of that love perfected through keeping His word. Professed followers must obey the principles of truth and turn from love of the world, for they cannot serve God while their affections belong to worldly things, nor let human opinions, wisdom or worldly fashions govern life because they lead away from the cross. Especially in the last days God's people remain distinct from the unbelieving world, denying self and following Christ rather than being guided by human opinions, not expecting the world's favor but accepting poverty, contempt and reproach until the conflict is over, with strength from being chosen and accepted by God.
Power to Walk
Walking as he walked is possible only by abiding in him in living union as living branches of the heavenly Vine drawing life and nourishment from him, receiving his Spirit, partaking of the divine nature, and being renewed by the Holy Spirit who writes the law on the heart under the new covenant. Communion with him leads to following him, learning from him, and becoming like him in character, with the heart renewed by grace, transformed by his power, departing from sin and iniquity and pursuing holiness in reverence for God. That likeness is visible to others even when the believer is unaware of it, and the closer the resemblance the humbler the opinion of self and the more exalted the view of Christ, regarding even the lowest place in his service as too honorable. Abiding means being one with him and wearing his yoke, learning meekness and lowliness from him and having his will perfected within, and that union gives spiritual life, efficiency and power to work as he worked and to be Christlike in word and deed, including doing medical missionary work in a Christlike manner. Profession alone is nothing before God, while willing obedience and actions reveal whether a person has been transformed by grace and is distinct from the world in character and affections, bearing fruit to God's glory unto exaltation to his right hand.
Divine grace and power enable obedience, for faith does not void the law but establishes it, working the fruits of obedience in life. Through repentance and faith people are justified before God, receiving forgiveness and righteousness, remission of sins that are past through Jesus as sacrifice and surety, with grace and help to keep the commandments, and Christ's imputed righteousness gives victory. Under the new covenant forgiveness and the Holy Spirit renew the heart so that obedience flows from within rather than from attempting to establish one's own righteousness, the law written on the heart producing a renewed heart that bears the fruits of the Spirit, delights to do God's will, does what pleases the Father, and lives in harmony with the law. Christ's life put God's law into practice as the example and standard of conduct, and his perfect obedience in humanity proves obedience is attainable through God-given ability, reliance on his righteousness, faith and persevering effort. Claiming inability to keep the law does not excuse refusing determined effort in self-conquest, for the standard is reached through the grace of Jesus and not natural ability, since he saves from sins and not in them, calling for studying his life, spirit and actions to have his mind and follow his example, overcoming sin and controlling impatient, fretful words, following in his footsteps and doing whatever he commands with steadfast integrity and holy conduct in ordinary duties.
The walk requires most earnest individual work and constant growing in the Lord, learning lessons at the right time instead of letting selfishness mar the character. The hardest lesson is to yield self in perfect self-surrender, being cleansed in heart and rid of all deformity of character as a true humble learner at his feet, for without this entire transformation of character no one can enter the holy city, live the life that measures with the life of God, or see the kingdom of God, and the walk is a life lived in obedience to his principles that leads others to him. It means keeping self out of sight and God's glory in view in everything, even in eating and drinking, with every thought and motive under the control of the Spirit because every act influences others, imitating him in disposition and copying the given Pattern with no excuse accepted for falling short of the divine standard. It requires crucifying self daily rather than now and then, bringing the physical, mental and spiritual into subordination to God's will, thoroughly overcoming and resisting hereditary and acquired peculiarities, love of esteem and pride of opinion, and becoming like him who lived not to please himself, hid and clothed with his righteousness, with perfection of Christian character and the glory of God as the aim of life. His mind and Spirit must live within, producing outward fruits such as a humble life, heavenly conversation, blameless conduct, humility and a character shaped by truth, for a person can confess him with words yet deny him through selfishness, love of ease, worldly ambition and conformity, outward pride, vanity or an impatient and passionate spirit, so mere profession or acknowledgment of truth is not enough. Constant watchfulness and persevering prayer are needed to show his character and the truth's sanctifying influence, and abiding means not being consumers but workers together with God, since receiving and imparting is the gospel plan, requiring acting intelligently to carry forward the sacred work in these last days, bringing in all talents and all possible strength, securing reliable workers and the very best talent for his honor and glory, devoting talents to his service rather than to earthly temporal things, and revealing a character after his similitude with earnestness, fervor and enthusiasm without extravagance.
Abiding is eating his flesh and drinking his blood and eating the heavenly bread, which gives eternal life, and failure to abide in this way is why there is lack of the Holy Spirit. God has given every facility, every grace and the very riches of heaven's treasure for this walk, and it is the privilege of believers to draw continually from that capital with all diligence, adding to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. This is done by daily partaking of the truth of the Word, carefully studying his words and carrying them into the life in obedience to all its precepts, refusing to yield the truth under any temptation whatever the consequences may be, and willingly sharing in his trials and suffering while believing he is able to deliver. Received into the life, his words through the agency and power of the Holy Spirit work a moral change that forms a character like his, making believers partakers of the divine nature and one with him, breathing a holy atmosphere and carrying assurance of holy principles, and those who so hold faith and confidence firm unto the end are made perfect, magnify the truth, and gain eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Beholding Jesus and fully submitting to the sanctifying process cuts away natural tendencies and habits, by which beholders are changed from glory to glory by the Spirit and are made patient, kind, forbearing and full of compassion. If he is in us as the hope of glory we will walk even as he walked, imitating his life of self-sacrifice, living not for ease, plenty and self-glory but in toil and privation to do good, save others from suffering and help those most in need, lifting the cross and following him from the judgment-hall to Calvary, drinking the cup he drank and being baptized with his baptism, and welcoming a life of devotion, trial and self-denial rather than shrinking from small trials. Walking as he walked is living his life here in order to be prepared to live with him through the eternal ages, for what is of value in this life will be of value in the life to come and a man's future is decided by how he now allows himself to be influenced. It is refusing to cherish selfish inclinations, fighting against self, being willing to be governed by his Spirit, being transformed in character, learning from the Saviour, being strengthened to resist evil while God works within to will and to do his good pleasure, being filled with intense desire to save perishing souls, in all things following his example, understanding godliness, consecrating life to God willing to spend and be spent in his service, not allowing natural inclinations to obtain the victory, and walking worthily before God and fellow men. The same power by which he met the foe single-handed and overcame is made available so that as he overcame so his followers may overcome.
True Versus False Profession
True conversion transforms the character into visible Christlikeness so that pride no longer rules the heart, with sin becoming hateful and meekness and humility following Christ's example as evidence of belonging to God. That changed life is shown in words and actions shaped by purity and love for others, keeping His word so that God's love is made complete and proving the person is truly in Him. Abiding is a life of assigned service in which every son and daughter has some part of the vineyard to cultivate, and growth in grace appears as increased ability to work for God and bear much fruit unto holiness and eternal life. He who learns in the school of Christ learns how to pray and speak for the Master, and sensing lack of wisdom and experience places himself under the great Teacher unto perfection in service, daily better comprehending spiritual things and daily better fitted after diligent labor to help others.
Real conformity to Jesus in character comes through communion with Him, leading a person to follow Him, learn of Him, and become like Him, and it will not be unobserved by the world but will be noticed and commented upon. It will be seen and felt by all around even when the Christian himself is unconscious of the great change that has taken place. The closer the resemblance to Christ, the humbler the opinion of self, with the humblest thoughts of self and the most exalted conceptions of the glory and excellence of Christ. Such a one feels that even the lowest place in His service is too honorable for him, and those of deepest experience are farthest removed from pride or self-exaltation. True and faithful, pure and holy workers who have felt their need of the atoning blood and the sanctifying grace of His Spirit are the workers needed in the cause of God today.
Holy conduct shapes speech into words seasoned with grace, kind and fitly spoken, because love of God always produces the fruits of His Spirit. Christ is not glorified by harsh, passionate, dishonoring speech toward brethren, by unholy temper, strife and contention even in assemblies of His people, nor by a rude, condemnatory spirit toward patient, toiling workers, and those who teach while speaking so still need to be taught the first principles of the love of God. Manifesting a harsh, dictatorial, ungentlemanly spirit toward His blood-bought heritage is no evidence of Christ's presence but evidence of the presence and control of Satan, showing the person is not yoked with Christ nor learning in the Master's school but in the school where disobedience was learned, with a spirit out of harmony with God. If the sanctifying Spirit dwelt in the soul such expressions would be impossible, and continuing in an un-Christlike spirit endangers mind and life and unfits for heaven, while a claim to be Christian or self-righteousness cannot stand the test when the Master reckons with His servants. Having His presence means walking humbly with God with the eye single to His glory, laying aside the load of self, for religious work done in self alone is a farce with no real inward virtue, whereas humbling under His hand brings a pure, clean, holy uplifting in which the gentleness of Christ, purity of speech and moral elevation appear in all service and in home life.
Confessing Christ with words while denying Him by selfishness, love of ease, worldly ambition and conformity, pride, vanity, love of pleasure and love of self, or an impatient and passionate temper, reveals idolatry and absence of the graces of the Spirit rather than true religion in daily conduct. Mere profession or acknowledgment of truth is nothing before God, for willing obedience and actions reveal whether a person has been transformed by grace, and following His example requires constant watchfulness and persevering prayer with humility, blameless conduct, heavenly conversation and the fruits of the Spirit. So-called faith that professes to release men from obedience is not faith but presumption, and claims of holiness and faith that disregard the law and treat His requirements lightly give no right to His promises, though the test does not condemn those who follow the light they have received. Such failure lures souls to death and lets souls go into the grave unready who might otherwise have been made fit for heaven, whereas those who walk as He walked are distinct from the world in character and affections, as living branches receiving nourishment from the vine, bearing fruit to His glory, departing from iniquity and pursuing holiness.
Walking as He walked means He has an abiding place in the heart, His word is kept, the love of God is perfected within, and the law of love dwells in the heart bringing forth fruit unto eternal life. It means keeping all His commandments together, for honoring one such as the fourth while failing to love brethren who differ is not true obedience, and careless neglect of one commandment makes apparent obedience to another of no value, since offending in one point is guilty of all. Profession of knowing Him without that walk is deception, for keeping His word is how it is known that a person is in Him and how love is perfected in him. Those who love self, put principle low and do things that dishonor His name do not meet the conditions of acceptance, have no true assurance, cannot approach God with His promise and ask Him to fulfill it without dishonoring His name, and are found wanting when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary.
Claiming inability to keep the law does not excuse refusing determined effort in self-conquest, for His life put the law into practice as the example for conduct, and that walk is attainable through God-given ability, reliance on His righteousness, faith and persevering effort with steadfast integrity in ordinary duties. Hereditary tendencies and habits are no excuse for refusing to overcome imperfections, but require being one with Him in example and work. Refusing to walk as He walked because false Christians misrepresent Him is foolish, for the tares must remain among the wheat and another's sin excuses no one in continuing in sin, and such excuses will cover no one in the day of God. Everyone claiming to abide in Him must have His mind and walk as He walked in love, forbearance, long patience, kindness and tender compassion, receiving truth in the heart, obeying all God's commandments as a child of God, studying the Pattern unto Christlikeness and coming into harmony with the law as the transcript of the divine character, thereby becoming holy, undefiled, elevated and ennobled, lest the name be not written in the book of life.
Daily Life Application
Following Christ means lifting the cross and walking in His steps from the judgment-hall to Calvary, denying self daily, drinking His cup and being baptized with His baptism. Those who lift the cross are lifted by it, receiving fortitude and courage, and are pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The walk is pure and elevated, not self-pleasing or self-gratifying, but submitting to Christ and journeying as Jesus journeyed, which is the price and way to heaven and leads to the mansions He is preparing. Human opinions and wisdom lead away from the cross, so those who belong to Christ separate from the world's friendship and spirit, refuse to let human opinions or worldly fashions govern life, and accept poverty and contempt until struggle is finished and victory is won, with strength from being chosen and accepted by God. That walk means imitating His life of self-sacrifice, living not for ease, plenty and self-glory but in toil and privation to do good, save others from suffering and help those most in need, welcoming devotion, trial and self-denial rather than shrinking from small trials.
Abiding calls not for idle consumption but for active, efficient service, for receiving and imparting is the gospel plan. Every son and daughter of God has some part of the Lord's vineyard to cultivate, filling aright each position in the world, in society, and in the church, supplying both temporal wants and spiritual necessities and leading souls to the Lamb of God who takes away sin. Growth in grace is shown by increased ability to work for God and bear much fruit, learning in the school of Christ how to pray and speak for the Master and daily becoming better fitted to help others. It requires acting intelligently to carry forward the sacred work in these last days, bringing in all talents and all possible strength, securing reliable workers and the very best talent for the honor and glory of God, devoting talents to His service rather than to earthly temporal things, and revealing a character after the similitude of Christ with earnestness, fervor and enthusiasm without extravagance. Living and working as Christ worked is the highest endeavor, consecrating to the great work placed in human hands and cooperating with Him in carrying out the plan of salvation, since He died to save sinners and gave His life for the life of the world, with all working under the guidance of the divine Spirit though not all doing the same work. That union gives spiritual life, efficiency and power to work as Christ worked and to be Christlike in word and deed, applied especially to doing medical missionary work in a Christlike manner.
The walk is to be lived out at home, in the neighborhood and in the church, letting truth make an impression through kindness, humility, peace, courtesy and unselfish generosity. The genuinely converted bear fruit and reflect Christ in speech and actions, being kind, humble, thoughtful of others' happiness, loving neighbor as self, holding forth the Word of life, with manners not harsh and dictatorial but reflecting light from heaven. Walking as Christ walked includes being peaceable and doing all in one's power to promote peace and harmony, for acceptance with God depends on this Christlike life. It means putting away envy, evil surmising, backbiting, faultfinding and a rude, condemnatory spirit, which cause feebleness in the church, and making it the eager desire to bless others by doing the work Christ came to teach, so others see good works and glorify God. Such practical care shows God's tender love and compassion, as in providing food and paying rent for very poor believers when need cannot be avoided, teaching children right words and deeds, caring for orphans, correcting unjust dealings and making restitution.
Ministers, teachers, physicians, managers and all who represent Christ must study His life and words, take Him as counselor, and put into practice the principles that guided His service on earth. His perfect humanity shows the character His followers must form for eternity, and God tests and proves everyone to see whether they will do the divine will in humility. The spirit of Christ leads them to present truth with His meekness and fervor and to live what they profess, working as He worked and reflecting His ideas, so others recognize likeness to Jesus. Their words, actions and thoughts should reflect His tender sympathy, care for people in need and lovely character and meet God's approval. No man is to be treated as lord and dictator over gospel ministry or gospel medical missionary work, and everyone who gives himself unreservedly to Christ is assigned a post where he may engage in acceptable service.
In these last days the duty is to look unto Jesus Christ and give a Christlike example in character to fellow church members and to the world, with words of genuine faith and love, tenderness and true brotherly kindness. Following Christ as the Light of Life is the only safety against following a strange path after a false standard led by Satan. Christ's followers show this by remaining distinct from the unbelieving world in faith, influence and single-hearted devotion, denying self and following Christ rather than being guided by human opinions and wisdom, which lead away from the cross. They should not expect the world's favor, but accept poverty, contempt and reproach until the conflict is over and victory is won, with strength from being chosen and accepted by God.
The verse sets the condition for salvation and eternal life: walking even as He walked by obedience to the law of God, keeping all His commandments and holding the faith of Jesus. Christ did not abolish the law by giving His life; His death as victim for transgression proves the law is immutable, and no one who has had light on what keeping the commandments comprehends will be saved in transgression of them. That walk requires being an overcomer, refusing a divided life and all compromise with evil or service to mammon, refusing to live to please self, living out the law of God, feeding upon Christ and partaking of the divine nature, and standing as living sentinels for truth in integrity of heart. It means imitating the character of the divine Lord in order to be benefited by His mediation and inherit eternal life, overcoming penurious, selfish, acquisitive traits and instead doing good to others, living for others' benefit and loving others as Christ loved. As Jesus journeyed so His followers must journey in prompt obedience, and that same path leads to the mansions He is preparing and to entering the city of God to live with Him forever.
In every position believers should ask what Jesus would do in their circumstances and do it. Abiding in Christ means knowing Him personally and representing Him rightly, letting light shine through good works to God's glory. Whatever position a person holds, that person should act as Christ would in that place, showing Christlike character in work and words with tender sympathy, compassion and integrity in ordinary duties. Christ gave up royalty, glory and riches, took humanity upon Himself to reach people where they were, laid down His life for sinners, and worked for the salvation of others as the example to follow.
The walk demands self-examination to ascertain whether life and character are copying the great model, closely examining self lest in word or deed the Lord be denied. It means not exalting self and disparaging others but criticizing self, confessing and forsaking personal sin, making diligent work of repentance and setting the heart in order without a moment to lose, because souls in peril can be cleansed and made ready for the Lord's appearing while living in the great day of atonement. It means living in fellowship and love, holding the first love and doing the first works, for beautiful theories will not suffice; the love of Christ must be in the heart to give fragrance to words and works. By continually watching and imitating His holy example with earnest, humble prayer for God's light and guidance, the Christian helps bring a right spirit into others' lives while unholy actions and plans are exposed and restrained, walking humbly with God without self-exaltation and hiding the life in Christ Jesus.
God has given every facility, every grace and the very riches of heaven's treasure for this walk, and it is the privilege of believers to draw continually from that capital with all diligence, adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity to faith. Failure to abide by eating His flesh and drinking His blood and eating the heavenly bread is why there is lack of the Holy Spirit. Walking as He walked means walking in the knowledge of the truth as a partaker of the divine nature, keeping singleness of purpose and constantly improving the mind to comprehend and meet the requirements of the plain Thus saith the Lord, moving beyond surface experience to real obedience guided by the Holy Spirit rather than by human opinions or a few men. It requires taking time to remain Christlike even under difficulty, with the inward man renewed day by day even while the outward man perishes, reaching forth to the righteousness of Christ, holding fast the fulness of grace through His merits, refusing to let exhaustion, natural inclination or perverted ideas obtain the victory, and resisting temptation by earnest wrestling prayer rather than dull, sleepy, indifferent service.
Anyone who claims to abide in Christ is bound to live as Christ lived, walking as He walked. Keeping His commandments and keeping His word is how it is known that a person knows Him and is in Him, and that obedient keeping is the walk required. His walk was perfect obedience to the Father's will with the law in His heart, and a life of disinterested benevolence that gave up heaven's glory to do good and lay down His life for sinners. Walking in this way is possible only by abiding in living union with Him as branches of the Vine, partaking of the divine nature and being renewed by the Holy Spirit who writes the law on the heart. Mere profession is not enough, for true conversion transforms the character into visible Christlikeness in holiness, purity, love for others and active self-denying service, while to claim to know Him without keeping His commandments is false.
Claim and Obligation
Anyone who says he abides in Christ is obligated himself also to walk even as Christ walked, living as Christ lived. That walk is keeping God's commandments and keeping His word, and by this obedience it is known that a person knows Christ and is in Him, with the love of God perfected in whoever keeps His word. Remaining in Him is shown by a life that follows His example, lifting the cross and walking in His steps from the judgment-hall to Calvary, which brings fortitude and courage and points the follower to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The walk belongs to abiding in the light by loving the brother rather than hating the brother and walking in blind darkness, while Jesus Christ the righteous stands as advocate with the Father and propitiation for sins so that believers sin not yet need not despair. True conversion transforms the character so that Christlikeness becomes visible and pride no longer rules the heart.
The verse is practical instruction and a personal test of whether the believer's walk matches His. It is a solemn pledge to live as He lived, an individual responsibility for every believer to copy the Pattern rather than follow human leaders, opinions, or a false standard. Copying the Pattern means keeping self out of sight and God's glory in view in everything, even in eating and drinking, with every thought and motive under the control of the Spirit because every act influences others. It means imitating Christ in disposition, being full of pity, tenderness and compassion, living by the Spirit, doing God's will and serving others rather than living for self, with willing and cheerful self-denying, self-sacrificing love that leads souls to Him. Refusing this obedience is a cause of weakness, and following Christ as the Light of Life is the only safety against following a strange path after Satan's leading.
That service helps reveal faults that need correction and strengthen weak points as believers grow toward Christian perfection, making conduct answerable to the Scripture professed. No excuse is accepted for falling short of the divine standard, so self must be crucified daily rather than now and then, bringing the physical, mental and spiritual into subordination to God's will. This requires thoroughly overcoming and resisting hereditary and acquired peculiarities, love of esteem and pride of opinion, becoming like Him who lived not to please Himself, hid in Christ and clothed with His righteousness, with perfection of Christian character and the glory of God as the aim of life. In these last days this is the duty to look unto Jesus and give a Christlike example in character to fellow church members and to the world, with words of genuine faith and love, tenderness and true brotherly kindness.
Mere profession or acknowledgment that the truth is correct is not enough; the claim must be matched by doing. Abiding in Him cannot be an empty profession but requires practical holiness, purity of heart and life, right conduct and love for others, with the truth having a sanctifying influence on the life. Being a Christian means becoming like Christ, following Him closely and striving to conform to God's will in humble obedience, in humble life, heavenly conversation, blameless conduct and the fruits of the Spirit. No one can be Christ's follower without imitating Christ as the Pattern and walking as He walked, and failure to do so shows a failure to understand what constitutes a Christian and leaves a person under perfect deception, for God will not be trifled with. A person can confess Christ with words yet deny Him through selfishness, love of ease, worldly ambition and conformity, outward pride and vanity, or an impatient and passionate spirit.
Christ's mind and Spirit must live within, producing outward fruits such as humility, blameless conduct and a character shaped by truth, which requires constant watchfulness and persevering prayer. The closer people consider Christ's pure and holy character, the more they recognize their own sinfulness and the less they boast of their holiness.
Context in Epistle
John's test surrounds the walk: keeping His commandments is how it is known that a person knows Christ, and keeping His word is how it is known that he is in Him, and walking even as Christ walked is that obedient keeping. Experimental knowledge of Christ and communion with Him as Redeemer and friend leads to true obedience and to fervent love for God and for human beings, with the love of God producing the fruits of His Spirit. The first chapter of the epistle makes this demand in the second chapter clearer, completing the test of knowing Christ.
To say I know Him while not keeping His commandments is to lie, with no truth in him. It is a boast like that of the Pharisees, whose heart is destitute of love. A harsh, dictatorial, ungentlemanly spirit toward His blood-bought heritage is no evidence of Christ's presence but of Satan's control, showing the person is not yoked with Christ and is not learning in the school of the Master but in the school where Adam learned disobedience, out of harmony with God and bringing wicked charges against Christ in the person of His saints.
In whoever keeps His word the love of God is perfected, and obedience is the test and proof of love and faith. Forgiveness leaves the obligation to obey, and there is no safety for the churches except as the necessity of keeping the commandments is enjoined, with religious people called to come to this light. Love, compassion and tenderness are offered to all who obey, while God's principles of righteousness are maintained.
The need of sinful, erring man is met by nothing but the perfect sacrifice of Christ, who is Jesus Christ the righteous, advocate with the Father and propitiation for sins not for believers only but for the sins of the whole world, for which God is to be thanked with all the heart. Sinners therefore need not despair and are not left in hopeless despair, but are to leave darkness to come into the light into the presence of God, confessing sins and believing the promise to be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness, freed from the law's penalty because He bore sin. That provision is given so that believers sin not, but cease from sin, and remain obligated to obey.
The walk belongs to abiding in the light by loving the brother, with fellowship one with another and cleansing by the blood of Jesus, rather than hating the brother and walking in blind darkness with occasion of stumbling. Hatred is darkness and blindness and causes stumbling, while he who loves his brother abides in the light with no occasion of stumbling and with sins forgiven for His name's sake, not knowing where he goes being the portion of him who hates and walks in darkness blinded. Individually this calls for taking heed that the truth as it is in Jesus abides in the heart, and for refusing to sit in judgment on brethren, because there is only one Judge, the One who died and took human nature with all the infirmities of humanity so that believers may stand on vantage ground with God.
The requirement is no new commandment but the old commandment, the word heard from the beginning, true in Him and in believers because darkness is past and the true light now shines. It is the same unchanging law with no change made from the beginning, obeyed in heaven before Satan's fall and obeyed in the heavenly courts by the angelic family when the foundation of the earth was laid and the morning stars sang, before Jews were distinguished. Christ kept His Father's commandments and abode in His love, putting the righteousness of Christ first and making the service of God first business, and those who abide in Him must keep His commandments in the same way by fully obeying and not merely admitting they are of God. Rejecting God's commandments because that law condemns iniquity and crooked practice repeats the Jewish cry against Christ, while accepting the truth as it is in Christ Jesus and honoring God brings honor from God.
Holding fast and letting what was heard from the beginning abide and remain keeps a person continuing in the Son and in the Father unto the promised eternal life, with confidence and without shame before Him at His coming. Profession of knowing Christ without that walk is deception, and those who love self, put Christian principle low, and do things that dishonor Christ's name do not meet the conditions of acceptance with the Father, have no true assurance, and are found wanting when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. They cannot approach God with His promise and ask Him to fulfill it, for God would dishonor His name by doing so, and Christ cannot take their name upon His lips.
Christ's Walk Portrayed
Christ's walk was perfect obedience to God's law and the Father's commandments, delighting to do God's will with the law within His heart and always doing what pleases the Father. His life is the practical example of keeping God's law and the standard of moral perfection, so to walk as He walked is to put God's righteousness and service first and fully obey, not merely admit the commandments are of God. That obedience brings forth fruit, with the word received into the soul manifest in good works and seen in a Christlike character and life, accepting all the conditions and requirements of God's word even when it collides with hereditary and cultivated traits, habits, customs and practices. It brings habits, customs and practices into submission to God's word, counts the commands of finite, erring man as insignificant beside the word of the infinite God, and with whole heart and undivided purpose seeks eternal life and obeys the truth even at the cost of loss, persecution or death. The commandments kept are no new commandment but the old commandment from the beginning, with no change made, the same law obeyed in the heavenly courts by the angelic family when the foundation of the earth was laid, before Satan's fall.
His life was noble, disinterested benevolence without one selfish act, lived for the benefit of others, doing good, loving others as He loved, and overcoming penuriousness, selfishness and acquisitiveness. He gave up heavenly honor, royalty, glory and riches, laid off His kingly crown and royal robe, clothed divinity with humanity to stand at the head of humanity, and lived in toil, privation, self-denial and sacrifice to do good. Under covenant with the Father He laid down His life for sinners and purchased the fallen race by the sacrifice of His own blood, and possessing and practicing that selfless love is necessary to be an overcomer, to be benefited by His mediation and to inherit eternal life. His self-giving sacrifice illustrates a life of liberality, giving rather than selfishly seeking to get, and those who claim to abide in Him stand apart from a faithless, careless, unbelieving world with mind and eye single to God's glory, talking faith and bearing heaven's fragrant influence upon character.
Walking as He walked means being full of pity, tenderness and compassion, meek and lowly, humble, patient, gentle, kind, forbearing and pure, learning His meekness and loveliness rather than pleasing self. That walk is humble, self-denying and self-sacrificing, refusing a divided life and all compromise with the world, refusing to serve God and mammon, living out the law of God, feeding upon Christ and partaking of the divine nature. It is prompt obedience that follows closely in His footsteps, pure and elevated, not self-pleasing or self-gratifying, but denying self, taking up the cross daily and submitting to Christ, purifying the soul from everything that defiles. As He journeyed so His followers must journey, and that same path of obedience is the price and way to heaven and leads to the mansions He is preparing, fitting them to benefit others by presenting the sufficiency of Jesus as all-sufficient.
His life was centered on glorifying the Father and doing the Father's will rather than His own, seeking not His own will but the will of the Father who sent Him. Following Him means seeking God's glory with singleness of purpose rather than self-glory, pretense or human approval, doing one's work sincerely for the Lord by faith in the unseen God and making Him the example for conduct. It means keeping self out of sight and God's glory in view in everything, even eating and drinking, with every thought and motive under the control of the Spirit because every act influences others, imitating Christ in disposition and copying the given Pattern with no excuse accepted for falling short. Genuine faith so works against selfishness and pretense, requiring daily crucifixion of self, subordination of the physical, mental and spiritual to God's will, and thorough overcoming of hereditary and acquired peculiarities, love of esteem and pride of opinion, with perfection of character and God's glory as the aim.
His walk was active, self-denying service supplying temporal wants and spiritual necessities on every side, filling aright each position in the world, in society and in the church. Following Christ means lifting the cross and walking in His steps from self-denial to courage and fortitude, being lifted by the cross that is lifted and pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. That service leads souls to the Lamb of God and to the Light of the world, revealing Christ through words and actions in a pure and holy life, with Christian teachers caring for orphaned children and educating them to act like Christ in society and help others. Refusal to obey this command is the cause of spiritual weakness, while obedience requires a firm hold upon righteousness and a steadfast, immovable faith that reaches within the veil, takes hold of God's eternal promises and grasps the realities of the unseen world, since Christ alone can remove envy and self-sufficiency and make a person pure.
He lived in the world but not of the world, distinct from unbelieving maxims, customs, parties of pleasure, dress and practices, shining as light in moral darkness. Keeping God's word shows a person is in Christ and brings God's love to full expression, and walking as He walked is evidence of abiding in Him and of that love perfected through keeping His word. Professed followers must obey the principles of truth and turn from love of the world, for they cannot serve God while their affections belong to worldly things, nor let human opinions, wisdom or worldly fashions govern life because they lead away from the cross. Especially in the last days God's people remain distinct from the unbelieving world, denying self and following Christ rather than being guided by human opinions, not expecting the world's favor but accepting poverty, contempt and reproach until the conflict is over, with strength from being chosen and accepted by God.
Power to Walk
Walking as he walked is possible only by abiding in him in living union as living branches of the heavenly Vine drawing life and nourishment from him, receiving his Spirit, partaking of the divine nature, and being renewed by the Holy Spirit who writes the law on the heart under the new covenant. Communion with him leads to following him, learning from him, and becoming like him in character, with the heart renewed by grace, transformed by his power, departing from sin and iniquity and pursuing holiness in reverence for God. That likeness is visible to others even when the believer is unaware of it, and the closer the resemblance the humbler the opinion of self and the more exalted the view of Christ, regarding even the lowest place in his service as too honorable. Abiding means being one with him and wearing his yoke, learning meekness and lowliness from him and having his will perfected within, and that union gives spiritual life, efficiency and power to work as he worked and to be Christlike in word and deed, including doing medical missionary work in a Christlike manner. Profession alone is nothing before God, while willing obedience and actions reveal whether a person has been transformed by grace and is distinct from the world in character and affections, bearing fruit to God's glory unto exaltation to his right hand.
Divine grace and power enable obedience, for faith does not void the law but establishes it, working the fruits of obedience in life. Through repentance and faith people are justified before God, receiving forgiveness and righteousness, remission of sins that are past through Jesus as sacrifice and surety, with grace and help to keep the commandments, and Christ's imputed righteousness gives victory. Under the new covenant forgiveness and the Holy Spirit renew the heart so that obedience flows from within rather than from attempting to establish one's own righteousness, the law written on the heart producing a renewed heart that bears the fruits of the Spirit, delights to do God's will, does what pleases the Father, and lives in harmony with the law. Christ's life put God's law into practice as the example and standard of conduct, and his perfect obedience in humanity proves obedience is attainable through God-given ability, reliance on his righteousness, faith and persevering effort. Claiming inability to keep the law does not excuse refusing determined effort in self-conquest, for the standard is reached through the grace of Jesus and not natural ability, since he saves from sins and not in them, calling for studying his life, spirit and actions to have his mind and follow his example, overcoming sin and controlling impatient, fretful words, following in his footsteps and doing whatever he commands with steadfast integrity and holy conduct in ordinary duties.
The walk requires most earnest individual work and constant growing in the Lord, learning lessons at the right time instead of letting selfishness mar the character. The hardest lesson is to yield self in perfect self-surrender, being cleansed in heart and rid of all deformity of character as a true humble learner at his feet, for without this entire transformation of character no one can enter the holy city, live the life that measures with the life of God, or see the kingdom of God, and the walk is a life lived in obedience to his principles that leads others to him. It means keeping self out of sight and God's glory in view in everything, even in eating and drinking, with every thought and motive under the control of the Spirit because every act influences others, imitating him in disposition and copying the given Pattern with no excuse accepted for falling short of the divine standard. It requires crucifying self daily rather than now and then, bringing the physical, mental and spiritual into subordination to God's will, thoroughly overcoming and resisting hereditary and acquired peculiarities, love of esteem and pride of opinion, and becoming like him who lived not to please himself, hid and clothed with his righteousness, with perfection of Christian character and the glory of God as the aim of life. His mind and Spirit must live within, producing outward fruits such as a humble life, heavenly conversation, blameless conduct, humility and a character shaped by truth, for a person can confess him with words yet deny him through selfishness, love of ease, worldly ambition and conformity, outward pride, vanity or an impatient and passionate spirit, so mere profession or acknowledgment of truth is not enough. Constant watchfulness and persevering prayer are needed to show his character and the truth's sanctifying influence, and abiding means not being consumers but workers together with God, since receiving and imparting is the gospel plan, requiring acting intelligently to carry forward the sacred work in these last days, bringing in all talents and all possible strength, securing reliable workers and the very best talent for his honor and glory, devoting talents to his service rather than to earthly temporal things, and revealing a character after his similitude with earnestness, fervor and enthusiasm without extravagance.
Abiding is eating his flesh and drinking his blood and eating the heavenly bread, which gives eternal life, and failure to abide in this way is why there is lack of the Holy Spirit. God has given every facility, every grace and the very riches of heaven's treasure for this walk, and it is the privilege of believers to draw continually from that capital with all diligence, adding to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. This is done by daily partaking of the truth of the Word, carefully studying his words and carrying them into the life in obedience to all its precepts, refusing to yield the truth under any temptation whatever the consequences may be, and willingly sharing in his trials and suffering while believing he is able to deliver. Received into the life, his words through the agency and power of the Holy Spirit work a moral change that forms a character like his, making believers partakers of the divine nature and one with him, breathing a holy atmosphere and carrying assurance of holy principles, and those who so hold faith and confidence firm unto the end are made perfect, magnify the truth, and gain eternal life in the kingdom of God.
Beholding Jesus and fully submitting to the sanctifying process cuts away natural tendencies and habits, by which beholders are changed from glory to glory by the Spirit and are made patient, kind, forbearing and full of compassion. If he is in us as the hope of glory we will walk even as he walked, imitating his life of self-sacrifice, living not for ease, plenty and self-glory but in toil and privation to do good, save others from suffering and help those most in need, lifting the cross and following him from the judgment-hall to Calvary, drinking the cup he drank and being baptized with his baptism, and welcoming a life of devotion, trial and self-denial rather than shrinking from small trials. Walking as he walked is living his life here in order to be prepared to live with him through the eternal ages, for what is of value in this life will be of value in the life to come and a man's future is decided by how he now allows himself to be influenced. It is refusing to cherish selfish inclinations, fighting against self, being willing to be governed by his Spirit, being transformed in character, learning from the Saviour, being strengthened to resist evil while God works within to will and to do his good pleasure, being filled with intense desire to save perishing souls, in all things following his example, understanding godliness, consecrating life to God willing to spend and be spent in his service, not allowing natural inclinations to obtain the victory, and walking worthily before God and fellow men. The same power by which he met the foe single-handed and overcame is made available so that as he overcame so his followers may overcome.
True Versus False Profession
True conversion transforms the character into visible Christlikeness so that pride no longer rules the heart, with sin becoming hateful and meekness and humility following Christ's example as evidence of belonging to God. That changed life is shown in words and actions shaped by purity and love for others, keeping His word so that God's love is made complete and proving the person is truly in Him. Abiding is a life of assigned service in which every son and daughter has some part of the vineyard to cultivate, and growth in grace appears as increased ability to work for God and bear much fruit unto holiness and eternal life. He who learns in the school of Christ learns how to pray and speak for the Master, and sensing lack of wisdom and experience places himself under the great Teacher unto perfection in service, daily better comprehending spiritual things and daily better fitted after diligent labor to help others.
Real conformity to Jesus in character comes through communion with Him, leading a person to follow Him, learn of Him, and become like Him, and it will not be unobserved by the world but will be noticed and commented upon. It will be seen and felt by all around even when the Christian himself is unconscious of the great change that has taken place. The closer the resemblance to Christ, the humbler the opinion of self, with the humblest thoughts of self and the most exalted conceptions of the glory and excellence of Christ. Such a one feels that even the lowest place in His service is too honorable for him, and those of deepest experience are farthest removed from pride or self-exaltation. True and faithful, pure and holy workers who have felt their need of the atoning blood and the sanctifying grace of His Spirit are the workers needed in the cause of God today.
Holy conduct shapes speech into words seasoned with grace, kind and fitly spoken, because love of God always produces the fruits of His Spirit. Christ is not glorified by harsh, passionate, dishonoring speech toward brethren, by unholy temper, strife and contention even in assemblies of His people, nor by a rude, condemnatory spirit toward patient, toiling workers, and those who teach while speaking so still need to be taught the first principles of the love of God. Manifesting a harsh, dictatorial, ungentlemanly spirit toward His blood-bought heritage is no evidence of Christ's presence but evidence of the presence and control of Satan, showing the person is not yoked with Christ nor learning in the Master's school but in the school where disobedience was learned, with a spirit out of harmony with God. If the sanctifying Spirit dwelt in the soul such expressions would be impossible, and continuing in an un-Christlike spirit endangers mind and life and unfits for heaven, while a claim to be Christian or self-righteousness cannot stand the test when the Master reckons with His servants. Having His presence means walking humbly with God with the eye single to His glory, laying aside the load of self, for religious work done in self alone is a farce with no real inward virtue, whereas humbling under His hand brings a pure, clean, holy uplifting in which the gentleness of Christ, purity of speech and moral elevation appear in all service and in home life.
Confessing Christ with words while denying Him by selfishness, love of ease, worldly ambition and conformity, pride, vanity, love of pleasure and love of self, or an impatient and passionate temper, reveals idolatry and absence of the graces of the Spirit rather than true religion in daily conduct. Mere profession or acknowledgment of truth is nothing before God, for willing obedience and actions reveal whether a person has been transformed by grace, and following His example requires constant watchfulness and persevering prayer with humility, blameless conduct, heavenly conversation and the fruits of the Spirit. So-called faith that professes to release men from obedience is not faith but presumption, and claims of holiness and faith that disregard the law and treat His requirements lightly give no right to His promises, though the test does not condemn those who follow the light they have received. Such failure lures souls to death and lets souls go into the grave unready who might otherwise have been made fit for heaven, whereas those who walk as He walked are distinct from the world in character and affections, as living branches receiving nourishment from the vine, bearing fruit to His glory, departing from iniquity and pursuing holiness.
Walking as He walked means He has an abiding place in the heart, His word is kept, the love of God is perfected within, and the law of love dwells in the heart bringing forth fruit unto eternal life. It means keeping all His commandments together, for honoring one such as the fourth while failing to love brethren who differ is not true obedience, and careless neglect of one commandment makes apparent obedience to another of no value, since offending in one point is guilty of all. Profession of knowing Him without that walk is deception, for keeping His word is how it is known that a person is in Him and how love is perfected in him. Those who love self, put principle low and do things that dishonor His name do not meet the conditions of acceptance, have no true assurance, cannot approach God with His promise and ask Him to fulfill it without dishonoring His name, and are found wanting when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary.
Claiming inability to keep the law does not excuse refusing determined effort in self-conquest, for His life put the law into practice as the example for conduct, and that walk is attainable through God-given ability, reliance on His righteousness, faith and persevering effort with steadfast integrity in ordinary duties. Hereditary tendencies and habits are no excuse for refusing to overcome imperfections, but require being one with Him in example and work. Refusing to walk as He walked because false Christians misrepresent Him is foolish, for the tares must remain among the wheat and another's sin excuses no one in continuing in sin, and such excuses will cover no one in the day of God. Everyone claiming to abide in Him must have His mind and walk as He walked in love, forbearance, long patience, kindness and tender compassion, receiving truth in the heart, obeying all God's commandments as a child of God, studying the Pattern unto Christlikeness and coming into harmony with the law as the transcript of the divine character, thereby becoming holy, undefiled, elevated and ennobled, lest the name be not written in the book of life.
Daily Life Application
Following Christ means lifting the cross and walking in His steps from the judgment-hall to Calvary, denying self daily, drinking His cup and being baptized with His baptism. Those who lift the cross are lifted by it, receiving fortitude and courage, and are pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The walk is pure and elevated, not self-pleasing or self-gratifying, but submitting to Christ and journeying as Jesus journeyed, which is the price and way to heaven and leads to the mansions He is preparing. Human opinions and wisdom lead away from the cross, so those who belong to Christ separate from the world's friendship and spirit, refuse to let human opinions or worldly fashions govern life, and accept poverty and contempt until struggle is finished and victory is won, with strength from being chosen and accepted by God. That walk means imitating His life of self-sacrifice, living not for ease, plenty and self-glory but in toil and privation to do good, save others from suffering and help those most in need, welcoming devotion, trial and self-denial rather than shrinking from small trials.
Abiding calls not for idle consumption but for active, efficient service, for receiving and imparting is the gospel plan. Every son and daughter of God has some part of the Lord's vineyard to cultivate, filling aright each position in the world, in society, and in the church, supplying both temporal wants and spiritual necessities and leading souls to the Lamb of God who takes away sin. Growth in grace is shown by increased ability to work for God and bear much fruit, learning in the school of Christ how to pray and speak for the Master and daily becoming better fitted to help others. It requires acting intelligently to carry forward the sacred work in these last days, bringing in all talents and all possible strength, securing reliable workers and the very best talent for the honor and glory of God, devoting talents to His service rather than to earthly temporal things, and revealing a character after the similitude of Christ with earnestness, fervor and enthusiasm without extravagance. Living and working as Christ worked is the highest endeavor, consecrating to the great work placed in human hands and cooperating with Him in carrying out the plan of salvation, since He died to save sinners and gave His life for the life of the world, with all working under the guidance of the divine Spirit though not all doing the same work. That union gives spiritual life, efficiency and power to work as Christ worked and to be Christlike in word and deed, applied especially to doing medical missionary work in a Christlike manner.
The walk is to be lived out at home, in the neighborhood and in the church, letting truth make an impression through kindness, humility, peace, courtesy and unselfish generosity. The genuinely converted bear fruit and reflect Christ in speech and actions, being kind, humble, thoughtful of others' happiness, loving neighbor as self, holding forth the Word of life, with manners not harsh and dictatorial but reflecting light from heaven. Walking as Christ walked includes being peaceable and doing all in one's power to promote peace and harmony, for acceptance with God depends on this Christlike life. It means putting away envy, evil surmising, backbiting, faultfinding and a rude, condemnatory spirit, which cause feebleness in the church, and making it the eager desire to bless others by doing the work Christ came to teach, so others see good works and glorify God. Such practical care shows God's tender love and compassion, as in providing food and paying rent for very poor believers when need cannot be avoided, teaching children right words and deeds, caring for orphans, correcting unjust dealings and making restitution.
Ministers, teachers, physicians, managers and all who represent Christ must study His life and words, take Him as counselor, and put into practice the principles that guided His service on earth. His perfect humanity shows the character His followers must form for eternity, and God tests and proves everyone to see whether they will do the divine will in humility. The spirit of Christ leads them to present truth with His meekness and fervor and to live what they profess, working as He worked and reflecting His ideas, so others recognize likeness to Jesus. Their words, actions and thoughts should reflect His tender sympathy, care for people in need and lovely character and meet God's approval. No man is to be treated as lord and dictator over gospel ministry or gospel medical missionary work, and everyone who gives himself unreservedly to Christ is assigned a post where he may engage in acceptable service.
In these last days the duty is to look unto Jesus Christ and give a Christlike example in character to fellow church members and to the world, with words of genuine faith and love, tenderness and true brotherly kindness. Following Christ as the Light of Life is the only safety against following a strange path after a false standard led by Satan. Christ's followers show this by remaining distinct from the unbelieving world in faith, influence and single-hearted devotion, denying self and following Christ rather than being guided by human opinions and wisdom, which lead away from the cross. They should not expect the world's favor, but accept poverty, contempt and reproach until the conflict is over and victory is won, with strength from being chosen and accepted by God.
The verse sets the condition for salvation and eternal life: walking even as He walked by obedience to the law of God, keeping all His commandments and holding the faith of Jesus. Christ did not abolish the law by giving His life; His death as victim for transgression proves the law is immutable, and no one who has had light on what keeping the commandments comprehends will be saved in transgression of them. That walk requires being an overcomer, refusing a divided life and all compromise with evil or service to mammon, refusing to live to please self, living out the law of God, feeding upon Christ and partaking of the divine nature, and standing as living sentinels for truth in integrity of heart. It means imitating the character of the divine Lord in order to be benefited by His mediation and inherit eternal life, overcoming penurious, selfish, acquisitive traits and instead doing good to others, living for others' benefit and loving others as Christ loved. As Jesus journeyed so His followers must journey in prompt obedience, and that same path leads to the mansions He is preparing and to entering the city of God to live with Him forever.
In every position believers should ask what Jesus would do in their circumstances and do it. Abiding in Christ means knowing Him personally and representing Him rightly, letting light shine through good works to God's glory. Whatever position a person holds, that person should act as Christ would in that place, showing Christlike character in work and words with tender sympathy, compassion and integrity in ordinary duties. Christ gave up royalty, glory and riches, took humanity upon Himself to reach people where they were, laid down His life for sinners, and worked for the salvation of others as the example to follow.
The walk demands self-examination to ascertain whether life and character are copying the great model, closely examining self lest in word or deed the Lord be denied. It means not exalting self and disparaging others but criticizing self, confessing and forsaking personal sin, making diligent work of repentance and setting the heart in order without a moment to lose, because souls in peril can be cleansed and made ready for the Lord's appearing while living in the great day of atonement. It means living in fellowship and love, holding the first love and doing the first works, for beautiful theories will not suffice; the love of Christ must be in the heart to give fragrance to words and works. By continually watching and imitating His holy example with earnest, humble prayer for God's light and guidance, the Christian helps bring a right spirit into others' lives while unholy actions and plans are exposed and restrained, walking humbly with God without self-exaltation and hiding the life in Christ Jesus.
God has given every facility, every grace and the very riches of heaven's treasure for this walk, and it is the privilege of believers to draw continually from that capital with all diligence, adding virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity to faith. Failure to abide by eating His flesh and drinking His blood and eating the heavenly bread is why there is lack of the Holy Spirit. Walking as He walked means walking in the knowledge of the truth as a partaker of the divine nature, keeping singleness of purpose and constantly improving the mind to comprehend and meet the requirements of the plain Thus saith the Lord, moving beyond surface experience to real obedience guided by the Holy Spirit rather than by human opinions or a few men. It requires taking time to remain Christlike even under difficulty, with the inward man renewed day by day even while the outward man perishes, reaching forth to the righteousness of Christ, holding fast the fulness of grace through His merits, refusing to let exhaustion, natural inclination or perverted ideas obtain the victory, and resisting temptation by earnest wrestling prayer rather than dull, sleepy, indifferent service.