Walk in Him

 

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (Colossians 2:6).

 

 

If we followed what this verse says, it would end a lot of error in how we live. Paul says that the way we received Jesus as our Savior is the same way we should live our lives.

 

We received Jesus Christ by completely placing our faith in His grace. We had no holiness to offer Him. We had yet to fast or pray or read the Word. We came just as we were. We were sinners needing His forgiveness and grace.

 

But some Christians, after receiving Christ by faith, believe after they are saved God responds to them according to what they do for Him. They believe they receive from God based on their ability to live for Him. Instead of walking by faith in the assurance of their right standing with God, their need to feel God’s approval drives them to prove to God they are worthy of His love. What they do for God is driven by the flesh’s need for acceptance and recognition. Instead of trusting that they are loved by God, they strive to prove to themselves that God loves them enough to never leave or forsake them. They doubt God and are unsure of their relationship with Him. Their focus—their drive—their lives become all about what they do for Him instead of what He has done for them.

 

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

Jesus became our sin so we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We have no need to prove our right standing to God. Because of Jesus, we are worthy to God. Attempting to prove to God our righteousness is trying to earn His approval. That is nothing but pride, self-righteousness, and placing trust in ourselves instead of God. It is not walking in the righteousness Christ has given us. As we received Christ, we are to continue in the same way. If we began our lives in Christ by faith in His perfect work on the cross for us, we should continue to live our lives in Christ by faith in His perfect work. This is the exact point Paul made to the Galatians when they began to fall away from the grace they had found in Christ:

 

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3).

 

We can never make ourselves perfect through what we do. No one can ever prove themselves righteous by keeping the law. We did not receive Christ through our works. We received Him through faith. Having begun by faith in Jesus, why do some believe the works they do perfect them? You cannot perfect yourself or make yourself any better or more appealing to God through any work that you do. He receives you in Jesus just as you are. 

 

Jesus—the perfect Lamb of God who became our sin—is the One who proves us worthy to God. When we truly believe we are the righteousness of God in Jesus, we walk by faith in what Jesus has done for us. We “do” because of what Christ has done for us, not to make ourselves feel good about what we accomplish. Our works are of faith in Him and not of faith in ourselves. We walk by faith in His gift of righteousness. We know we don’t have to prove to God how much we love Him. We know Jesus has proved us worthy to God. What is important to us is faith working through love (Galatians 5:6). Spiritual understanding of our righteousness in Him drives us. His grace fuels our lives. We love Him and others—we serve Him and others—not to prove anything but because we know He first loved us (1 John 4:10-11). 

 

If we came to Christ for salvation by faith, why do we sometimes hesitate to come to Him for other things we need in our lives? Perhaps, because we don’t feel worthy of His love? Perhaps, we believe if we pray enough, fast enough, give enough, and do enough God will respond to us? God’s response to us is never based on our "worthiness" or what we do. We receive from God based on Christ’s worthiness and His perfect work. 

 

God has already responded to all our needs in Jesus Christ. Jesus earned the salvation we were unable to earn. He has earned the healing we were unable to earn. He has earned the deliverance and provision we were unable to earn. We cannot earn what Christ has earned for us. We are not “inherent heirs” waiting for our inheritance. Christ's work is finished. We are “coheirs” with Him. We receive from God by faith in what Christ has already accomplished. 

 

Believe in Him by faith. Receive from Him by faith. Walk in Him by faith. Not according to anything you have done or anything you do. You don’t need to turn the grace you received by faith into something you must do to get God to respond to you. Grow in your knowledge of Jesus’ love on the cross for you and the truths His grace has earned for you. His truth establishes your life. Beware of anyone—anything—any custom—any voice that deceives you. You cannot walk in Him in empty deceit. As you received Jesus, walk in Him. You will abound in joy in His love that loved you despite all your inadequacy.

 

“As you received Jesus Christ your Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:6-8).

 

 

© 2024 Lynn Lacher

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