Walk as Jesus Walked

April 20, 2021

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.” – 1 John 3:4-7

The Apostle John has just written about the gift of God’s love being lavished upon his people; this is a love that draws us so close to himself that we are called the children of God. And John reminds his readers that the love of God is for this day and for the days to come. As his children, we have the full assurance of eternal life with him and the promise of becoming like him.

This amazing gift of God and the hope of that future glorification was to motivate God’s people to live as Jesus lived or as John said earlier in his letter, “to walk in the same way in which [Jesus] walked” (1 John 2:6). To be loved by God in such a way would compel God’s children to incredible gratitude which would be manifested in their lives. As God’s Spirit took up residence within his children, they would come to love what he loved and to despise what he despised.

Earthly transformation was the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Beyond producing earthly fruit, the Apostle John knew that one who looked forward to his or her full glorification would seek to live into that glory today trusting that the best was yet to come. Abiding in the Lord would lead to holy living.

On the other hand, those who had not come to understand the love of God and to experience the grace of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ would not experience such transformation. Though the Lord may tug at their hearts or prod them to life transformation, he or she would resist that call and may continue in the pattern of sin. John called this type of living “lawlessness.” His use of the word lawlessness does not pertain to our slips and falls but to pervasive sin in one’s life. How could one truly know the love of God and the grace of God and continue in such sin? John would say that a child of God could not and would not.

So, John will call his readers to check themselves. Are you continuing to practice a lifestyle of sin or have you heeded the call of God to a life of righteousness and obedience? Paul would write that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). If you find yourself in patterns of sin, it is not too late to turn from that sin, to confess it unto the Lord, and to receive the fullness of his grace.

May each of us make it our heart’s cry to live the righteousness of Christ and to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Reflection:
How is the Lord calling you to experience his grace and love today?