Text: 1 John 2:6
BY: BRO. FRIDAY S. ATTAH
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Outline
- Introduction
- Understanding the text from different translations
- How our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ walked
- Let us assess ourselves
- Conclusion
Introduction:
It is not uncommon for claims to be made, whether positively or negatively. In the days of Christ, the Pharisees made much claims like being Abraham’s children, being the custodian of the Law and being more righteous than the rest but their claims were always challenged or countered by the Lord Jesus – Jn. 8:12-59.
A certain Amalekite claimed he killed King Saul and gotten death as a reward – 2 Sam. 1:1-16. What then are our claims as far as this faith is concerned? Our text answers that we ought to walk as He walked. How did our Lord walk?
Understanding the text from different translations
I John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” NIV
I John 2:6 “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” NKJV
I John 2:6 “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” KJV
I John 2:6 “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” NLT
I John 2:6 “Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.” Jewish Bible
How our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ walked
In Obedience – Heb. 5:8-9; Lk. 2:49; Jn. 4:34. We must ask ourselves whether we have the spirit of obedience like our Lord. Indeed, we have to seriously question our claimed obedience.
In righteousness – 1 Jn. 2:1, 29; 2 Tim. 4:8
In Peace – Is. 9:6; Jn.16:33; Eph. 2:14;
In Love – Jn. 15:13; 13:1; 1Jn. 4:19
In gentleness – Matt. 11:29 (NKJV)
In Wisdom – Lk. 2:52; 1Cor. 1:24; Jn. 2:24
In Prayer – Mk. 1:35; Lk. 5:16; 6:12
In Serving – Jn. 13:3–15
In Truth – Jn. 8:40, 45-46
Let us assess ourselves
Heb. 12:15-17 says “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby may be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
At least, with what we have seen from the Lord’s walk, and all of us claiming to be His followers, we ought to walk as He walked, the question is, are we walking as He walked?
As Christians, evaluate or measure yourselves with the above list honestly. Let us check ourselves how we walk in obedience, in righteousness, in peace, in love, in gentleness, in wisdom, in prayer, in serving and in truth. This church will not only grow but will flourish if we walk the talk. We can put these into practice.
Conclusion
There is a divine standard of living and relating with others that is expected of us. No wonder the Apostles claimed to be followers of Christ always hence urge us to be such imitators. If our standard of imitation is not Christ and His apostles, we have fallen short of the glory of God.
Paul says in 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1 imitate or emulate me as I imitate or emulate Christ.
Peters says in 1 Pet. 2:21 that they are examples that Christians should follow Christ’s footsteps.
John says in 1Jn.4:6 that they the apostles are of God; that those who know God hear them.
The divine standard is set. Do you agree that we have a divine standard?
May God give us the grace to walk as Jesus walked in His name we pray – Amen
God bless you.
Thanks
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