Blogspot Emmanuel

Last week I left you with nine questions from “How Do “you” Walk the Walk you Talk” By Kay Arthur, the goal being to get “your” perspective on a few things prior to studying some key passages from Ephesians.

Below are my initial responses to these questions.


Q#1: Do you know people who talk about their Christianity and yet they really don’t walk it – Or at least not the way you think they ought to walk it? What causes you to wonder or doubt?


Yes, They don’t live any different than people who don’t believe Or is it that they “say” and don’t “do”. This was my initial thought.

James 1.22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”

What I see, doesn’t line up with what they say/profess. Rom 12.1-2 Christians are supposed to be transformed by the renewing of their mind so they might prove/ show forth that which is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Right?

     People judge by their own experience, their own expectations…their own knowledge.
The problem with this is, Scripture should be our guide.

Ps. 119.11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Ps. 119.105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.


Q#2: How do you think Christians should walk in respect to …
Their relationship to God?


They should live to please God, in communion with God, in allegiance to God, dependent on God. Live by faith with courage because we have a hope that’s in God according to His Word.

Ps. 119.12-16 Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have told of, All the ordinances of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts, And regard Your ways. 16 I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.


Their relationship to their spouse, mate or family?
The love God has shown them should be their guide in how they love. Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. Selfless love (love in spite of, not because of). Love that does what’s in the best interest of the one loved (this is agape love. It’s the love of God. It’s the love that God is, and the love God demonstrates).


Eph 4.32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.


Eph. 5.2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Romans 5.8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Their relationship to others?
Be a light upon their path, God called Christians to “be” disciples, to “be” witnesses of how God has shown us love, mercy, grace, with a testimony of Christ’s saving grace.

Eph 5.8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.

Their relationship to their enemies?

Overcome evil with good, it was the love of God that drew us to redemption, we love God because He first loved us.

1 John 4.19 We love, because He first loved us.
Romans 12.17-21 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Eph 5.1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

Q#3: What do you think their standards ought to be?

Ps 119 gives some really good insight into this. God’s standards, according to scripture, should be the standards that ought to be.

What about their morals?
Character is evident in conduct. What people believe they think and act on. Morals defined are a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do. God’s Word should be a light unto my path and I should live yielded to Jesus Christ as Lord and in submission to the leading of Holy Spirit and the Truth of God’s Word in context.

   What should a Christians perspective on the Word of God be? What about their relationship to the Bible? We believe that the Bible, the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, is the very Word of God. Each word is accurate and without error in the original text. The Bible is the final authority on any subject to which it speaks and is sufficient in determining what we believe and how we should live. Emmanuel Church Statement of Faith

2 Timothy 3:16-17; Also Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:19-21, Psalm 19: 7-11

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

"Here we have a very important point. Do you really believe that God intends for His Word to be the completer and Perfecter of His people? Because that’s what 2 Timothy 3.16-17 is saying. What things keep people from being what they ought to be? From believing what the Word of God says about them? If you don’t know you can’t do, therefore you cannot “be”.- John MacArthur
It’s God’s Word at work in you who believe,

1 Thess. 2. 12 -13  so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

Paul is saying…In order to walk worthy of God who called you, we need God’s Word at work in us.

Something to think About
     "It’s imperative that believers know, understand and comprehend their position, and possessions and their purpose as a child of God. This is the foundational focus of the book of Ephesians." - John MacArthur

"If you do not know, you cannot do, you cannot be." John MacArthur Write that down.

I mean just think about that. How can you do anything you don’t know, let alone be what you have no understanding or comprehension of? Now take that though and apply it to sharing “your” faith. How can anyone share what they don’t first possess themselves?

Next week we will begin some study from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Until then… Walk the Worthy Walk.