1 John 2:5-6 — “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
Is it just a coincidence that the Bible repeatedly calls us to follow Christ’s example? Absolutely not. From Genesis to Revelation, God emphasizes the importance of obedience, transformation, and living out our faith. We aren’t called to merely listen to sermons or read devotionals—we’re called to live what we believe.
James 1:22 reminds us plainly: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Sadly, today the word “Christian” has been watered down. Many claim the title, but their lives bear little to no resemblance to the One they claim to follow.
Let’s be real. How can someone say they love Jesus, yet completely ignore His Word? How can someone live in open rebellion against God’s commands and still believe they’re on the narrow path that leads to life?
Being a Christian Is More Than a Label
We live in a time when people identify as Christians but have no interest in reading the Bible or aligning their lives with God’s truth. Some people claim to follow Christ while promoting or practicing lifestyles that the Bible clearly calls sin. Romans 1:27, for example, leaves no room for confusion about God’s design for sexuality.
But this isn’t just about one sin—it’s about the condition of the heart. Jesus didn’t hold back when calling out religious hypocrisy. He harshly rebuked the Pharisees and scribes because they honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Matthew 15:8).
Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to show us the heart of the Father. He flipped tables in righteous anger when the temple was turned into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-13), but He also welcomed children, forgave sinners, and healed the brokenhearted. That’s the Jesus we follow—full of truth and grace.
Our Lives Should Prove That God Is Real
If we claim to be in Christ, our lives should bear fruit. People should see the evidence of God’s transforming power in us. The way we talk, think, treat others, and handle temptation should point to the One who lives within us.
There are countless examples in Scripture of people whose lives were radically changed after encountering the Lord. Take Saul, for instance. A zealous persecutor of Christians—literally having believers killed—until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. That encounter changed everything.
Saul became Paul, a tireless missionary who traveled thousands of miles to share the gospel and plant churches across the Roman Empire. That’s not behavior you can fake. That’s the power of God at work.
It never ceases to amaze me how some people can pray a “salvation prayer,” but their lives remain unchanged. That’s not biblical Christianity. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
New life. New desires. New purpose.
True Love for God Results in Obedience
1 John 5:3-4 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
When we love God, obedience isn’t a burden—it’s a joy. We want to honor Him in all we do. But let’s be honest: the world, the flesh, and the devil are constantly pulling us in the opposite direction. Too many believers fall back into sin because they’ve bought into lies or given in to temptation.
Even in the early church, entire congregations drifted from the truth. The letters to the churches in Corinth, Galatia, and Colossae, and especially the messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, are full of rebukes. Five of those seven churches were called to repentance!
Yet praise God—He is merciful. He uses our failures to humble us and bring us back into fellowship with Him. His grace is not a license to sin but an invitation to return to His loving arms, time and time again.
Walking As He Walked
So, what does it really mean to walk as Jesus walked?
It means pursuing holiness, not perfectionism. It means loving the unlovable, forgiving the undeserving, and standing firm on God’s Word—even when it’s unpopular. It means daily dying to ourselves and choosing to live for Him.
This is the goal of the Christian life: Christlikeness. As we grow in our walk with Jesus, we should become more like Him—kind, truthful, bold, humble, holy.
Ephesians 5:25-27 paints the picture beautifully: “Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Let that sink in. Christ gave Himself for the church—not just to save us, but to sanctify us. To cleanse us. To prepare us to be a spotless, radiant bride.
Do We Love God Enough?
So, the real question is this: Do we love God enough to walk even as He walked?
It’s easy to wear the Christian label, attend church, and recite Bible verses. But are we truly following Jesus in our day-to-day lives? Are we letting the Word of God shape our decisions, priorities, and relationships? Are we seeking holiness, or just settling for comfort?
Jesus gave everything for us. He bore our sins, suffered our punishment, and defeated death so that we could be reconciled to the Father. The least we can do is live like we belong to Him.
Let’s stop playing church. Let’s stop making excuses. Let’s start walking—even as He walked.
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TTWMK Volume 7: Walk as Jesus Walked, DVD Study with Leader Booklet How badly do you want to be like Jesus? In this seventh volume of the “Faith Lessons” series, historian and teacher Ray Vander Laan delves into the fierce passion of our early Christian brothers and sister to walk like Jesus – even when the path became treacherous. The five-session DVD is designed to be used with the Discovery Guide, sold separately. Running time is approximately 2hrs. Note: Inside the DVD case is a Leader Booklet with session outlines and discussion questions. |