Living Holy for God Series, Part 4 of 4
Wow, this has been quite the series about Living Holy for God! We began with the pursuit of God reflected in holy living because He is holy. Next, we proceeded to learn the steps we need to take to accomplish holy living. We followed that with learning the difference between living right and righteous living. Today’s study is focused on how walking in the truth, Biblical truth, that is, will change your life. Living a holy life to please God encompasses all of these truths.
Chasing after the holiness of God isn’t easy. No one ever said it would be, but it is possible. The Holy Spirit desires that you live a holy life that pleases God, and you can, with His help. But first, let’s quickly review what has been studied so far.
Table of Contents
Series Quick Recap
So far, we have learned much about the pursuit of the holiness of God and what our response should be to God’s command to “be holy as I am holy.” We have been challenged in learning that God’s command is not a choice but a command.
I made a statement in Part 3 of this series: We do not get to choose whether we should live a holy life or not. It is not optional. We know that 1 Peter 1:15-16 is not a yes/no statement. God commands that we be holy as He is.
I’m sure some disagree with me, and that’s okay. But what about Jesus’ question in Luke 9:23 about denying yourself to follow Him? If a person chooses not to follow Him, that’s a different thing. But for the believer who is following Him, the choice is obvious, is it not? Can we follow Him in some things but not in others?
But, I don’t think that is why you’re here, reading this. Do you know what I think? I think you want to walk in a holy life, to be found walking in the truth of the Word of God. And you want to make sure you are not doing something wrong.
I truly believe that you want to pursue God and live a holy life.
Read this quote from Jerry Bridges, in his book, Pursuit of Holiness:
Holiness is not a series of do’s and don’ts but conformity to the character of God and obedience to the will of God.
Jerry Bridges, Pursuit of Holiness, 1978
So, if holiness is obedience to the will of God, what is it that you and I should be doing? Are we doing it already?
Walking in the Truth Requires the Holy Spirit’s Help
Since you desire to be walking in the truth, I’m sure you realize that you can’t do this alone. Remember that the Holy Spirit is your Comforter, Teacher, Counselor, and Helper. The first thing you do is seek His help so you can walk in the truth.
There’s a battle going on right now between your will and your flesh. I’m sure you’ve noticed there are times when you do the things you shouldn’t do, and the things that you should do, you simply don’t do. Oh, you’re not alone in that! That’s me, too! Paul also had those days as he wrote in Romans 7:15. I can almost hear his anguish!
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. NASB.
Sin is a constant struggle that we all deal with, but we don’t have to battle it alone. The Holy Spirit is here to help you and me to stay on track.
What is Walking in the Truth?
As Paul and John taught the believers about walking in the truth or walking in the light, we, too, are to be walking in the truth. But, to do that, we need to know what it is.
Walking in the truth is obeying God’s Word, reading it, studying it, and doing it.
Simply put, do your best to be Christ-like in your words, deeds, and responses.
I mentioned this before, but I’d like to mention it again. The more often we meet with God and study His Word, the more our understanding of the Word and our faith in the Word will grow. This will result in having the same attitude that God has towards sin, and it will also shape your conduct.
Here’s some great info from Bible Hub that will shed additional light on this topic.
Why Should You be Walking in the Truth?
In my studies on Ephesians and Colossians, I came across several verses that spoke of “walk worthy” or “walk in the Lord” that need to be further examined. To do this, we need to go to where it all began, and that is with the commandments. Come, let’s check out these verses in context.
There are many references to Old Testament verses that speak of walking in truth. Here’s one to look at: “walk in all the ways which the Lord your God commanded you,” Deuteronomy 5.33. This verse, in particular, mentions a promise. Did you notice that? It says that if we keep the commands, we may live a long life. I like that promise, do you?
Other verses in Deuteronomy remind us to “walk in his ways” and to “fear him”. (Deuteronomy 8.6; 10.12-13) This reference to “fear” does not mean to be afraid but to have reverence for God.
Let’s dig deeper into Deuteronomy 10.12-13 as it also mentions to “serve him” and to “keep his commands and statutes”. Jesus summed it up in Mark 12.30-31 (KJV) when He said
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
So, why should you be walking in the truth? The answer is, out of reverence for God and to be obedient to His commands and statutes.
What Walking in the Truth Means
Paul elaborates on how to walk in the Lord when he wrote the books of Romans, Colossians, Ephesians, and Galatians.
While Paul wrote the most about walking in the truth, John also mentioned it a few times as well.
While there are thirty verses to look at, let’s focus on the 10 highlights of what walking in the truth means and what it doesn’t mean.
Top 10 Do’s and Don’ts of Walking in the Truth
| What Walking in the Truth IS | What Walking in the Truth IS NOT |
| Walk in the light; have fellowship with other believers (1 John 1.7). | Holding on to anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, lying to one another (Col 3.8-9). |
| Abide in Him, walk as He walked (1 John 2.6). Walk and please God; walk honestly (1 Thess 4.1-12). | Walking in the vanity of mind, with the understanding darkened, ignorant of God, having a blind heart, being lascivious, uncleanness, and greedy (Eph 4.17-19). |
| So walk in truth and in the commandments (2 John 4, 6). | Lying (Eph 4.25). |
| Bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6.2). | Speaking corruptly (Eph 4.29). |
| We walk in the flesh but do not war in the flesh but practice self-control and know who the real enemy is (2 Cor 10.3-6). | Practicing fornication, all uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, jesting, no immoral or impure person, covetous man who is an idolater (Eph 5.3-6). |
| Walk in love; walk in the light; walk carefully (Eph 5:1-15). | Practicing immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry (Col 3.5). |
| Be filled with the Spirit; giving thanks (Eph 5.18-20). | Being drunk with wine in excess (Eph 5.18). |
| Speak truth (Eph 4.25). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5.22-23). | Holding on to bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, malice {clamour means big words, loud threatenings and hurtful words that cause bitterness, wrath and anger} {evil speaking means all railing, reviling, reproachful speeches} {malice means rooted anger which leads to plans to do mischief to others} (Eph 4.31). |
Hey, would you like the full 30 verses? Click here for the handy brochure that easily fits in your Bible. You don’t even have to sign up…just click, download, and print.
Walking in the Truth is Holy Living
Wow! What a list! We could study several of these verses in detail for an in-depth study, but I think you get the picture, right? To revere God, to be holy like He is, we need to take on the characteristics of God. And this list gives you a great basis to build character as you walk in holy living, would you agree?
When you pursue someone, it’s because you want to be with that person, right? And, when we pursue God, we want to be with Him, but our sinful nature is a barrier between us. We need to deal with our sin daily to avoid our hearts becoming hard toward holy living.
So, in your obedience to being holy and blameless, your conduct is an indicator of your interest in pursuing Almighty God. Christians are known by their love. They demonstrate God’s love because they want to be like Him, and they want to be with Him. This is you, too, you know.
You love God, and in pursuing Him, you are practicing holy living. Your walk proves that.
But don’t stop there. Go deeper with God! Continue to pursue holiness. Keep on walking a walk that shows your allegiance to God.
While there are many more verses in the Bible that speak of how we ought to conduct ourselves, this partial list is a great start.
Words on paper always seem easy. It’s the doing part that is hard. So many things distract us, interfere with our good intentions, and sideline us.
BUT GOD…allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you, to uphold you, to preserve you, and to sustain you, Psalm 37:23-24. You can do this with HIS help! You are not alone in your walk.
That’s a Wrap
There you have it, a great list of verses to direct you in walking in the truth. You now know that you should be walking in the truth out of reverence for God and to be obedient to His commands and statutes.
So, to answer the title of this post, when you are walking in the truth, you develop Godly characteristics, you hate sin as God hates sin, and you draw closer to God through reading and studying the Bible. This is walking in holiness, and this will change your life!
Don’t forget to download the full list of 30 Verses for Walking in the Truth.
So, after reading this, what would you say is your biggest challenge to walking in holiness? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, please.
In Him We Live,
~ Cindy ~
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