Dear BPCWA worshipper, The thematic messages at the camp were based on our church’s theme, “Walk as Christ Walked” (1Jn 2:6). In the first Epistle of John, the Apostle spends time to talk about fellowship with God and knowing Him in truth because we are in Christ (1Jo 1:5, 2:5,6,8 etc.). The Christian life is one of abiding in Christ (1Jo 2:6,27,28 etc.). Hence, the thematic messages were preached over 8 messages, using the acronym “In Christ” for each message. In this pastoral, we will cover the first 2, namely “The Impetus” and “The Need”. In future pastorals, we will cover the other 6 – “Consecration”, “Humility”, “In Relationships”, “In Increasing”, “In Sanctification”, and “In Temptations”.

The Impetus. God saved us to conform to the image of Christ. Hence, walking as Christ walked is an important matter for anyone who calls himself a Christian. “Walk” means making it one’s way of life, regulating our lives, and doing what is necessary so that there is progress. We must pass our life on earth mimicking Christ and being like Him. We must love being like Christ, aiming to imitate Christ’s heart. This walk is not an outward semblance and not one that is only limited to changes in certain areas and to a certain degree. To walk as Christ walked is about an utter transformation of the heart, soul, and mind in every aspect of life!  We see the double stress of this fact in 1Jn 2:6 with “so to walk, even as he walked”. An absolute and total change is required of the Christian. When one sees a Christian, one must see Christ. But note that this command to walk as Christ walked is preceded by the motivation of such a walk – “verily is the love of God perfected” (1Jo 2:5). Walking as Christ walked is a natural expression of love towards God the Father. If you want to perfect your love for God, walk as Christ walked. Christ kept God’s commandments perfectly because He loved God. Ultimately, love towards God is the core difference that motivates the willing transformational change. It is a natural cycle that increases both love and obedience. If you are close to God, you will desire to love Him. When you desire to love God, you will desire to please Him with greater obedience. You must make up your mind to love God with perfect love. “Perfect” refers to a consummate fullness. So, if there are gaps or shortcomings in my love towards God, I want to close them up to make it complete. Christ is the perfect expression of love for God, and expressed that by His complete obedience. It was from the inside out. We must be driven by this impetus – because I love God, I want to walk like Christ and want to obey God like Christ, to show the Father my love for Him. It is more than merely to please God. My aspiration to walk as Christ is simply because I love God. This is a reinforcing drive that increases our love for God and our walk as Christ walked. Love means there is no need for reminders, or to be pushed, or to be encouraged to increase. It is simply because I want to live out that love for God. Love is what drives me, and it is not because I am expected to walk like Christ. It is a yearning to be perfected in love when I ask myself – what else can I do to be closer to Him? This is the heart of John when he says his “fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1Jo 1:2,3). He is bursting to share with others the delight he has experienced in this reality of love towards God in his own life. A person in love doesn’t need to be pushed but instead wants to do more. Any other view of the Christian life will not last. Hence, John challenges anyone who says that they love Christ to prove it by their lives (1Jo 1:6). When there is an overwhelming closeness or passion to be with God, your mindset will be “Tell me what I can do to close that gap” i.e. perfect my love. John knew a joy in that fellowship and wanted others to experience it “that your joy may be full” (1Jo 1:4). Satan’s deception is that to love God is a miserable life. The truth is, if you are in Christ, i.e. a true believer, joy comes from walking as Christ walked. Another fact we must note is that we often think that love is mainly about feelings. Let us remember instead that love is first a choice to love. Choosing to love is where love begins. The fact that God can command us to love Him with our all tells us that love is a choice. We must choose to do the things that represent love. In doing so, we will develop that love as we put in effort to grow that love. Make that choice today and keep doing the things about loving God. And pray to have that overwhelming passion of fellowship with God as John did. Christ desired that “the world may know that I love the Father” and so “as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do”. How did He show that love? By His desire to go to the cross as God commanded Him. Hence, He could say “Arise, let us go hence” (Joh 14:31) in the face of the impending cross. Christ couldn’t wait to do God’s will to show His love for His Father. Oh, what love for us to walk after!

The Need. There already were problems in the church during John’s time. A different spirit of Christianity has arisen. Another form of Christianity was creeping in, and there were some who thought they could love the world (1Jo 2:15). We may point out errors in movements with worldly churches, but are we like them in our hearts? If we feel that we need not be so “extreme” to walk as Christ walked, then we should examine ourselves. 1John 2:6 tells us that we “ought” to walk as Christ walked. This means that we have to do so, and we cannot think otherwise, i.e. as if it were an option. We ought because there is a debt that we owe and are bound to pay. We owe Christ greatly, and we cannot think that it’s “nothing” because salvation is free. “Ought” means it is a necessity and so must be fulfilled. It is our duty, and we must be bound to do it. Even while we are developing our love for God, we must still say “I must do it”. Why? 1) We must walk the talk, or else we’re hypocrites. We don’t want hypocritical parents, because no child wants to believe in a hypocritical religion. Genuine people don’t need to be pushed to walk well. 2) We owe it out of love to God. Christ poured out His love for us and died to save my soul from the judgement of sin. We cannot spit at that in the face by telling Him “So what?” We live in a world of entitlement – demanding our rights and thinking that we deserve everything and owe nothing. But Christians must be grateful people and not takers. Ask yourself “What do I owe my Saviour?” 3) The Infinite God died to make you God’s child (1Jo 3:2,3). When we have the hope that we will see Christ as He is, we must yearn to perfect ourselves before Christ. We owe our existence to God as His sons, and we should do as sons of God should do. “Purify” means removing everything that makes me impure. We must ask ourselves in all situations “What would Jesus do?” 4) If God saved me to conform to His Son and if I don’t, then I’m rebelling against Him. “Ought” means that I must not be a rebel and if I’m so, I ought to be ashamed of myself. A voluntary binding to a debt must be the aim. If someone spent a huge sum of money on me to do something, I would feel obligated not to fail their purpose. We must be even infinitely more indebted to the Creator and not revolt against Him. We cannot say “I only want to go as far as this in my Christian walk”. That thought is rebellion. Revolt brings no good thing, though the flesh feels good. Don’t push God’s patience. Parent, think of what Jesus would do when you make decisions for your child. Individual, ask yourself “What would Jesus do or choose now in this situation?” When should we walk as Christ walked? At church, when you are alone at home, with friends, at work, and when no one knows. The tense of “walk” indicates that it is something that should have happened in the past and must be your ongoing, habitual behaviour now. No maybes, no buts. Let this change happen now. What are you still waiting for? Doctrines only become true personally when your heart is moved and responds to it. Your reference is not another Christian, not the Apostles, but Christ. Once you face this fact, nothing is too extreme in obeying God’s Word.  Your argument is with God if you refuse and think it’s extreme. All must walk as Christ walked – little children, fathers, young men (1Jo 2:12-14). Fathers who lead their families are doubly culpable. Such a life is expected also to be propagated to wives. Start your children walking as Christ now and not waste their years.  I ought to walk as Christ walked and it starts with me.

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor