- LOVE:
vs. 1-2 are, rather a summation of thoughts expressed in the previous 8 vs. Looking back to vs. 25 a list of sins is given; lying(vs. 25), sinning in anger(26), stealing (28), corrupt communication(29), bitterness, anger, clamour, and evil speaking. As we examine this list it becomes evident that the direction of these sins is toward others. That is, whereas some sins are committed in our hearts, or they have no bearing on others, these sins are directed toward someone. They have to do with our attitude and the way we treat others. For instance, when we lie, we tell a lie to someone. When we act in anger, our intent is toward the one who angered us. When we steal, we steal from someone. When we speak evil of someone, it is obviously toward the person about whom we are speaking. I think the attitude behind these sins can be well described as malice. Often times in our legal system, people are charged with crimes described as being done with, "malice of forethought..." This refers to the intent with which the crime was committed. We are told in vs. 32, that rather than having these sinful ways, to instead be; kind, tenderhearted, forgiving.
As is often the case, when we are instructed to do away with an aspect of our sinful life, we are also given a replacement for it. Vs. 2 of chapter 5 describes this as walking in love, that because God has forgiven us we are to walk in love. Love is also something that is directed toward someone. When we are kind, it is toward someone. When we are forgiving, we forgive someone. It is the positive way of treating others, and is part of the life of the new man, the thing that we are to replace the malice with.
Christ is ever our example in this endeavor. Christ sacrificed himself for us. He was, to God, a sweet-smelling savor to cover the evil stench of our sins. But, when I think of sacrifices, I tend to focus on the death that took place, rather than the life that was lived. However, the life that Christ lived, is what made him a suitable sacrifice.
When Christ spoke, he spoke the truth. If he told someone that he would do something, he would do it.
JOHN 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus said that he would raise the temple of his body in three days.
MARK 16:1-6 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Jesus did exactly what he said that he would.His words were also the truth, because they were the words of God.
JOHN 17:8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me..
God's words are the truth.
JOHN 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Jesus' attitude toward others was always one of love. Everything that he said was edifying. Even when he was angry, his speech was edifying.
MARK 11:15-17 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
He was very angry, as I suspect that any of us would be if people came to our house to do evil. The scriptures say that when Jesus drove out the moneychangers, he taught them.
When Jesus was angry, rather than doing evil to those who had angered him, he helped them, and drove sin away. Rather than leaving them to live in sin, he corrected them. Helping them come closer to God.
Jesus was the epitome of love giving his life so that we could be forgiven. Jesus never stole, but instead, gave freely. Such as, when he fed the great multitude, in
MAT 14:16-20 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.18 He said, Bring them hither to me.19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full..
To sum up, Jesus was a kind person who was tenderhearted. One who had sympathy and compassion toward man, and who was forgiving rather that full of malice. His life is an example to us of how we ought
to be.
LIGHT (VS 3-14):
While it is simple, and maybe even a little redundant, to walk in light is, to not walk in darkness. The sinful things listed in this passage are part of a lifestyle of darkness. The "old" man.
COL 3:5-9 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;.
(This list sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it.) It is this darkness that Jesus died to save us from. VS.6 of the text tells us that these are the things that cause God's wrath to come on those who walk in darkness. We, as ones who walk in light, should be dead to sin, and serve it no more, but rather serve God
ROM 6:11-18 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Instead of walking in sin and darkness, we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice
ROM 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We, in our sacrifice, should be a proof of what is right. Thus making that which is of darkness manifested. By walking in light we both make manifest the evil of those who walk in darkness, and reprove them by our unwillingness to partake. "Reprove", here meaning to convict, or convince them of the error of their ways. It is much the same as one who goes to a fancy dress dinner, and, not knowing the rules of etiquette, begins to eat with his hands and pick his teeth with his fork, and tuck his napkin into his shirt. Then seeing that this is obviously not the proper way to behave, begins to mimic the behavior of others at the table. Perhaps even yielding to the advise of others at the table. Walking in light may give this opportunity as well VS. 14 of text. We, as proper examples of walking in light, can then show them the light that is found in Christ.
I think that this is largely the goal that is being taught in this passage. A concept that can be characterized with
MAT 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
While the admonition given here is vital for our relationship with God, it is pointed out so that we will realize that our behavior should be a guiding light to those in darkness and give us opportunity to spread the Gospel.
CAREFULNESS
This portion is well characterized as carefulness. Vs15 uses the word circumspectly which Strong's defines as: 199. akribos, ak-ree-boce'; adv. from the same as G196; exactly:--circumspectly, diligently, perfect (-ly). This pretty well describes being careful. We are to be diligent to be wise and not foolish.
MAT 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
The key to walking circumspectly is to do the commands of God. Jesus is again our example, because he never wavered. He never failed, but was exactly right, diligent.
Many in the world want us to believe that all we have to do to please God is follow our heart, and do whatever makes us feel good, and God will be happy. Cain found that that is not how God operates.
GEN 4:1-12And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground..11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Cain thought that his offering should be good enough, but God was not pleased. He was however, pleased with Abel's offering.
HEB 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
This tells us that the difference between their worship was that Abel's offering was made by faith. Since we know that faith comes by hearing