Walk Worthy

It is crucial that you understand this truth:  the salvation that Jesus Christ offers cannot be earned.  It can only be given, not from human descendants to human heirs, but from the heart of God to heirs of His grace.

Regardless of how straight a path you walk, how you "tow the line", you can never "measure up" by your own efforts.  Only God's grace, extended only through the finished work and cleansing blood of His Son, can demolish your sins and purchase your salvation.

This is the message Paul preached: grace and only grace.

Then, though, Paul urges us to "walk worthy" of the grace we have received.

 27  Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28  and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation – a sign which is from God. 29  For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, 30  since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.

Philippians 1:27-30 NET

I had a mature Christian tell me once that godly character is not your public persona.  You can appear in public to be the greatest Christian ever.  You can do missions.  You can even teach Bible classes.  You can be a deacon.  You can speak sweetly.  But, the truth of your godliness, your relationship with Jesus, is how you act when no one is watching.  Evil loves the darkness, but hates the light, you know...

Paul is saying that, whether he is there to watch over the Philippians or not, he should hear that they are living in a way worthy of the great salvation gift each of them has received.  Walking worthy sometimes requires that we make sacrifices, that we even suffer, as we fight for the faith.

Walking worthy does not mean merely following a list of rules.  It begins with the start of our relationship with God, and it continues as that relationship is grown and nurtured.  Walking worthy means moving deeper into Jesus Christ, choosing Him and His ways, even when it costs us.  As C.S. Lewis said repeatedly in his last book in the "Narnia" chronicles: "further up and further in".1

The more we grow into Jesus, the more our lives will change.  This is how we come to "walk worthy".  A brand new Christian should be easily distinguishable from a seasoned Christian, because the latter should have grown in wisdom, in grace, in truth.  Sadly, that is not always the case, since some people remain "baby Christians", immature and living carnally, selfishly.  Saddest of all, this hurts the cause of Jesus Christ, the spread of the gospel, greatly.

So, let's live like the redeemed, blood-bought Bride of Christ which we are, walking worthy, hand-in-hand with Him!