THE DISTINCT WALK OF THE CHRISTIAN...

The distinction of Christians is obvious in their walk WITH THE LORD *GOD*; it cannot be feigned, nor ignored, nor bordering on ways of the world---

We are taught throughout THE NEW TESTAMENT THE WAY in which we are to exist, and to build upon, FOR HIS GLORY, for our own souls, and those whom are lost in this world! FAITH OPENS UP TO FAITHFULNESS; it is not feasible to have FAITH void of FAITHFULNESS; it would be empty, and incomplete! We LEARN to align TO HIS WILL, and the instruction HE HAS left for us; we LEARN to run the race, and run it with purpose! We LEARN to take off the old self, and become the new self! We LEARN ALONG THE WAY, albeit, we WILL stumble, yet, we simply, keep on THE PATH, as we PRAY, and RELY ON HIM for what is needed TO finish well...

WHEN we GIVE ourselves TO THE LORD, we now begin to adapt TO HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD, DESPITE the struggles involved, for we KNOW we are NO LONGER the carnal person we imagined was our reality; instead we have gone into the REAL being, the spirit, which IS our TRUTH, and which IS LED BY HIM, and HIM, alone. We can now SEE our errs, and sins for what they are; we acknowledge them, we repent of them, all the while making improvements based upon TRUTH, LOVE, and HIS WILL! It ISN'T easy, and we ARE challenged at every turn, still the more we know, and understand, and apply, the more readily it is...

CHANGE IS RELEVANT TO THE CHRISTIAN WALK; how could it not be? We were once lacking in knowledge, at least to the degree of not being able to mature in HIS NAME, but now we ARE able to grow INTO our TRUTH, thanks BE TO HIM, and HIS WISE instructions intended to lead us past ourselves, the enemy, and the world! We are NOT OF the world, we ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, ELEVATED BY LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, and TRUTH, therefore, change IS imminent, and IS PROOF of HIM IN us, as we REFLECT HIM, as much as is possible, in our ways, for the rest of our days; THIS IS TO HIS HONOUR, and IS what AIDS those lost IN finding HIM, or noticing HIM, or turning to HIM...

How many professing Christians yet walk in the futility of carnality, and REMAIN in the world, believing profession is enough, and yah, there are those teaching it IS absolutely enough, which is nullified BY THE BIBLE, BECAUSE IF this were the case, there would be no instruction, and no need to become TRUE PARTNERS WITH THE LORD, and HIS COVENANT! Not only that, when a Christian is overly promiscuous, or always high, or ever partying, or any of many other erroneous behaviours, HOW are they reflecting THE LORD, or HOW are they distinct from the world?! NO, we WON'T be perfect, only *GOD* can, and will make us so, but we CANNOT continue in known, and chosen errs, sins, or ways of the world, and be considered of the spirit, as the spirit is NOT concerned with matters of the flesh, just as the flesh is not concerned with matters of of the spirit...

We ARE to bear fruit WORTHY of our LORD, and of our CALLING, SO, HOW can we produce such IF we are yet existing in what is carnal? Of course, we WILL still struggle with the change, but that we RECOGNIZE, and ACKNOWLEDGE the NEED for change, in order to align TO HIM, and TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH FOR HIS GLORY, speaks, and leads...

Once of the world, and NOW NOT of it, IS difficult for us to fathom, let alone respond to, HOWEVER, as with anything PRACTICE makes perfect, and IF it were improbable, or impossible, THE LORD *GOD* would NOT expect it of us, nor leave such extensive instructions for us to LEARN, THAT WE FOLLOW HIM! IN HIS SAVING GRACE, we NOW take ON THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST JESUS, IN the best of our ability, and understanding, ALWAYS intent on gathering more knowledge FOR the ease of transition INTO OUR TRUTH...

There IS danger ALL around us; the enemy IS hell bent on taking souls; we ARE endangered in the flesh, and so, our  LORD HAS SHOWN US THE WAY, which exists FOR our every benefit, and safety! May we be wise enough to TRULY FOLLOW HIM, and TO LEARN, as it WILL get worse as the end times WILL see many shaken, and taken, hence, daily preparation, knowledge, and understanding...

EPHESIANS 4: 17-32...
17+++So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18+++being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19+++and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
20+++But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21+++if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22+++that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23+++and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24+++and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25+++Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
26+++BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27+++and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28+++He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
29+++Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30+++Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31+++Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32+++Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

The apostle charged the Ephesians in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that having professed the gospel, they should not be as the unconverted Gentiles, who walked in vain fancies and carnal affections. Do not men, on every side, walk in the vanity of their minds? 

 Must not we then urge the distinction between real and nominal Christians? They were void of all saving knowledge; they sat in darkness, and loved it rather than light. They had a dislike and hatred to a life of holiness, which is not only the way of life God requires and approves, and by which we live to him, but which has some likeness to God himself in his purity, righteousness, truth, and goodness. The truth of Christ appears in its beauty and power, when it appears as in Jesus. 

The corrupt nature is called a man; like the human body, it is of divers parts, supporting and strengthening one another. Sinful desires are deceitful lusts; they promise men happiness, but render them more miserable; and bring them to destruction, if not subdued and mortified. These therefore must be put off, as an old garment, a filthy garment; they must be subdued and mortified. But it is not enough to shake off corrupt principles; we must have gracious ones. By the new man, is meant the new nature, the new creature, directed by a new principle, even regenerating grace, enabling a man to lead a new life of righteousness and holiness. This is created, or brought forth by God's almighty power.

Notice the particulars wherewith we should adorn our Christian profession. Take heed of every thing contrary to truth. No longer flatter or deceive others. God's people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. Take heed of anger and ungoverned passions. If there is just occasion to express displeasure at what is wrong, and to reprove, see that it be without sin. 

We give place to the devil, when the first motions of sin are not grievous to our souls; when we consent to them; and when we repeat an evil deed. This teaches that as sin, if yielded unto, lets in the devil upon us, we are to resist it, keeping from all appearance of evil. Idleness makes thieves. Those who will not work, expose themselves to temptations to steal. Men ought to be industrious, that they may do some good, and that they may be kept from temptation. They must labour, not only that they may live honestly, but that they may have to give to the wants of others.  

What then must we think of those called Christians, who grow rich by fraud, oppression, and deceitful practices! Alms, to be accepted of God, must not be gained by unrighteousness and robbery, but by honesty and industry. God hates robbery for burnt-offerings.

There is, of course, LOTS more instruction concerning the Christian walk, which we will get to! We HAVE to retrain the mind, premised on the HONEST LOVE of the heart FOR THE LORD *GOD*, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD, and that we are EVER farther from the onslaught of dangers of this world...

LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references MARKED BOLDLY IN COLOURS