Busentiz Nathan - The Believers Walk with Christ: a John MacArthur Study Series

2017 by
JOHN MACARTHUR

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Edited by: Jim Vincent
Interior design: Ragont Design
Cover design: Erik M. Peterson
Cover image of men walking copyright 2016 by Pearl /Lightstock (79930)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: MacArthur, John, 1939- author.

Title: The believers walk with Christ / John MacArthur.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, 2017. | Series: The John MacArthur study series

Identifiers: LCCN 2016045847 (print) | LCCN 2016047252 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802415196 | ISBN 9780802495280 ()

Subjects: LCSH: Christian life--Biblical teaching.

Classification: LCC BS2545.C48 M33 2017 (print) | LCC BS2545.C48 (ebook) | DDC 248.4--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016045847

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This volume is part of The John MacArthur Study Series. It is comprised of chapters adapted from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, which have been arranged thematically for the purpose of topical study. Accordingly, each chapter is designed to take the reader down deep into the text of Scripture; while the volume as a whole addresses a specific biblical theme.

This approach is ideal for anyone wanting to engage in an in-depth study of what the Bible says about a given subject. It also serves as a valuable tool for pastors or Bible study leaders looking to teach a series on this important topic.

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W alking is a rich biblical metaphor, used in Scripture to describe a persons pursuits and patterns of behavior. In the Old Testament, those who walked with Godlike Enoch (Gen. 5:2224), Noah (Gen. 6:9), Abraham (Gen. 17:1), David (1 Kings 3:14), Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2)were characterized by both earnest love for Him and joyful obedience to His Word. Out of their passion to pursue God, they sought to live in a way that pleased Him (cf. Deut. 8:6; 10:12). Their lives were characterized by patterns of integrity (Ps. 15:2), uprightness (Prov. 14:2), wisdom (Prov. 28:26), and conformity to His Word (Ps. 119:1, 35), while they avoided the treacherous ways of the wicked (Ps. 1:1; Prov. 4:14).

The theme of walking also appears in the New Testament, as the apostle Paul commands believers to no longer walk according to the flesh (Rom. 8:4) or their old manner of behavior (Eph. 4:17). Instead, Christians are to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4), by the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25). Because they are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), their walk (or way of life) is to be characterized by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), good works (Eph. 2:10), humility (Eph. 4:13), love (Eph. 5:2), holiness (Eph. 5:8), wisdom (Eph. 5:15), truth (2 John 4), and obedience (2 John 6). Consequently, believers are instructed to walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2:12); to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called (Eph. 4:1); and to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:27).

But what does it mean, as a Christian, to walk in a manner worthy of our calling? In order to answer that question, we are going to examine nine New Testament passages that delineate different aspects of the believers walk with Christ (i.e., the Christian life). My prayer for you, as you work your way through the subsequent pages, is reflected in Pauls words to the Colossians:

We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Col. 1:910)

EPHESIANS 4:16

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (4:16)

W hen a person joins an organization, he obligates himself to live and act in accordance with the standards of the group. He accepts its aims, objectives, and standards as his own. A citizen is obligated to abide by the laws of his country. An employee is obligated to work according to the rules, standards, and purposes of his company. When someone joins an athletic team he is obligated to play as the coach orders and according to the rules of the sport. Human society could not operate without such obligations.