Walking The Talk

1 John 2:3-8
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.


There’s a couple of common sayings that come to mind when I read this passage. The first one is one that I heard many, many times growing up in the church. It involves walking the walk and talking the talk. The other one may or may not be as relevant as I think, but it is “put up or shut up.” This passage screams for consistency. Genuineness.

What happens when I hear someone try to talk about God or a spiritual subject, but I know how they live and the two don’t match very well? For the most part, I completely tune out and dismiss most of what they say. I don’t respect their words when their actions don’t tell me they believe it.

That’s what John is talking about here. I think everyone that is a Christian has been that first person that is described at one time or another. We may talk about Biblical issues like they are something that we’ve got sewn up, but in reality we may not have it under control like we’d have others to believe. At that point we’re considered liars that are as far from the truth as we can get. The crazy thing is that we don’t have to specifically claim that we are without sin or anything like that. I’ve always heard that when I leave out a key piece of information that may paint me in a bad light or not give the full story of something, it’s just like telling a lie. Because it is misrepresenting the truth. That’s what we’ve got here. If I claim to know the Lord, but I don’t walk as he has commanded, then I’m a liar.

I fear that we have an awful lot of that from people in the church. Our churches are full of people that have been sold cheap grace and don’t have enough comprehension of what the life of a true disciple of Christ is. They show up on Sundays to get their church duty out of the way and to feel better about themselves and then leave unchanged, unconvicted, and will continue in the empty path of sin. I can say that because I’ve been that person. I know it happens. I’ve lived it and I’ve seen too many people do the same thing.

But the opposite is encouraging. If an inconsistency between my talk and my walk is evidence of deceit and a lying tongue, then the opposite must be true. Consistency between the two is indeed evidence of a relationship with my Redeemer. It is outward evidence of an inward transformation. Let me chase a rabbit for a moment.

My Pastor preached this morning from one of my favorite passages in Romans. It was Romans 12:1-2. And it was a terrific message by the way. But in that passage Paul talks about not being conformed to the world, but rather being transformed by the renewing of my mind. That transformation is something that can only be affected by the One who holds my life in His hands. Only he can take my mind and change it into something that doesn’t even resemble what it used to be. I absolutely cannot do such a thing on my own in my own strength. The word used in the Greek for renewing is anakainōsis and I love the definition. It means renovation or a complete change for the better. Only Christ can do that in my life. Only He can demolish the old sinful mind and build up a strong, sound, pure mind where the old once stood.

So these two passages of scripture are completely related. It’s only when I allow my mind to be renovated and my life to be transformed that I can do as John encourages and consistently obey the Lord’s commands and walk in His truth.

If I truly want my life to be an extension of the hands of Christ, available to share His love and minister to others, then this is an absolute must. If there is a hint of doubt in someone’s mind about whether what I am talking about is consistent with my life, then I’ve completely lost them. I have to absolutely be above reproach. This is how they will know that I love Him – if I obey His commands. Consistency. Walking the talk.

Is this what others see in my life? Am I being transformed daily by a renovation in my mind? Am I being obedient with the commands that I’ve heard? I pray I am. I also pray that the Lord continues to do this for me. I have to continually deny myself (daily), take up my cross (daily) and follow Him (daily).

Lord, you have called me to be holy because you are holy (Lev. 11:44). I have no mortal ability to do such a thing. My best will always be seen as rubbish in the eyes of your holiness. Your righteousness and your character is evident in all creation though. And as the pinnacle of your creation, I have the opportunity to bear witness to who you are. But too often I don’t realize that. And I don’t allow myself to be transformed. Too often parts of my life are conformed to the world instead. I am not transformed and my mind is not renewed when I am raising my voice at the kids or seething with anger or bitterness over something or at someone. Father, I want always for anyone who sees or hears me, to see evidence of that of which I speak lived out in my life. I pray that you would complete your love in me, by your faithfulness to transform me so that I can obey your commands. Lord, let your light so shine before men in my life. Let me simply be your hands to a hurting world.