The subject worked out for this month is—
The characteristics of a truly godly walk, being a full list of the qualities and graces proper to every believer.
We have already had before us (in the May number) the blessings and privileges that may characterize a believer in virtue of a godly walk, and our subject for this month is limited to that which characterizes a godly walk itself. We make this remark, as otherwise some of the class might think that their work had been overlooked, whereas in reality it has already occupied us.
We have not on this occasion attempted any division of the subject, the divisions that at once suggest themselves being so numerous and bearing upon almost every aspect of life, and being perhaps more suitably left for the remarks to be made next month. Nor have we inserted passages indicating the character of walk proper for certain special spheres of service, as for instance that which should characterize a bishop or deacon as in 1 Tim 3 but we have briefly indicated some of the passages bearing more particularly upon special relationships in life as husband and wife. We may add that the description of and exhortations to, a godly walk being as a rule more concise in the Epistles than the Gospels, we have more frequently quoted from the former. In the latter it is preeminently Christ Himself who is our example, and with this we were occupied in January last. In the Acts also the example of the Apostles is our chief instruction, and this we have not felt to be quite in the limit of our subject, having already been considered this year (February).
1.—The Gospels And Acts.
Blessed are the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3); the meek (v. 5.); the merciful (v. 7); the pure in heart (v. 8); the peacemakers (v. 9).
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16.
But I say unto you that ye resist not evil. Matthew 5:39.
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew 5:44.
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect, Matthew 5:48.
When thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, Matthew 6:3.
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, Matthew 6:20.
Take ye no thought for your life, Matthew 6:25.
Judge not, that ye be not judged, Matthew 7:1.
Have peace one with another, Mark 9:50.
Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he corneal shall find watching, Luke 12:37.
Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations, Luke 16:9.
If ye love me, keep my commandments, John 14
If a man love me, he will keep my word, John 14:23.
These things I command you, that ye love one another, John 15:17. Obeying God rather than man, Acts 5:29.
THE EPISTLES.
Be not conformed to this world, Romans 12:2.
Love’ without dissimulation, Romans 12:9; 1 Peter 1:22.
Abhorrence of evil, Romans 12:9.
Cleaving to good, Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
Kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:32.
Honor one for another, Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:1-3.
Diligence in business, Romans 12:11.
Fervency in spirit, Romans 12:11.
Serving the Lord, Romans 12:11.
Rejoicing in hope, Romans 12:12.
Patience in tribulation, Romans 12:12; 2 Thessalonians 1.4.
Continuance in prayer, Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Distributing to the necessity of the saints, Romans 12:13; Galatians 2:10. Hospitality, Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9.
Returning good for evil, Romans 12:14,17,21; 1 Thessalonians 5.15; 1 Peter 3:9 Sympathy with others in sorrow and in joy, Romans 12:15; Hebrews 13:3. Being of the same mind one toward another, Romans 12:16.
Regarding rather the humble than the exalted, Romans 12:16.
Lowliness of mind, Romans 12:16; Philippians 2:3-8.
Providing things honest in the sight of all men, Romans 12:17: 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; 1 Timothy 5:8; 1 Peter 2:12.
Peaceableness, Romans 12:18.
Subjection to authority; Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13.
Paying what is due, Romans 13:6, 7.
Freedom from debt, Romans 13:8.
Honesty, Romans 13:13; 2 Corinthians 13:7.
Not causing others to stumble, Romans 14:13.
Bearing the infirmities of weaker brethren, Romans 15:1.
Impartiality, Romans 15:5; James 2:1-9.
A walk that glorifies God, 1 Corinthians 6:20.
Desire for the welfare of others, 1 Corinthians 10:24; Philippians 2:4.
Doing everything to the glory of God, giving no offense, 1 Corinthians 10:31.
1 Corinthians 13
Doing everything with charity, 1 Corinthians 16:14.
A walk that is by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7.
Laboring to be acceptable to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:9.
Giving no offense in anything, 2 Corinthians 6:3.
Being not unequally yoked with unbelievers, 2 Corinthians 6:14.
Separation from the unclean, 2 Corinthians 6:17.
Having therefore these promises... let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, 2 Corinthians 7:1.
Liberality, 2 Corinthians 8:12; 9:7.
Abounding in every good work, 2 Corinthians 9:8.
Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, 2 Corinthians 13:11.
The fruit of the Spirit.
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, Galatians 5:22, 23.
Not desirous of vain-glory, not provoking nor envying one another, Galatians 5:26.
Bearing one another’s burdens, Galatians 6:2.
Perseverance in well-doing, Galatians 6:9.
Doing good to all men, especially those of the household of faith, Galatians 6:10.
A walk worthy of the vocation, Ephesians 4:1-3.
Truthfulness, Ephesians 4:25.
Righteous wrath, Ephesians 4:26.
Resisting the devil, Ephesians 4:27; James 4:7.
Laboring in order to supply the wants of others, Ephesians 4:28, Acts 4:35. Propriety in speech, Ephesians 4:29; 5:3, 4; Colossians 4:6.
A circumspect walk, Ephesians 5:15; Colossians 4:5.
Making good use of the time, Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5.
Temperance (in the common sense of the word). Ephesians 5:18.
Thankfulness, Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Submission one to another, Ephesians 5:21.
Wearing the whole armor of God, Ephesians 6:13-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Fellowship in the gospel, Philippians 1:5.
Being filled with the fruit of righteousness, Philippians 1:11.
A conversation that becomes the gospel of Christ, Philippians 1:27.
Standing fast in one spirit, striving for the faith of the gospel, Philippians 1:27.
Being like minded, of one mind, of one accord, Philippians 2:2; 1 Peter 3:8.
Not murmuring nor disputing, Philippians 2:14.
Being blameless and harmless, shining as lights in the world, Philippians 2.15.
Pressing forward to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Philippians 3:14.
Rejoicing in the Lord, Philippians 4:4.
A moderation that is evident to all, Philippians 4:5.
Careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving making requests known to God, Philippians 4:6.
Meditation on things honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, Philippians 4:8.
Love to the saints, Colossians 1:4.
A walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, Colossians 1:10.
Patience and long suffering with joyfulness, Colossians 1:11.
Affections set on those things that are above, Colossians 3:2.
Mortifying the members that are upon the earth, Colossians 3:5.
Bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, Colossians 3:12.
Forbearing and forgiving one another, Colossians 3:13.
Doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto God, Colossians 3:17.
A work—of faith, labor—of love, patience—of hope, 1 Thessalonians 1:3.
To follow the Lord, 1 Thessalonians 1:6.
A walk worthy of clod, 1 Thessalonians 2:12.
Increasing and abounding in love toward one another and toward all men,
1 Thessalonians 3:12.
A walk pleasing to God, 1 Thessalonians 4:1.
To study to be quiet and to do one’s own business, and to work with one’s own hands, 1 Thessalonians 4:11.
To comfort and edify one another, 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
Warn the unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men, 1 Thessalonians 5:14.
Rejoicing always, 1 Thessalonians 5:16.
Not quenching the Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:1.9.
Not despising prophesyings, 1 Thessalonians 5:20.
Proving all things, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
Abstaining from all appearance of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:22.
Walking so that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified.
2 Thessalonians 1:12
Standing fast, holding the Apostle’s doctrines, 2 Thessalonians 2:15. To withdraw from the disorderly, 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
Praying for all men, 1 Timothy 2:1.
Maintaining a good conscience, 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Peter 3:16.
Contentment, having food and raiment (the strangers portion. Deuteronomy 10:18); 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews 13:5.
Following righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22.
Fighting the good fight of faith, 1 Timothy 6:12.
Doing good and being rich in good works, 1 Timothy 6:18.
Readiness to distribute, willingness to communicate, 1 Timothy 6:18.
Separateness from iniquity, 2 Timothy 2:19-22.
Being perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, 2 Timothy 3:17. The grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men (marg.) hath appeared, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:11-13.
Holding fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope, firm to the end, Hebrews 3:6.
Holy fear of seeming to come short of the rest of God, Hebrews 4:1.
Considering one another to provoke to love and good works, Hebrews 10:24.
Not forsaking the assembly of the saints, Hebrews 10:15.
Patience, Hebrews 10:26.
Laying aside every weight, running the race with patience, looking unto Jesus, Hebrews 12:1, 2.
Lifting up the weary hands and feeble knees, Hebrews 12:12.
Following peace with all, and holiness, Hebrews 12:14.
Not forgetting to do good and to communicate, Hebrews 13:16.
Rejoicing in the trial of faith, because of the result-patience, James 1:2, 3.
Readiness to hear, slowness in speech and in wrath, James 1:19.
Bridling the tongue, James 3:1,2; 1 Peter 3:9.
Submitting to God, James 4:7.
Not, speaking evil one of another, James 4:11.
Patience unto the coming of the Lord, James 5:7.
Not swearing, James 5:12; Matthew 5:34.
Sobriety, 1 Peter 1:13;4. 7.
Obedience, 1 Peter 1:14.
Holiness, 1 Peter 1:15.
Passing the time of sojourning here in fear, 1 Peter 1:17.
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King, 1 Peter 2:17.
Patience in suffering for well-doing, 1 Peter 2:20.
Ministering one to another, 1 Peter 4:10.
Casting all care upon God, 1 Peter 5:7.
And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue: and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness: and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity, 2 Peter 1:5-7.
Diligence in order to be found of Gad without spot, blameless, 2 Peter 3.14.
That ye sin not, 1 John 2:1.
Keeping His commandments, 1 John 2:3.
Keeping His word, 1 John 2:5.
Walking as He walked, 1 John 2:6.
Loving one’s brother, 1 John 2:10.
Not loving the world, nor the things that are in the world, 1 John 2:15.
Purifying one’s self even as he is pure, 1 John 3:3.
Loving in deed and in truth, 1 John 3:18.
Walking in truth, 2 John 4.
Separating from those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, 2 John 10,11.
Earnest contention for the faith once delivered, Jude 3.
Keeping one’s self in the love of God, Jude 21.
Special exhortations—
Husbands, Ephesians 5:25-33; Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7.
Wives, Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-6.
Children, Ephesians 6: 1, 2; Colossians 3:20.
Parents. Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21.
Servants, Ephesians 6:5, 6; Colossians 3:22-25; 1 Timothy 6:1, 2; 1 Peter 2:18.
Masters, Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1.
Men, generally, 1 Timothy 2:8.
Women, 1 Timothy 2:9-11.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27.