Should Christians Walk in the God's Ways?

[Soyeong]

I hope most Christians would answer with a resounding affirmation that of course we should walk in God's ways, after all Christians originally referred to themselves as "The Way", yet something doesn't add up. The Way of the Lord or God's Ways are described as being righteous and just (Genesis 18:19), righteous, blameless, merciful, pure, humble, light, perfect, true, liberty, and gentleness (2 Samuel 22:21-37), delightful (Psalms 37:23), and everlasting (Habakkuk 3:6), merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving, just (Exodus 34:6-7), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). But what specifically are they? In Exodus 33:13, Moses asked God to show him His ways that he and the nation might know Him and find favor in God's sight. These verses describe the Mosaic Law as God's instructions for how to walk in His ways:

Joshua 22:5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

1 Kings 2:1-3 When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,

Psalms 25:4-10 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalms 103:1-8 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalms 119:1-8 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! 4 You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. 8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Isaiah 2:2-3 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 42:24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.

Malachi 2:4-9 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

To save space, all of these verses equate obeying God's commands with walking in His ways: Deuteronomy 5:32-33, Deuteronomy 8:6, Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Deuteronomy 19:9, Deuteronomy 26:16-19, Deuteronomy 28:9, Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 8:57-58, 1 Kings 11:33, 1 Kings 11:38, Judges 2:16-23 and Jeremiah 6:16-19.

In the the NT, John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance for people to prepare the way of the Lord (Matthew 3:2, Mark 1:2-3, Luke 1:76, Luke 3:4, John 1:23). Repentance is clearly from not following what God commanded and we prepare the way by walking in His ways in obedience to what He has commanded. In Hebrews 3:7-15, Israel hardened their hearts and rebelled and refused to walk in God's ways, so we should exhort one another that as long as it is called "today" that we should not harden our hearts as they did, but learn to walk in God's ways so that we do not fall away from the living God.

 

[Rescued One]

Yes, but God is conforming us to the image of Christ if we have been regenerated. When we see Him we'll be like Him!

If we've been regenerated, God has softened our hearts.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The righteous live by faith, and as we trust him, God leads us how we wills.

 

[Radagast]

What is the purpose of this thread?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What is the purpose of this thread?

Come to think of it, the content is very resonant of the sabbath and law sub forum.

 

[Soyeong]

What is the purpose of this thread?

To discuss whether Christians should walk in God's ways. It seems to me that most Christians would have an immediate affirmative response, yet when we examine how the Bible defines walking in God's ways, it turns out that many Christians hold positions that are not in favor of walking in God's ways, so something doesn't add up.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

To discuss whether Christians should walk in God's ways. It seems to me that most Christians would have an immediate affirmative response, yet when we examine how the Bible defines walking in God's ways, it turns out that many Christians hold positions that are not in favor of walking in God's ways, so something doesn't add up.

God's ways vs a personal bible interpretation. Real talk.

 

[Radagast]

To discuss whether Christians should walk in God's ways. It seems to me that most Christians would have an immediate affirmative response, yet when we examine how the Bible defines walking in God's ways, it turns out that many Christians hold positions that are not in favor of walking in God's ways, so something doesn't add up.

Ah, I see, it's all about your interpretation of what "walking in God's ways" means.

Count me out of this thread.

 

[Soyeong]

Ah, I see, it's all about your interpretation of what "walking in God's ways" means.

Count me out.

Ummm...I listed many verses in order to clearly establish how the Bible describes what it means to walk in God's ways, so I've tried to leave my interpretation out of it as much as possible, through discussing what it means to walk in God's ways is certainly within the topic of this thread. I was quoting a number of passages one after the other and didn't want to hit people with a wall of text, so I decided to bold the parts that were most relevant to what it means to walk in God's ways.

 

[Soyeong]

God's ways vs a personal bible interpretation. Real talk.

I quoted many verses to clearly establish what it means to walk in God's ways, so I don't think there is a lot of room for personal interpretation, though I would be happy to discuss what it means to walk in God's ways if you think that I have misunderstood it.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I quoted many verses to clearly establish what it means to walk in God's ways, so I don't think there is a lot of room for personal interpretation, though I would be happy to discuss what it means to walk in God's ways if you think that I have misunderstood it.

Romans 12 instructs us to be continually renewed by the transforming of our minds so we can know what God's good, pleasing, and pleasant will is. So the perspective of all of saints is helpful in obtaining the perspective to declare such a thing. For example, at the end of Romans 12 it concludes with "do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good" . So in a sense, the actions speak, and again Paul said "the kingdom is not a matter of talk but of power" so he would agree in that sense that there is a power related element beyond the concepts in that the Gospel is the power of eternal life to those who believe, in that there is a love we can grasp apparently that surpasses knowledge, a peace of God that guards our hearts that surpasses understanding. And in the beginning of this, there is a saying "the righteous shall live by faith" To receive the transformation of the mind, to grasp the love that surpasses knowledge, to have this peace that surpasses understanding, this is cultivated by trusting him.

 

[bugkiller]

I hope most Christians would answer with a resounding affirmation that of course we should walk in God's ways, after all Christians originally referred to themselves as "The Way", yet something doesn't add up. The Way of the Lord or God's Ways are described as being righteous and just (Genesis 18:19), righteous, blameless, merciful, pure, humble, light, perfect, true, liberty, and gentleness (2 Samuel 22:21-37), delightful (Psalms 37:23), and everlasting (Habakkuk 3:6), merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving, just (Exodus 34:6-7), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). But what specifically are they? In Exodus 33:13, Moses asked God to show him His ways that he and the nation might know Him and find favor in God's sight. These verses describe the Mosaic Law as God's instructions for how to walk in His ways:

Exactly why I cannot vote in your poll.

bugkiller

 

[bugkiller]

The righteous live by faith, and as we trust him, God leads us how we wills.

Hello stranger. Long time no see um.

bugkiller

 

[bugkiller]

What is the purpose of this thread?

To get you and others to follow the law instead of Jesus.

bugkiller

 

[bugkiller]

Come to think of it, the content is very resonant of the sabbath and law sub forum.

Was it moved?

bugkiller

 

[bugkiller]

To discuss whether Christians should walk in God's ways. It seems to me that most Christians would have an immediate affirmative response, yet when we examine how the Bible defines walking in God's ways, it turns out that many Christians hold positions that are not in favor of walking in God's ways, so something doesn't add up.

Only for those who demand Christians keep the covenant of law issued at Sinai Jeremiah said would be replaced with a new covenant that Jesus said is current.

bugkiller

 

[bugkiller]

Ummm...I listed many verses in order to clearly establish how the Bible describes what it means to walk in God's ways, so I've tried to leave my interpretation out of it as much as possible, through discussing what it means to walk in God's ways is certainly within the topic of this thread. I was quoting a number of passages one after the other and didn't want to hit people with a wall of text, so I decided to bold the parts that were most relevant to what it means to walk in God's ways.

Your title shows predisposition and promotion of your view.

bugkiller

 

[bugkiller]

I quoted many verses to clearly establish what it means to walk in God's ways, so I don't think there is a lot of room for personal interpretation, though I would be happy to discuss what it means to walk in God's ways if you think that I have misunderstood it.

What about -

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Jn 13

or

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Gal 5

bugkiller

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Hello stranger. Long time no see um.

bugkiller

Yeah. Totally, good to see you.

Was it moved?

bugkiller

Looks like it.

 

[Soyeong]

Romans 12 instructs us to be continually renewed by the transforming of our minds so we can know what God's good, pleasing, and pleasant will is. So the perspective of all of saints is helpful in obtaining the perspective to declare such a thing. For example, at the end of Romans 12 it concludes with "do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good" . So in a sense, the actions speak, and again Paul said "the kingdom is not a matter of talk but of power" so he would agree in that sense that there is a power related element beyond the concepts in that the Gospel is the power of eternal life to those who believe, in that there is a love we can grasp apparently that surpasses knowledge, a peace of God that guards our hearts that surpasses understanding. And in the beginning of this, there is a saying "the righteous shall live by faith" To receive the transformation of the mind, to grasp the love that surpasses knowledge, to have this peace that surpasses understanding, this is cultivated by trusting him.

God straightforwardly reveals His will through His commands and His commands divide between what is good and evil and instruct us how to overcome evil with good. In 1 Corinthians 4:20, I think Paul was contrasting talk with action, in other words, the Kingdom of God has the power to produce good works, and grace is the power of God to overcome sin. God's commands also teach us how to love. It is important to keep in mind that "the righteous shall live by faith" is a principle found in the OT (Habakkuk 2:4) and every example of people in the OT having saving faith listed in Hebrews 11 is also an example of someone submitting to God's will, so I don't see you as saying anything contrary to what I've said or showing that walking in God's ways is different from how the verses I listed define it.

Yeah. Totally, good to see you.

Looks like it.

It is good to see you too.