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'He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness' (1
John 2:11).
'Walk' in 2 John
'I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth'.
'This is love, that we walk after His commandments'.
'This is the commandment ... ye should walk in it' (2 John 4,6).
'Walk' in 3 John
'I rejoiced greatly ... the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest
in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk
in truth' (3 John 3,4).
Let us examine the references in Ephesians a little
more closely. First, we note that the whole epistle is so constructed as to
be pivoted on the word 'worthy' (4:1). We find three chapters of glorious
doctrine revealed on the one side, and three corresponding chapters of
practice on the other. The structure of Ephesians, and the meaning of the
word 'worthy' are fully set out in the Alphabetical Analysis Part 1, which
cannot be repeated here. In the doctrinal section, the two walks, the one of
the old creation, the other of the new, are stated. The old walk is
explained fairly fully, but the new walk is not given in detail until we come
over to the practical side. There, as before, the new and the old are
contrasted.
The New.
'Walk worthy ... with all lowliness (literally "humbleness
of mind")' (Eph. 4:1,2).
The Old.
'Walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their
mind' (Eph. 4:17).
The arrangement of the subject matter suggests its development and inter -
relationship:
A
Old
creation 2:2.
B
New
creation 2:10
Walk in love 5:2.
C
The Pivot. Worthy 4:1
Walk as children of light 5:8.
B
New
creation 4:1
Walk circumspectly 5.15.
A
Old
creation 4:17.
This is not all. The threefold walk of Ephesians 5:2,8 and 15 is followed by
a threefold division of human society, in which this walk should be manifest.
The high and heavenly doctrine of Ephesians chapters 1 to 3, being expressed
in all the lowly offices of daily life, thus:
(1)
By wives and husbands.
(2)
By children and fathers.
(3)
By servants and masters.
Before anyone begins to talk about or object to the 'submission' of a wife to
her husband, let him observe that all is prefaced by the all covering words:
'Submitting yourselves One To Another in the fear of God' (Eph. 5:21).