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Those of us who have the privilege of embracing the Apostleship and message of Paul have a corresponding responsibility. However, this responsibility does not carry with it the thundering warning of Sinai, but the exhortation of a loving Father telling His children to live up to the family name. The law of Moses demanded from man what he could not provide, while the exceeding riches of grace provide man with all that is necessary both to be willing and to be doing His good pleasure:
Do this and live the law demands,
But it gives man neither feet nor hands.
A better word the Evangel brings,
It bids me fly and gives me wings.
This responsibility is contained in the little word that heads this article – Worthily (axios). To illustrate this word, let us look at an Old Testament illustration. In the book of Genesis, chapter 23, we read the story of the death of Abraham's wife, Sarah. "And Abraham came to bewail Sarah and to lament over her" (v. 2). Abraham did bewail and lament, however, he did not "sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation." (1 Th. 4.13). In the full expectation of resurrection, Abraham seeks a place to bury his beloved bride.
After going through negotiations with the sons of Heth, the price is agreed to,"Then Abraham WEIGHED out for Ephron the money that he had named before the ears of the sons of Heth." (v. 16) The process of weighing money was done using a balance bar with a plate attached to each side. On one side was a weight or weights that equaled the total amount of silver or gold that the land was "worth." On the other plate the gold or silver was place until the balance bar "evened out," which meant that the silver or gold was "worthy," or, it was the "full current price." (v. 9). Now that we have illustrated the word, let us put it in context for us. In the Key-Word concordance of the Concordant Literal New Testament, we see the word "Worthy," with the definition, "measuring up to requirements." Now, the adverb is "Worthily." And it is the usage of the adverb that we are interested in throughout this study. The word Worthily (axios) is the balance bar on which hangs the plates holding the weights and the corresponding silver or gold. Here are the usages:
Ro 1-8 Saints - Ro 12-16 Our Walk
Ep 1-3 Calling - Ep. 4-6 Our Walk
Evangel - Our Walk
Lord - Our Walk
God - Our Walk
These are the five references that are used by our Apostle that I wish to dwell on. Now keeping the balance (axios) illustration in mind, let us consider these verses.
Romans 16:2. There is a "measuring up to requirements" in the walk of the saints. Romans 1-8 contains the great teaching concerning the believers justification and identification with Christ. We are justified gratuitously, we are also dead to sin, not by our efforts, but because we are crucified, entombed and roused together with Christ. As a matter of fact, Romans 1-8 is what constitutes us "Saints." This is not by our works, but it is solely the work of God on our behalf. How do we "measure up" to that? Put Romans 12-16 into practice and we will be walking worthily of the saints. So, we put the great doctrine of Romans 1-8 on the left side of the balance, and we watch the balance tilt to that direction, then, we place Romans 12-16 in the other side of the balance, and we watch the "axios" even out. Are we justified? Are we dead to sin because of your complete identification in Christ? Then someone should see it in our love for our brethren (Ch 12), in our submission to authorities, in our paying the great debt of love, and walking respectably (Ch 13). Someone should be able to see it in our dealing with our brethren concerning "non-essential" things (Ch 15). In other words, this is what should characterize a "Saint." We do not become saints by doing these things, but because we are saints, we are exhorted to do these things.
Ephesians 4:1. This great epistle gives the calling of the ecclesia, which is His Body. The first three chapters are dedicated to our position, our celestial allotment, and other great features of our calling. For years many of us have relished the teaching of this great letter. However, the last three chapters are dedicated to the practical side. After giving us the great doctrinal and positional truths in chapters 1-3, he begins chapter 4 by exhorting us, like a Father does his child, to walk worthily of this calling. So we put chapters 1-3 in one side of the balance, and the scales tip, then we put chapters 4-6 in the other side,and the scales even out. Are we blessed with all spiritual blessings among the celestials? Then someone should be able to see humility in our character, and hear gracious words, instead of filth, come out of our lips (4:1-3). Are we seated with Christ at God's right hand? Then someone should be able to come into our homes and see husbands loving their wives, wives submitting to the husbands, fathers raising their children as described in Ephesians 5-6. Do we have access in one spirit unto the Father? Then someone should see it in our place of employment as we do our work with our souls as unto the Lord.
Then in Philippians 1:27 we are told to "walk worthily of the evangel." Do we love and proclaim the evangel of the grace of God? Then it should be demonstrated by the believers walking in harmony and love for one another. Strife and pride should be banished among believers. We should be counting the affairs of others as more important than our own. Our attitude should be that of our Saviour's who demonstrated the greatest act of humility for the sake of others. Since we love the evangel, let us too, follow our Saviour's example.
Finally in Colossians and Thessalonians we are to walk worthily of the Lord, and God! How can we possibly have an even balance with the Lord, and God himself? How can our lives possibly measure up to them? Friends, we have not forgotten that God is the one who works in us both for us to be willing and to be doing according to His good pleasure. If He sets a standard, He provides the means to accomplish. The law never had such a high standard as this; neither did it have the same provisions. Positionally, all these things are already true of us, so, we are given this great exhortation to walk worthily in view of this position. Just like a Father who exhorts his son: "Son, since you bear the family name, live up to your name."
So, dear brethren, let us walk worthily of our position as Saints in Romans, of our calling in Ephesians, of the evangel in Phillippians, of the Lord in Colossians, and of God in Thessalonians. Let us walk worthily that "we may be adorning the teaching that is of God, our Savior, in all things." "For the saving grace of God made its advent to all humanity, training us that, disowning irreverence and worldly desires, we should be living sanely and justly and devoutly in the current eon, anticipating that happy expectation, even the advent of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gives Himself for us, that He should be redeeming us from all lawlessness and be cleansing for Himself a people to be about Him, zealous for ideal acts. Speak of these things and entreat and expose with every injunction. Let no one slight you." Since we have such a wonderful version in the Concordant Old and New Testaments, let us adorn the teaching by letting the words of God translate Concordantly into our lives.
