Going Onward

That the Lord wants us to “go onward” after baptism is clear: “We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life”, Rom. 6:4; “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God”, Rom. 7:4; “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them”, Eph. 2:10.

There’s no question about it, we have been buried in order to arise, to walk and bear fruit; we have been created for good works; God expects progress; He wants us to go onward.

But whether or not our “walk” in newness of life, our “good works”, and the “fruit” we bear have the approval of God depends upon the manner in which we go about doing these things. There are two passages that we need to continually reference as we go onward in our relationship with Christ after baptism. 

Philippians 3:13-16

 Among other things, these verses teach the following about our “going onward”.

The activities: “forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on”

Past sins and failures are burdensome weights that will retard any spiritual progress, if not stop it all together. Leaving these things in the past is indispensable to going onward. Only when I put them behind me, refuse to dwell on them, and forgive myself as God has forgiven me will I make any progress toward my goal. Despondency over the past must be overcome. Peter and Paul would never have achieved what they did if they had allowed the memory of their past sins to dominate their thinking. And even though David said “my sin is ever before me”, he prayed “restore to me the joy of my salvation”, Ps. 51:3,12, and such must be our attitude

“Stretching forward” is a figure taken from the foot races. “Pressing on” is another athletic figure which is also translated “persecute” in several passages (vs. 6; Matt. 5:11-12; Acts 9:4-5), denoting the extreme effort that is put forth as one pursues an objective, whether good or bad. These two verbs remind us that the Christian’s life is not to be static, nor will it be easy. The lackadaisical spiritual lifestyle that many have become comfortable with is hardly compatible with our Lord’s command to “strive” to enter heaven, Lk. 13:24, or with Paul’s personal example of running, fighting, and striving, 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 2 Tim. 4:7. “Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize, and sailed thro’ bloody seas?” is a question we would do well to seriously ponder.

How fine it would be if those of us who realize that baptism is immersion and its purpose is the remission of sins would likewise understand that this immersion is to signify, among other things, the beginning of a new life of strenuous, never-ending activity. Knowing and obeying the truth regarding the “mode” and purpose of baptism will do us no good apart from the intensive “going onward” that is to characterize our lives afterwards.

The standard: “by the same rule let us walk.” This consideration is crucial: as we go onward, what will be our guide? It is possible to have a zeal for God that is not guided by knowledge, Rom. 10:2. Matt. 7:22-23 reminds us that God will reject some who “do many mighty works” because they are done in “lawlessness.” We are not permitted to go onward using a road map that we composed ourselves. Jeroboam instituted practices “which he had devised in his own heart” and “this thing became a sin”, 1 Kings 12:30-33. Solomon warned, “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death”, Prov. 14:12. And Jeremiah used similar language, “I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself; Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps”, Jeremiah 10:23. Paul spoke of a “rule”, or canon, by which we are to walk, Gal. 6:16, and that was not human judgment and wisdom. Progress is not measured in terms of keeping in step with what others are doing/not doing. Lives “worthy of the gospel of Christ”, Phil. 1:27, means lives directed by, and only by, what is contained in that gospel.

The result: “the goal…the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” As strenuous effort is exerted in moving forward in harmony with God’s will, acceptable progress will be made. Every step that we make toward Christ being formed in us, Gal. 4:19; Col. 1:27; every exertion that results in conforming to the image of our Lord, Rom. 8:29, will ultimately lead us to “be with Christ” for eternity, Phil. 1:23 and, as the hymn writer said, “heaven will surely be worth it all.” 

2 John 9-11

But there is another way in which to “go onward”. This is the way described by Jesus: it is the wide gate and broad way that leads to destruction, Matt. 7:13. In John’s second letter he gives us some additional information about that way that we need to think about seriously.

The activity: “goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ”. If one message comes through clearly in John it is this: individually and/or collectively it matters whether or not we pay close attention to and pattern our lives by God’s truth. “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected”, 1 Jo. 2:3-5.

Regardless of how honest we are, how many other people may be doing it, or how long others have been engaged in some activity, nothing matters if God has not sanctioned it. “But it’s a good work,” someone objects. Listen to God’s definition of a good work: “which God prepared beforehand”, Eph. 2:10. If God has not ordained the work, it is not a good work. Read again the sad story of Jeroboam in 1 Kings 12.

The standard: “not this teaching”, which is a reference to the truth, vss. 1-4, or commands, vss. 4-6, that constitutes the instruction that comes from Jesus. Any activity that is not based upon this teaching--the teaching from Christ--is fruitless activity and not sanctioned by God. One of the real dangers among Christians is that in our personal spiritual growth we are paying more attention to and showing more of an acquaintance with the writings of men rather than those who are inspired. “The words of wise men”, Ecc. 12:11, are the words of inspired wise men and as we go onward their wisdom is all that we need for our standard.

The result: “hath not God…evil works”. The seriousness of going onward and using the wrong standard is sadly pointed out here: such works are evil and those engaged in them don’t have fellowship with God. The fire of Nadab and Abihu worked, Lev. 10:1-2, but since the Lord “had not commanded them” regarding its’ use it was “strange fire” which brought disaster upon those who used it. Good results come only from engaging in the proper activities that are revealed in God’s word. 

Conclusion

The lessons taught in the above verses were also taught by Jesus in His parable of the wise and foolish builders, Matt. 7:24-27. Notice that the foolish builder erected a house---he was active in doing something and probably very sincere (notice previous context, vss. 22-23). But his house was built upon sand, something other than the “rock” of God’s word. Even though he had heard the words of Jesus he had not done them, vs. 26. This foolish builder had worked “iniquity” or “lawlessness” because his activities had not been governed by direction from God; it was from man and not heaven, Matt. 21:25. The wise builder, on the other hand, had done what he had heard and his house stood because of the “rock” of Truth upon which he built.

Thus as Christians we have two general choices as we go onward. We can do so with Christ according to His directions or we can ignore His pattern and go onward without Him according to human wisdom. The end of the one is “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”; the consequences of the other are “evil works” and not having fellowship with God.

 David Smitherman