Our Walk in the World Colossians 4:5-6

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Wise Walking in Christ (v. 5)

To Walk Differently from those Outside

Having asked the Colossians to pray for an open gospel door for him, he exhorts them to be salt and light in the world. God must open doors and bless his word to grow and multiply; he uses the holy and loving lives of Christians to do so. “Outside” draws a distinction between the church and the world. Those outside are in the darkness of unbelief, do not love God’s truth, and are estranged from him by wicked works. They are darkened in their understanding and do not know the new life of God in Jesus Christ. Those inside have been made alive by God’s Spirit (John 3:3-8); they have received the love of the truth to be saved (2 Thess. 2:10). They are no longer estranged from God but are brought near to him by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. Those inside by faith are God’s dwelling place by the Spirit and have been forgiven of all their sins because they have “received and rested upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation.” Those inside have God’s word written upon their hearts, and they can take no credit for the life of God in them and their place in the body of Christ. It is all of God’s grace.

We know that Satan is always trying to blur that difference by deceiving men into calling good evil, and evil good. Wolves in the church either make the narrow gate wider or deny God’s truth altogether to draw away disciples for themselves. We do not advance Christ’s kingdom by tearing down its walls of truth so that the world can enter without “receiving the love of the truth to be saved.” Those outside come inside only through the grace of God in regeneration, so that they are made new. We must be born again to leave the world that is outside in the darkness and be brought inside to forgiveness, peace with God, and deliverance from sin. The world is not made brighter by Christians hiding these truths or apologizing for insisting upon faith in Jesus Christ alone and repentance. This is the reason Jesus Christ came into the world – to save sinners and call them to repentance. We are not wiser than he is, and the gospel does not change with the times. Christ’s gospel changes the times and changes men in their times. We must trust him in this, hold fast to his truth, and pray for him to work to bring dead men to new life, to bring those outside inside by his quickening Spirit.

Thus, when we think about our lives in this world, first, we should bless the Lord for the undeserved grace that has brought us inside his church and kingdom. We can take no credit for being brought inside but must daily grow in wonder at the grace that has brought us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 2:9). Second, we should not try to act or live as if there is no great difference between light and darkness, morality and immorality, the church and the world. There is a great difference, and God’s grace has made the difference (1 Cor. 4:7). His grace creates deep differences in life, and we must have no fellowship with the deeds of darkness (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Eph. 5:8). To blur these lines deepens the world’s darkness and diminishes the pressing call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Third, every successful attempt to gain those who are outside assumes this difference. This difference is what brings the cross of Jesus Christ front and center. The preaching of the cross alone is God’s power unto salvation. He will have his Son honored by this especially, that only by faith in his blood are men brought inside his kingdom. Humbly let us confess that we are all outside, until by his blood he purges our sins and brings us inside God’s favor through repentance and his reconciling work.

To Show the Reality of the Christ Life

Walking wisely means that we are not to imitate the world’s foolishness. A fool is someone who listens to his own voice and is a slave to his own desires. To use our Lord’s description, he builds his life upon the sandy foundation of his own words and ways (Matt. 7:24-27). He will not listen to God’s wisdom. The Christian hears God’s voice in Christ the Good Shepherd. He builds his life upon the foundation of Christ’s word. And since “in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3-8), the Christian life is committed to the word of Christ indwelling us in wisdom (Col. 3:16). The way we work and raise our families – the kind of education we give our children and the way we spend our time – all determined not by what other people are doing and wisdom of the world but by Christ’s wisdom in his Word. This shows the world the reality of Jesus Christ – that he really changes us and that his word is truly sufficient and powerful. Our appetites are different. We are not wedded to the ever-changing fads of this world. We do not listen to or watch or have any interest in popular entertainers strutting half-naked, crooning hymns to our pride or celebrating woman power. We live by the wisdom of Jesus Christ. We are his followers. This is not optional but a command. His word must indwell richly in us with all wisdom because he indwells us by his Spirit (John 8:31-32; 15:5-7). Nothing is more compelling, even if hated, to the children of this world than to see Christians actively living what they profess – forgiving when hated, serving when abused, blessing when cursed, loving when tortured, obedient when it means self-denial. This is Christ’s wisdom.

To Give Every Reason to Believe in Christ

In this “open gospel door” context, the main point of walking wisely is to give unbelievers every reason to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior – not to stay outside, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, but to come inside, into our Lord’s favor, kingdom, and joy. Yes, there are personal blessings that come from walking wisely, but we are here commanded to look with concern and pity upon those who are outside. We cannot say, “Well, I do not care what others think about me. And certainly, I could not care less what my unbelieving friends and coworkers think. They are as blind as moles, and their opinion is worthless.” One hears this kind of bluster as if it were a badge of piety to go through life indifferent to everyone but oneself. We are commanded to think otherwise. Is God glorified by the good works we do in the name of Jesus Christ? We want others to see his light and come to his glory (Matt. 5:16). Are unbelievers attracted to the light by the Christians they know? By you and me? By the way they see you respond to a harsh boss or personal insult? Sadly, those still in the world often hear the same coarse language, hatefulness, indifference to the plight of others from professing believers as they hear and see from unbelievers. There should be a decided attempt – for this is a command – to entice and encourage unbelievers to become believers by our family dynamic, love, the fruits of the Spirit, and general friendliness.

To Adorn the Gospel, Not Tear It Down

Since we are slaves of our one Master, it must matter a great deal to us, more than our very lives, the testimony we give about him to the world. We care deeply about his gospel and his honor in the world. Our lives should adorn the gospel. When unbelievers hear us talking about those in authority, they should hear a note of respect, even if we are calling attention to weaknesses or danger in a public policy. When a Christian man talks about his wife, the unbeliever should hear something very different about the way he views his wife, not as an object to be desired or burden to endure but as a fellow-imager bearer to protect and nurture, a co-heir of Christ’s grace. The way we work and talk, the way we endure hardship in times of crisis, even the way we respond to disasters should clearly say, “We are Christians who love the Lord Jesus Christ.” Then, those outside will watch us more closely. They will see that there is a reality to our words by our lives. Unbelievers are quick to spot hypocrisy, and they use it to justify their own unbelief. Thus, if we are to see more doors open and the Lord to save those around us, the environment and testimony of the way we live is vital to consider. Indifference to what others think about us as Christians is to be indifferent to the honor of Jesus Christ in the world. 

Redeeming the Time in the World (v. 5)

A Gospel Sense of Urgency

“Redeeming the time” might be an admonition not to waste time (Eph. 5:19). Since we live in the reign of Jesus Christ from the Father’s right hand, our days should be filled with serving him. Many wise men and prophets desired to live in our days, but we are so accustomed to them that we forget the wonder of them and do not improve them. Our days are short and pass quickly. We are like the morning flower that lifts its beautiful head to greet the sun, only to fade and wilt in the afternoon. This is a needed admonition in our distracted, time-wasting age. In the present context, however, we are to “buy back the time” toward unbelievers. Gospel praying, living, and testimony are the main point. Yes, we should take care of our lives, callings, and families with prudence and diligence. We must also have a sense of gospel urgency when it comes to our interaction with unbelievers. Their lives and ours are passing quickly. Those outside will soon “stand before Christ’s judgment seat” (Rom. 14:10). “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Those outside are still in the grip of sin’s deadly dominion, and only the gospel key can open their prison doors and bring them inside to Jesus Christ. It is our own selfish worldliness that we have little room in our hearts and leave little time in the day to think of the many who are opening their horrified eyes upon the bleak existence of everlasting hell – no mercy, no relief, no hope. You and I are commanded to make such use of our time that time remains to pray and labor for the salvation of the dead and perishing.

A Gospel Sense of Purpose

To this end, we might need to enlist everyone in a gospel visitation and proclamation outreach. But the church has learned that such programs often begin with great zeal and fizzle out with only a few persevering. But this is a command, and so we must wisely, gladly, and persistently obey our Lord. How do we redeem the time toward unbelievers? Let me offer a few suggestions. First, as part of your prayers each morning, be sure to pray for Christ our Lord to be honored in the salvation of the lost. Pray for those in your life and on your street who are outside. Pray for coworkers by name, neighbors by name, lost family members by name. Begin redeeming the time by praying earnestly for the power of God in the gospel of his Son to penetrate the lives of those around you.

Second, aim to grow in love for Jesus Christ. Preach the gospel to yourself often – what Christ has done for you, is doing for you, what you will have because of him, and the life he is preparing for you. Real, sustainable, and persevering evangelism depends upon union with Christ. “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). If you binge watch your favorite show, odds are you are going to tell someone about it – or if you had a particularly good round of golf, or were able to finish a home project, or reached your deadlift goal. Redeeming the time respecting the lost and walking wisely toward unbelievers comes down to personal commitment to Jesus Christ, love for him, understanding of who he is and what he is doing for you and in the world outside, and willingness to confess him before men. He warned of a certain kind of shame of him and his words that will make him ashamed of us. This shame is the shallow-fellowship disease that plagues many Christians – too little seeking of Christ’s grace, too little praying for the salvation of the lost, and too little love for Christ that pushes him into the back of our minds and hearts.

Third, whenever you leave your home for work or shopping, pause briefly to ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to bear witness to him, and to bless your witness to bear fruit in salvation. Be intentional about seeing yourself not as an oracle that knows everything but a redeemed person that knows the one main thing – how to be saved from sin by Jesus Christ! How to have everlasting life in Christ! Christian, you really are a child of life and the light of the world in Jesus Christ. There is no light coming from ancient philosophers or modern gurus – only from faith in Jesus Christ and abiding in his word. Ask the Lord to use you to save people from their sins and to plant seeds that in his wisdom and timing others can come along and water. Remember that not the smallest seed of his word will ever fail to bear fruit in his time and by his power (Isa. 55:9-11).

Fourth, think of speaking of Christ, redeeming the time, not as unpleasant but as the way he walks with you to call others to himself. Think of the joy of speaking the name of him who has your name upon his pierced hands. Do not listen to the voices of fear of man and dread of speaking. You have the sword of the Holy Spirit in your hand. Think of Jesus Christ standing with you as you speak. Think of heaven watching and the angels prepared to rejoice over the next sinner redeemed from the flames. Think of the joy you will have to lead a lost soul to the Savior. Think of the horror of seeing someone in line with the goats that you knew, with whom you were afraid to share Christ.

Fifth, guard against a proud, thankless spirit, for these kill gospel zeal. You are not a Christian, assuming you are a child of God, because you were smarter than most or better, but because of God’s grace to you in Jesus Christ. The lie of our sinful flesh is to make us forget who we are, why we are Christians, and what God has done for us to make us Christians. And when we forget, we become smug and complacent. Or we listen to Satan’s lies and hate so that we vilify those outside due to their wicked lives and ideas. “But such were some of you.” Lest we forget, we must daily celebrate God’s grace to us in his Son. Never, never let a day pass without thinking that you owe everything good to the grace of God in Christ, to the suffering Savior who knows your name. Speak His!

Speaking with Grace to Each One (v. 6)

Gracious Words that Give No Offense

Wise and gospel driven lives are vital for our witness in the world. Now, he turns to our words, the way we talk with unbelievers about Jesus Christ. “Gracious” words are kind words. Christians should not be known as those who bluster, scream, or complain their way through life. Nor are we to vilify others, be argumentative, or speak offensively. The Holy Spirit utterly rejects the idea that to be heard, really heard, the Christian man must use strong language, street coarseness and vulgarity that gets everyone’s attention. This is opposed to the way a Christian man must speak. His speech is gracious because he knows the grace of Jesus Christ. His Lord did not come yelling at him, cursing him, or belittling him, but wooing him with words of love, salvation, and warning. We win others with the same – kind words, tamed tongues that show tamed hearts, not frustrated, bitter, fearful, angry, and divisive. The world knows enough of this, and when Christians speak like worldlings, there is no incentive to leave the darkness and come into the light. Since “no one can tame the tongue,” we learn how much we must walk in the Spirit, for he alone can bring forth in us kind and gracious words. Even if we are talking with hardened unbelievers or enemies of God’s truth, and must in those instances speak firmly, firm words can still be kindly spoken, for our wrath will never bring about God’s righteousness.

Salty Words that Draw Men Christward

“Salty” likely means intelligent and truly useful. Gracious words are not sappy and lukewarm words. We should try to engage those outside in ways that would make them think that Christians are not the idiots often portrayed. We have thought about issues of morality, politics, and race relations. We can speak meaningfully about family issues, disobedient children, hard days at work, lonely nights of sorrow, even of death and deepest loss. Just as salt livens the taste of food, Christian words with those outside should endeavor to draw them to Jesus Christ. This includes telling the truth about man’s fallen condition and his need of redemption, and this must be communicated with passion, using every possible point of contact in the unbeliever’s heart and conscience, with patience. Most people who add salt to their food do not take the lid of the container and dump the whole amount on their plate. They use it little by little, until they get the right seasoning. The same is true with unbelievers. We need not share everything all at once, or burden them with our struggles, or communicate that they must feel our feelings about life or even about the Lord Jesus. Perhaps we give a neighbor only a little sprinkle – “It is hard to take care of children; there is wisdom and strength in Jesus Christ; he has helped me. Do you want to talk about how you can also have his help?” Leave them thinking, tasting there is something winsome and satisfying about being a Christian.

Wise Words that Intelligently Engage

Grace and wisdom means that we must learn the best way to answer each unbeliever – where he is particularly lost, or hurting, or even angry at the Lord. Every outside person is sick and needs a physician, but they are not all sick in the same way. Given the opportunity, we must care enough for each soul to hear that there is a loving God and Father who cares for us, a Savior sent from the Father to purge away our sins by his blood, and a Spirit indwelling who helps, teaches, and guides us. Let us learn to walk toward outsiders in this way – ready to share our hope, sincerely concerned about their lives and future, and willing to engage them where they are, that they may be brought inside to Christ! “Each one” shows us that we are called to bear witness to a variety of men and women, that each soul is precious to God our Father, and that we must answer them not in the flesh of our own anger and anxiety but in the Spirit’s calm and steady wisdom and love. Remember that Jesus Christ is the Savior. We are but his servants and ambassadors. Speak his truth and pray to him to draw his sheep to himself.