"Ought To"

“Who” we are is a product of being “in Christ.” The Scriptures affirm that we are “saints”, “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth” (Mt 5), “the called” (Rom 8:29), “a royal priesthood, holy nation, people for God’s own possession” (1 Pet 2:9) and much more. These are not things that men are to attain to be efforts, they are things that they are freely given as a result of being born again. 

However, there are many things that we “ought” to do. They are things, you will find, that are not burdensome. Those in Christ are forward to do these things because they are in strict accord with the nature of the new creature which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. And the things we ought to do are righteous and truly holy.

The following are all expectations of them that are partakers of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

CONDUCT: There is a particular way in which we are to walk or live in the earth: In all things “ye OUGHT to walk and to please God” (1 Th 4:1). Not only should we walk unto pleasing God but we must refuse to fellowship with those who fail to do so. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye OUGHT to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you” (2 Th 3:6-8). The knowledge of the truth has a great bearing on the conduct of those once enlightened. For example, seeing that the things of the world and the world itself shall be dissolved, we “OUGHT” to live “in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Pet 3:11). This is appropriate for those who have been made partakers of the Godhead. For “He that saith He abideth in him OUGHT himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 Jn 2:6).

TOWARDS OTHERS: Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We OUGHT to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Paul exhorted the elders in Ephesus, “…Ye OUGHT to support the weak” (Acts 20:35). “We then that are strong OUGHT to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Rom 15:1). Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also OUGHT to wash one another’s feet” (Jn 13:14). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we OUGHT to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn 3:16). “Beloved, if God so loved us, we OUGHT also to love one another” (1 Jn 4:11)

SPEECH: Paul desired to “speak the mystery of Christ” and to “make it manifest” as he “OUGHT to speak” (Col 4:3-4). In joining him we are diligent to guard the very words of our mouths. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye OUGHT to answer every man” (Col 4:6). No sloppiness is permitted in the kingdom of God. As Jesus has said men shall give an account for every idle word. What a task!? “Ye OUGHT to say, ‘If the will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (Jas 4:15). Finally brethren, “we OUGHT to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Heb 2:1).