Worldly Mindsets

Philippians 3:17-21 ESV

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

Now this is for the brothers and the sisters, i.e. for the whole family of God. And Paul was telling the believers at that time to imitate his walk of faith. So, please know that what many people today are falsely saying about Paul is not true (1). For Romans 7 has to be interpreted in light of Romans 6 and Romans 8. Paul was a man of God who walked closely with God in obedience to the Lord and in faithfulness of service, even to the point of being severely persecuted for his walk of faith, so he wasn’t dabbling in sin here and there.

So, we can follow Paul’s example of his walk of faith in Jesus Christ. But regarding keeping our eyes on those who walk according to the example we have in the apostles, be careful, for there are many people out there professing faith in Jesus Christ who are giving off an air of holiness and righteousness but are not who they profess to be. Many of them are liars and deceivers who put on a show of righteousness so that you will follow them, and so that you will believe what they say, but test them all!

For many people today professing faith in Jesus Christ are not true followers of Jesus Christ. They are worldly people just using a profession of faith in Christ to manipulate and deceive Christians into believing their lies. And their lies can be very subtle and hard to discern for the naïve, and for those who don’t really know the Scriptures, and for the unsuspecting who don’t ever test what they hear against the Scriptures, in context, to make certain that what they are hearing is the truth. Many just go by their feelings.

And that is why “misimpressions” are being used so widely today to deceive naïve minds, for they are indirect lies which are inserted into the truth, disguised as truth, but leading people toward a particular impression which they hope they will then adopt into their beliefs and lifestyles. But they are hard to spot, and difficult to prove. But for seasoned Christians who are used to testing what people are saying against the truth of the Scriptures, in context, these indirect lies should jump out at them “like a sore thumb.”

But these liars and deceivers, who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, their end is destruction. Heaven is not what awaits them. Hell is their destiny. For they are not in the ministry to teach the truth of the gospel for the genuine salvation of human souls, but they are marketers who are marketing the church to the world. And so they have altered the gospel and the character of God/Christ to make them more acceptable to human flesh. So they are busy building their earthly kingdoms.

But, for us who are following Jesus Christ with our lives, in truth, in righteousness, in holy living, and in walks of obedience to our Lord, our citizenship is in heaven. Amen! Praise the Lord! And one day Jesus is going to return for us, and he will transform these earthly bodies of ours to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. So, one day we are going to leave this world of sorrow and pain and sin, and we are going to be with Jesus for eternity. That is our hope!

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For Our Nation  

An Original Work / September 11, 2012

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Trust Him with your life today.

Make Him your Lord and your Savior.

Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.

He will forgive you of your sin;

Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.

On our knees to God we’re praying,

Seeking God to give us answers

That are only found in Him.

God is sovereign over all things.

Nothing from His mind escaping.

He has all things under His command,

And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling

You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing

In our Lord, and interceding

For our nation and its people

To obey their God today.

He is our hope for our future.

For our wounds He offers suture.

He is all we need for this life.

Trust Him with your life today.

https://vimeo.com/379406352

(1) https://runwithit.blog/2023/05/13/was-paul-a-hypocrite-ii/