Godly Examples

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.”

Paul was concerned for the believers in Christ that they might be led astray from their pure devotion to Christ by “the dogs” he mentioned in verse 2, who were other humans who were evildoers and false teachers of a false half-truth and altered gospel message. For they were teaching a man-created gospel, which was of the flesh of man, and which gave glory to the flesh and not to God. And we have a very similar situation in the American church where far too many people are believing in a man-created gospel.

Since Paul was confident in the Lord of his own relationship with Jesus Christ, and of his walk of faith, in a walk of holiness and righteousness, in obedience to our Lord, and in the power of God, he then invited the other Christians to follow his example and the example of other Christians, all of whom were following the example and the teachings of Christ and of the Holy Spirit. For that would keep them going in the right direction so that they would not be led astray by these “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

But if we are to follow the example of anyone today, let it be the example of Christ, for far too many professers of faith in Jesus Christ are not living godly and holy lives, in purity of devotion to the Lord. Far too many are conforming to the ways of this sinful world, and they are still walking in sin, in deliberate and habitual and often premeditated sin against God and against other humans. And they do this while they put on a show of righteousness and pretend all is well between them and God.

And let’s follow the teachings of Christ and those of the New Testament apostles, but in context. For far too many teachings today come from taking Scriptures outside their context and interpreting them in ways not in conformity with the teachings of Christ and of his NT apostles, as a whole, and in truth. Many of them are giving promises to people out of context without sharing with them the conditions for those promises to be fulfilled. And all of God’s promises have conditions and stipulations.

So, we need to be people who are seekers of truth and righteousness who do not buy into everything we read or hear or see just because it sounds good or looks good. For there are far too man liars and deceivers disguised as servants of righteousness who are twisting the truths of God’s Word and who are giving misimpressions (indirect lies) to the people via sermons, devotionals, books, videos, movies, and social media memes, etc. And they have turned the grace of God into a license for sensuality and immorality.

For they are teaching that we can make a profession of faith in Christ once in our lives and now all our sins are forgiven (past, present, and future), and heaven is now guaranteed us, and it can’t be taken away, end of story, or regardless of how you live your life from that moment forward. But that is a lie from hell! For Jesus said that not everyone saying to him, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one DOING the will of God the Father who is in heaven (see Matthew 7:21-23).

But Jesus taught that if anyone would come after him that he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him, in practice. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for the sake of Jesus we die with him to sin and live to his righteousness, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For if we are ashamed of Christ and his Word in this life, he will be ashamed of us and he will deny us when he returns for his bride.

[Matthew 10:32-33; Matthew 15:7-9; Luke 9:26; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Titus 1:15-16; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 1:3-4]

Therefore we need to understand that Jesus and his NT apostles taught progressive faith and salvation, that we must now walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh in order to have salvation from sin and eternal life with God. We must walk in obedience to our Lord in holy living and in daily, by the Spirit, putting the deeds of the flesh to death. For if sin is what we obey, it will end in death. But if obedience is that we obey, it will end in eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

No Less  

An Original Work / March 19, 2012

I can do no less than praise You,

Lord, for all You’ve done for me.

You died for my sins to save me,

So I would be set free.

I adore You! Lord, I praise You!

Jesus, Savior, King of kings!

You provided my redemption.

Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You. 

Lord, Your witness I would be,

Telling others of Your love,

And why You died on that tree.

Tell of how You gave of Your life,

So from sin we’d be set free,

So we could worship You forever,

And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,

Lord, for You have first loved me.

You gave of Your life so willing,

Because You cared for me.

Turn from my sin! Obey freely!

Live for You each passing day.

Read Your word, and follow Your lead,

Lord, as I humbly pray. 

https://vimeo.com/125493623