“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:17-19 NASB1995).
Paul and the other New Testament apostles, although they were not perfect people, they led exemplary lives which we can follow. But please make certain that you read about them and that you read their words in the correct biblical context, for there are people who are taking Paul’s words out of context and are trying to make a case that Paul was somehow daily struggling with sin, and then that gives them the excuse to keep regularly giving into their sinful practices without guilt or remorse. Please read:
Search Results for “was Paul a hypocrite” – Run With It
Now for us to observe those who walk according to the pattern that we have in Paul and the other New Testament apostles, since we were not there with them when they were alive and in person with the people, we can only get to know them by becoming students of the Scriptures who read and study them in their correct biblical context. And the best way to do that is to read the New Testament books in their entirety before drawing wrong conclusions. Especially do this with the epistles. Then you will know of which Paul spoke.
But basically these were God-fearing men, called of God to his service, who by faith in Jesus Christ died to sin, were reborn of the Spirit, and who walked (in conduct) in holiness and righteousness, in walks of obedience to God, in surrender to his will. Their lives were committed to Christ and to getting out the message of the gospel to the people of the world, even if it meant beatings, imprisonments, false charges against them, rejections, and persecutions of many kinds. Still they persevered, even to their deaths.
Now, here we need to make certain that we are believing the correct biblical gospel, for there are many variations of “the gospel” which are not the gospel, for they leave out very critical aspects of the message of the gospel. For the gospel of Christ teaches that, by faith in Jesus Christ, we die with Christ to sin that we might live to him and to his righteousness. But if sin is still what we practice, and not obedience to our Lord, in practice, then according to the Scriptures, we will not inherit eternal life with God.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:23-31; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]
For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).
Yet, many people who profess faith in Jesus Christ are following after a diluted and altered “gospel” message which is not of God, and they are walking (in conduct, in practice) as enemies of the cross of Christ, for they believe that no works are required of them and that they can still walk in sin, and not in accord with the commands of God, and still have their sins forgiven and heaven guaranteed them when they die. But that is not the biblical gospel, but a creation of the flesh of humans to excuse away sin.
Seek the Lord
Based off Isaiah 55
An Original Work / July 20, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Musical Instrumentation by Mark Bradley
“Come to Me all you who thirst; come to waters.
Listen to Me, and eat what’s good today,
And your soul will delight in richest of fare.
Give ear to Me, and you will live.
I have made an eternal covenant with you.
Wash in the blood of the Lamb.”
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him.
Let the wicked forsake his way, in truth.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will receive mercy.
Freely, God pardons him.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord, our God.
“My word that goes out of My mouth is truthful.
It will not return to Me unfulfilled.
My word will accomplish all that I desire,
And achieve the goal I intend.
You will go in joy and be led forth in peace.
The mountains will burst into song… before you,
And all of the trees clap their hands.”
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Worldly Mindedness
An Original Work / September 18, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love