| Phil. 3:17-19 |
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Lesson # Phil. 3:17-19 Study Material - Phil. 3:17-19 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Phil. 3:17-19 17 Brethren [adelphos], be [ginomai] followers together [summimetes] of me [mou], and [kai] mark [skopeo] them which walk [peripateo] so [houto] as [kathos] ye have [echo] us [hemas] for an ensample [tupos]. 18 (For [gar] many [polus] walk [peripateo], of whom [hos] I have told [lego] you [humin] often [pollakis], and [de] now [nun] tell [lego] you even [kai] weeping [klaio], that they are the enemies [echthros] of the cross [stauros] of Christ [Christos]: 19 Whose [hos] end [telos] is destruction [apoleia], whose [hos] God [theos] is their belly [koilia], and [kai] whose glory [doxa] is in [en] their [autos] shame [aischune], who [ho] mind [phroneo] earthly things [epigeios].) KJV-Interlinear 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. NASB Follow Paul's example. And just what is that example? To walk around with a blanket wrapped on you? To sell all you have and be poor? To walk the streets and teach the gospel? To cry in public because there are those who do not take the Bible seriously? No. This is not the example Paul is talking about. Remember there are two opinions in life. Gods opinion, and everything else. What you think is the point here. And Bible doctrine is the standard of thinking that Paul is telling us to use as the example for our lives. Bible doctrine sets out a pattern for you to follow in your daily life. Many people walk in the pattern of their sin nature. They are well to do people. People with careers, assets, people of substance, but their substance is from this world. They are negative toward Bible doctrine. They do not see the point in learning it, nor of following it. After all they can make more money by hustling out there in the world. Their destiny is misery in this life, and loss in eternity. There are those who are lazy in life. They work their job, or even skip from job to job, with welfare or unemployment in between. They cash their government check or paycheck on Friday nights. They go out and buy their beer, brag and boast, or complain about anything in life. They are opinionated and think highly of themselves. They will live a life of misery, and will encounter great loss in eternity, because they have little regard for Bible doctrine. There are do gooders, criminals, politicians, judges, the list goes on longer than I have paper for. Negative people are in every imaginable occupation, and in every social level of society. They all have their priorities, their work or lack of it, their opinions, etc. And they all have something in common - a negative attitude toward Bible doctrine. The details and makeup of the lives of negative people will vary, but the result for all will be the same - misery in this life, and great loss in eternity. They see no value in Bible doctrine. They are either apathetic toward Bible study, or perhaps antagonistic towards it. They may have no belief whatsoever, or they might be fanatical in their belief in some other religion. Whatever their position is, it is wrong and they refuse to see it. They all have, and will have the opportunity to hear the gospel, or Bible doctrine several times in their life. If they continue to follow their pattern of life without Bible doctrine then their destiny is destruction, 'apoleia', ruin, loss, damnation, waste, destruction. And that is a description of their lives - a total waste. For those who see the value in Bible study, there is great reward and blessing both in this life and especially in eternity. Don't ever take the attitude that Paul is talking about unbelievers only, because he is not. He is referring to believers as well as unbelievers. When they are negative, there is loss and misery for both in this life. The only difference they will find is in eternity where unbelievers will find themselves in the lake of fire and negative believers will find themselves in heaven, certainly, but without many of the eternal rewards promised, which they could have obtained if only they had been positive in this life. So we follow the pattern to which Paul refers. A pattern of consistent and daily Bible study. A circumcision, removing the dead and useless thoughts from our minds and replacing them with Gods thoughts, Bible doctrine. A pattern of discerning and then ignoring the 'dogs', the false teachers of theology, of avoiding the evil workers, those promoting the false philosophies or opinions of this world. A pattern of transforming your minds to that of Gods views, and applying them to your daily lives.
End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. 
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