Tag: Paul

TODAY’S DAILY BIBLE VERSE

April 7, 2025

Colossians chapter 3 verse 9:
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds:

Verse Context

The Apostle Paul, writing from a Roman prison around AD 60–62, addresses a small congregation in the city of Colossae, located in the region of Phrygia in Asia Minor—modern-day southwestern Turkey. The church was under a subtle but dangerous threat from a blend of false teachings. These included Jewish ritualism, mystical asceticism, and early philosophical errors that would later develop into full-blown Gnosticism. Paul’s answer to all of these corruptions was not debate, but the preeminence of Jesus Christ. He declares that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians chapter 2 verse 9), and that believers are complete in Him.

In chapter 3, Paul shifts from doctrinal foundation to practical transformation. He opens the chapter by commanding the Colossians to “seek those things which are above,” and to “set [their] affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians chapter 3 verses 1–2). This heavenly mindset is not wishful thinking—it is rooted in the fact that the believer is spiritually risen with Christ, and is now called to live in a way that reflects that new life.

By the time we reach verse 9, Paul has already instructed them to put off several sins that defined their past lives: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy communication (Colossians chapter 3 verse 8). Then he gives the command, “Lie not one to another.” This is not mere etiquette—it is a theological imperative based on the truth of conversion. Paul grounds this command by stating, “seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” This “old man” refers to the former, sinful identity of the believer prior to salvation.

The 18th-century Baptist theologian John Gill taught that this “old man” is the “old Adam, the old self, the sinful nature,” and he emphasizes that putting off the old man happens in union with Christ’s death. According to Gill, just as Christ died and rose again, so the believer must die to the old nature and rise to newness of life. Therefore, lying is not just a bad habit—it’s an offense to the resurrected identity of the Christian. It drags the believer back into the grave of the old life they have already left behind.

In harmony with this, Matthew Henry, a Puritan commentator, explains that lying not only “corrupts communication,” but it also “destroys love and dissolves society.” In other words, deceit undermines the very relationships the gospel came to redeem. The Colossian church, like all Christian communities, was called to unity. Falsehood fractures the body of Christ. Truth binds it together.

The warning deepens when we consider Albert Barnes, a 19th-century Presbyterian theologian, who writes that truth is “essential to religion,” while falsehood is of “the very essence of depravity.” Barnes notes that to lie is to betray the holy calling of the Christian. It reveals not spiritual growth, but the rotting remnants of the old man still clinging to the heart. Therefore, Paul’s instruction in verse 9 is more than a behavioral correction—it is a spiritual diagnosis. If a person claims Christ but habitually lives in falsehood, it reveals that either they are resisting sanctification, or worse, they have never put off the old man at all.

Broader Context

Colossians chapter 3 verse 9 sits within a deeply practical section of Paul’s epistle, where he calls believers to live out the transformation that has taken place within them through union with Christ. The first two chapters focus on doctrinal correction—defending the full deity and sufficiency of Christ. Paul labors to dismantle false philosophies (Colossians chapter 2 verse 8), legalistic shadows (Colossians chapter 2 verses 16–17), and mysticism that claims hidden spiritual knowledge apart from Christ. The Colossians were at risk of trading the substance of Christ for religious systems that looked holy but lacked saving power.

In contrast, Colossians chapter 3 begins with a powerful call to focus on heavenly priorities: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…” (Colossians chapter 3 verse 1). This isn’t poetic language—it’s a doctrinal claim: believers have died with Christ and are now spiritually alive with Him. Their identity is hidden in Christ, and they await the day when that reality will be revealed in glory (Colossians chapter 3 verse 3–4).

That identity demands a new way of living. So beginning in verse 5, Paul tells the Colossians to mortify (put to death) sins like fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection (disordered passions), and covetousness. These are not personality flaws—they are called what they truly are: the “members” of the old man that must be slain. Paul is teaching that Christianity is not about merely adding religious practices to your life. It is about putting off the old life altogether and putting on Christ.

That’s what makes the command in verse 9 so significant: “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” This verse sits right in the middle of this “change of clothing” metaphor. Paul is describing a spiritual wardrobe exchange. The old man—filled with deceit, anger, lust, and idolatry—is to be discarded like a rotting garment. The new man—created after the image of Christ—is to be worn with humility, kindness, and love.

In the verses that follow, Paul expands the picture. In Colossians chapter 3 verse 10, he says the believer has “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” This is a direct echo of Genesis—God is restoring His image in fallen man through Christ. In verse 11, Paul emphasizes that this new identity transcends race, culture, class, and background. In Christ, “there is neither Greek nor Jew… but Christ is all, and in all.” That unity depends on truth. Without truth, there can be no trust. And without trust, there can be no unity in the body of Christ.

This emphasis on truth in speech and conduct is not isolated to Colossians. Paul echoes the same theme in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 25, where he writes: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” The same pattern appears there—put off the old, put on the new. And in both letters, lying is exposed as a sin that tears at the very fabric of the Christian community.

It is also worth noting that this practical teaching flows directly out of the Christ-centered theology Paul has built. Colossians is not a “rule book”—it’s a Christology. The only reason believers can “put off the old man” is because they have been spiritually raised with Christ. And the only reason we can live differently now is because we have been made new in Him.

Therefore, lying is not a mistake—it is a theological contradiction. It denies what Christ has done. It speaks the language of the old man while claiming to wear the garments of the new. Paul’s message to the Colossians—and to us—is that such hypocrisy has no place in the lives of those who have been truly transformed.

Application

Appreciating God’s Greatness

Colossians chapter 3 verse 9 reminds us of the transforming power of God’s grace. The fact that believers are commanded not to lie is not merely a moral expectation—it’s a celebration of divine change. God does not leave us as we were. He doesn’t clean up the old man; He kills him and creates a new man in Christ. This is a display of God’s greatness not just in creation, but in re-creation.

It reveals that God is truthful by nature. He cannot lie (Titus chapter 1 verse 2), and His Word is truth (John chapter 17 verse 17). When He saves a person, He imparts that very nature into them—not in perfection, but in growing likeness. We serve a God who not only tells the truth but makes people into truth-tellers. That is greatness worth revering.

For the Believer

Paul’s command—“Lie not one to another”—is not optional for Christians. It is a non-negotiable expression of the new life we’ve received. Lying is not just a bad habit that hurts relationships. It is a sin that slanders the name of Christ and misrepresents who we now are. When we lie, we are speaking with the voice of the “old man,” a man who should no longer be walking among the living.

Believers must recognize that lying, in all its forms—half-truths, exaggerations, convenient omissions, false impressions—is a violation of our identity in Jesus. It does not matter whether the lie is told to protect feelings, save face, gain advantage, or avoid trouble. Christ died to make us truth-bearers, not manipulators.

Call to Action

Examine your speech. Are there areas where deceit still lingers? Do you find yourself adjusting the truth to avoid conflict, impress others, or hide weakness? The Holy Spirit calls you today to repent of every lie—spoken or unspoken—and walk in the integrity of the new man. Confess your sin, and ask God to conform your heart more fully to the image of His Son, in whom is no lie. Then go and make restitution if needed—truth heals, but only when it is spoken.

For the Unbeliever

If you do not yet know Christ, Colossians chapter 3 verse 9 speaks to more than just morality—it exposes your need for a new identity. Lying is not only wrong; it is a symptom of spiritual death. According to Jesus, the devil is “a liar, and the father of it” (John chapter 8 verse 44). If your life is marked by deceit—whether small and subtle or bold and blatant—it reveals your true spiritual condition: you are still living under the rule of the “old man,” which is the rule of sin.

But there is hope. God offers more than forgiveness—He offers transformation. You can be made new today. You can put off the old man, with all his lies and lusts, and put on the new man, which is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians chapter 4 verse 24). That transformation begins with repentance—turning away from sin—and placing your trust in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to make you new.

If you’ve been living in lies, even pretending to be religious when you know your heart is still unchanged, today is the day of salvation. Come to Christ—not to become a better person, but to become a new person.

Final Encouragement

Lying is not a harmless flaw—it is a spiritual fingerprint of the old man we once were. But the beauty of Colossians chapter 3 verse 9 is in what it assumes to be true of the believer: “Ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” This is not just a command—it is a reminder of who you are now. In Christ, you are not a liar. You are a new creation. The old life of deceit, manipulation, and falsehood no longer defines you. So when the temptation comes to protect yourself with a lie, or bend the truth for personal gain, remember this: That’s not who you are anymore. You’ve put that man in the grave. Speak truth, walk in truth, and reflect the One who is the Truth. Let your mouth agree with your heart—and let your heart be rooted in Christ.

Encouraging Prayer

Father, thank You for making us new in Christ. Thank You that we no longer have to live in the shadow of the old man, chained to lies and sin. Help us today to speak truth in love, to walk in integrity, and to reflect Your holy character in every word we say. Where we have fallen short, convict us. Where we are weak, strengthen us. And may our lives speak louder than our lips—testifying that Jesus is Lord, and we are His. In His name we pray, Amen.

Closing

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You are loved—so much in fact, that we want you to know and be Believers of Biblical Truth.

Shalom Shalom.

The Carrot and Stick Principle

Its captivating to me that when I go through something, I tend to relate what I am going through, the relationships and grievances, with God. When I think of how children who do not listen to their mother, who do not use the skills and lessons that they have been equipped with to navigate even the simplest of task in the home, I tend to turn that around and wonder how God must feel when I, as an adopted child of His, refuses to do what I have been taught, refuse to use the gifts that He blessed me with, when I pick and choose what I will and will not do. If I am a small bearing in a big wheel, I wonder just how much more His feelings are amplified as the Father of all, the Father who sacrificed His son only to be used like a flashlight. To be used only when times are dark. To be minimized and placed on a shelf. To feel totally ignored and disrespected by His selfish children.

Whether you are a parent in a home, a supervisor at work, a leader in a group, a person in some position, any position of authority and responsibility, it is your job to teach, to grow, to influence, and to lead others. In these capacities, it is always more difficult to do so when just one, let alone more than one, of your flock is being disobedient. When just one person holds on to the idea that they can do whatever they want to do, come in late, wear things not an official part of the uniform, totally usurp the chain of command, fail to complete routine tasks, call in sick repeatedly, make excuses not to come to trainings and meetings, cause discord amongst the team, and so on, the task of growing and leading a team is made difficult because everyone is seeing what you are seeing and if permitted to continue, the rest of the crowd in today’s America adopts the, “well if he can do it, so can I” doctrine. It is a small percentage that ignore the negative and continue to engage the positive, even if they are alone in doing so. It’s like the one child who does right, living among brothers and sister who not only don’t do right, but make fun of and intimidate and harass the one who does. This is hard for that one. Again, I think often, how does my disobedience hurt my Father’s heart.

Throughout the bible, cover to cover, God speaks repeatedly about being obedient. As sinners, we must understand that our willful, purposeful, and deliberate disobedience causes God’s heart to mourn. Yes, mourn! He mourns because if we do not change our disobedient ways, we will surely die, TWICE!!!

Exodus 23:20-24

20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.

22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.

God starts off by stating that IF they, His children the Israelites, follow the angel, the angel that has the nature and authority of God himself, then God will bless them with the following. God starts off like this so that in a gentle way He acknowledges that man has the tendency to ignore God, and do what they want. So here God employs the early version of the Carrot and Stick principle. He wants nothing but the best for His children. But He needs them to see, ON THEIR OWN, that it is in their best interest to follow Him so that they do so willingly and without duress. God is stating to his children that if they are obedient, He himself will not let anything happen to them. He will provide victory after victory. If His children obey Him, those who oppose them, will also be the enemy of God.

Charles Ellicott states- “God is “the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” He chooses to “reward men after their works,” and to set before them “the recompense of the reward.” He “knows whereof we are made,” and by what motives we are influenced. Self-interest, the desire of our own good, is one of the strongest of them. If Israel will keep His covenant, they will enjoy the following blessings :—(1) The guidance and protection of His angel till Canaan is reached; (2) God’s help against their adversaries, who will, little by little, be driven out; (3) the ultimate possession of the entire country between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea on the one hand, the Desert and the Euphrates on the other; (4) a blessing upon their flocks and herds, which shall neither be barren nor cast their young; and (5) a blessing upon themselves, whereby they will escape sickness and enjoy a long term of life. All these advantages, however, are conditional upon obedience, and may be forfeited.”

Fast forward to almost the end of the Bible.

1 Peter 1:13-15

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

There are so many scriptures on obedience. John 14:15, Acts 5:29, Luke 6:46, and Ecclesiastes 12:13 are just some of my favorites on the subject. However, I believe these versus fit with those from Exodus. I believe in verse 13 we can clearly see God saying to us as gentiles, “If you obey me….” This is what He said to Israel, “If you choose to follow me…” When we read “Gird up the loins of your mind” and “be sober” what we read is God telling us, Prepare yourself for battle and hard work.

Gird Up Your Loins

God is saying to us…. Prepare yourselves to follow me, prepare for battle and hard work and focus on me and I will bring you victory in the face of your enemies. Don’t even think about the lusts and desires of your flesh. Listen to my voice, do what I say. Do not conform to the world, do not bow down to the gods of the world, do not follow them, do not serve them, and do not do as they say. Be Holy as I am Holy. Be obedient children not fashioning, not molding, not conforming to the behaviors of the world. That’s what God is telling you! And finally, where is the victory that God spoke about in Exodus, “hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” For the Gentile Christian, the adopted child, this is our victory. The hope, or better translated, the expectation in the salvation in Jesus the Christ. What a victory that will be.

Joseph Benson Comments- “The apostle alludes to the manners of the eastern countries, in which the men’s garments being long and flowing, they prepared themselves for travelling, and other active employments, by girding them up with a girdle put round their loins, to prevent their being encumbered by them. The loins of the mind, therefore, is a figurative expression for the faculties of the soul, the understanding, memory, will, and affections, which the apostle signifies must be gathered in and girded, as it were, about the soul by the girdle of truth, so as to be in a state fit for continual and unwearied exertion in running the Christian race, fighting the good fight of faith, and working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Our mind must not be overcharged at any time with surfeiting and drunkenness, or the cares of this life: our affections must be placed on proper objects, and in a just degree; and especially must be set on the things that are above, which are to be our portion and felicity for ever: our various passions must be under the government of reason and religion, of the truth and grace of God.”

On the hope of Christ, John Calvin states, ” For the object of Peter was to call us away beyond the world; for this purpose the fittest thing was the recollection of Christ’s coming. For when we direct our eyes to this event, this world becomes crucified to us, and we to the world.”

Obedience is not a choice. Being a Christian is not a game. It is a discipline. The world will exercise large amounts of discipline when it comes to the study, to the execution, to the devotion of many aspects of our lives. But when it comes to God, many treat it as a passing fancy. It is not something that requires effort. There is no work in faith. I know there was a time when we used to focus on faith without works is dead, but I believe we have been so heavy on the anit-works righteous movement, and rightfully so, that a negative side-effect has taken place. That is that love is all there is and that no work is necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you love God, you will follow Him, you will obey Him, and you will gird up your loins, you will prepare yourself for battle against the world and against your own flesh.

Once again, in his daily devotional, Dr. Charles Stanley reports something directly to the point. “Are you trying to rationalize a decision or behavior? Perhaps you’ve offered reasons for pursuing a certain path. Or maybe you tried bargaining with God. I assure you He isn’t moved by any arguments. Remember: Partial obedience is disobedience in His eyes. And no sin is worth being outside His will.”

If you stand in the mirror what will the reflection tell you about yourself, and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your house, straight from the cross to the Christian!

From Such Turn Away!

Mark 7

7 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

I had it on my mind today to talk about thinking. You know…….a man left alone with his own thoughts and what God thinks about that. After all, most of what we hear today is derived from our own thoughts. Whether you are one who chooses to think that God does not exist, that God is a God of love and accepts or tolerates everything and everyone, or that the rules God has may be a little more conservative than this liberal world would like Him to be, or thinks He is. No matter what, I got to thinking…..what does God think about our wisdom compared to His. I was led to Mark chapter 7 and read this beautiful nugget of wisdom. I praise God for His teaching.

First let’s take note that Jesus corrected sinners. Yes, that’s right, Jesus corrected people. Please, don’t take my word for it, read it here. The Pharisees were self-righteous people who thought that they were better than everybody else because they were righteous and everybody else was not. They thought they did not sin, and they were trying to trick Jesus into blasphemy as they questioned His wisdom with their own. Their conduct is sin, its idolatry. And notice that Jesus referred to the Pharisees as hypocrites. Why is that important? Because if Jesus was alive today and did that so many people would say, “Don’t judge me.” Notice that Jesus did not condemn them, so there was no judgment. He did identify a behavior and called it our as such. The point here is that there really is a difference. I think that sometimes we are guilty of reading the written word and injecting emotion where it ought not to be. However, I also believe that sometimes we read the written word and fail to inject the appropriate tone, inflection, excitement, anger, and other emotions too. We think what our minds want us to think. I believe that means that we want to think that Jesus never corrected anyone, he never called a man out on his sin, and he never got angry or spoke with emotion. I believe these verses tell a different story. I believe that Jesus was passionate about being about His Father’s business. I think these words indicate that Jesus was not the all loving God that tolerated everything. I think it clearly states that Jesus was the all loving God who put his foot down and did apply emotion when it was the right time.

Notice verse 21. Let’s clearly indicate that when we talk about the heart, it is a metaphor for the brain. Let’s admit what we know, the human heart is a muscle that pumps blood through the body. It does not think, feel, love, or engage the rest of the body in any form of action. It pumps blood as commanded and regulated by the brain and that’s it. The brain is where we think and that is what Christ is talking about here. From our mind, where we are to meditate on God in ALL ways and at ALL times, we derive evilness. These are not my words, but those of Christ. Here Jesus tells us where we go wrong most of the time. He tells us that the things we say, the things that come from within, and the thoughts that generate our words and our action are what defile a man. In our mind we think of all the things he mentions in the remaining words of 21 and in verses 22 and 23. Jesus tells us the things we contrive in our head are sinful, but if we were to think on the things above, we would not sin.

2 Timothy 3

3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Again, I read verse 8 and wanted to post it. But as I read the verses around it, and saw the context, I see again that God is better at explaining His point than I am. I am so unworthy. In verse 8 God tells us that in the end times man will have a corrupt mind. Now I do not know exactly how close we are or are not to the last day. I will not even pretend to guess, as God has clearly told us how foolish that is. Man has also made himself out to be a fool by repeatedly predicting the end of time inaccurately. But again, in this chapter we are seeing the unacceptable behaviors laid out for us to know and understand. We are also told what the acceptable behaviors are. It does not matter who you are, you cannot change those. If you are an unsaved sinner looking to make God into something that brings you comfort in your sin, you will not find that in the Christian faith that I belong to. If you are a Christian trying to tell the world that living in sin is okay because God loves everyone, then you are not telling God’s word you are telling your own story and according to verse 8 you are reprobate concerning the faith, which is to say that you are so far away from the faith that you have no conscience for your sin. You have no shame or guilt for your sinfulness. And to approve of sinfulness would indeed be a message that is anti-scripture and, as fruit, would indicate that the truth is not in you. I know too many people who proclaim Christ and tell me that hanging out with sinners is good, and that even Jesus did it. Yes, He did, as he talked to them about that sin. He did not sit with them and drink booze, smoke cigarettes, watch horror movies, throw parties and give them any reason to believe that living in their sin was okay with our ways. What does it say from the end of verse 5? “From such turn away.” You are not the God man, you are not to befriend and live with the unsaved.  You are told to stay away because you may fall yourself, and Christ knows that so He tells you to say no to those relationships.

I love verse 16 because in it, we are told to use the scripture to reprove (which means correct) each other and that those who are of the spirit will receive that correction. Those who wish to do good works would be wise to hear it, and do it. In James we are told to be doers of the word, not just hearers of the word. If you hear the correction, then make the correction.

This world is not kind to correction. It is absolutely comfortable living in its sin. It is only going to get worse. But we exacerbate that because Christians are not following the word. We are letting the people we love slip away from God by being too afraid to hurt their feelings, or to lose them as a family member. We are picking our earthly relationships over our Godly relationship. In that end, we will only ever have our earthly relationships.

I love you so much that I will not lie to you. I love you so much that I will not withhold from you the truth that set me free, because I want you to be free from the consequence of sin too. I will love you so much that I will not quit or give in just because you say God’s truthful love is hateful; because I know that no one really wants to endure correction, even me. I will love you so much that I will not hoard salvation all to myself, but rather share with you the truths you need to know so you can make the best choice in your life, to receive Christ into your mind and share His greatest gift of all, the cleansing love of the blood of Christ.

If you stand in the mirror, what will the reflection tell you about your relationship with God and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your home, straight from the cross to the Christian!

Christ is not your boy toy.

This world is coming unraveled, and it is speeding up the unraveling with each passing day. The bible warns us, many times over, of what is to come (which I believe is already here in some regard) and how to identify it, and then how to deal with it. We can boil the reasons down to just one, sin. But I know that is when people start rolling their eyes and say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Sin, that’s the reason for everything with you people!” So instead of just saying ‘sin’, let me try to put it another way, let me reveal how God puts it, and see if we can’t clear some things up.

I am reading from the second epistle (a short dispatch or note) of John. There is only one chapter, so let’s go directly to verses 7 through 11.

7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

To start off with, we are told here that if there be a person who does not confess that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, they are a deceiver. We have no need to interpret this, as it is plain. There is no reason why a Christian entertains theory from a person who does not believe that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. In fact, there are many who confess this, but fail to actually believe it. This is a principal that is a huge hiccup for a lot of people. Faith is more than lip service. It is a total belief system. You say it, but do you confess it from the nucleus of your mind? With all of your logical senses, do you truly confess that Christ is God in the flesh?  In the next verse, John starts of with the word ‘THIS’. The word indicates the behavior. ‘This’ really means those who do not confess and believe that Christ is the God man, and that this behavior makes a person a deceiver and the enemy of Christ. I know that when we talk about an anti-christ, we think of just one person that is going to rise to power as the testimony of Christ reveals in the pages of Revelation. But here, John is letting you know that ALL who do not believe are an enemy of Christ. This is serious business folks. I put it to you because I think the Christian of today believes that a relationship with Christ is some cavalier on again off again deal. Christ is not your trophy girlfriend, or your boy toy. He is almighty God and this is a lot more serious than you think!

Ellicot wrote– “among all the human errors by which the influence of the Evil One is manifested, this is the most destructive. Those who adopt such errors are the most fatal deceivers and opponents of Christ and truth.”

John Gill wrote- “who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh; these were not the Jews who denied that Jesus was the Christ, though they would not allow that Christ was come in the flesh; but these were some who bore the Christian name, and professed to believe in Jesus Christ, but would not own that he was really incarnate, or assumed a true human nature, only in appearance; and denied that he took true and real flesh of the virgin, but only seemed to do so; and these are confuted by the apostle and upon everyone of these he justly fixes the following character.”

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Why is the gathering of the saints important? Why is a church home important? Why should the brethren be the most important people in your life? Because we are to ‘look to ourselves’. We are to be AWAKE!! We are to be on constant guard for the series of men who deceive and who are an anti-christ. We are to be a peculiar people set aside all on one accord, like minded so that when we see that which is not right we can identify it as such and stay clear of it. Christians are not hate mangers and we are not filled with phobias. We believe the BIBLE declares a right behavior and a wrong behavior. As we all should be on the constant lookout for flaws in our own lives, we are also on the constant lookout for the snares of the world. And we are to identify them, call them out so we can all, together, stay clear of them. Why? So that we do not lose the things which we have wrought. This is very clear. We must be watchful for if we fail, we lose all the ground we covered. It is a constant effort, it is an endless walk, it is enduring to the end, it is making the good choice, it is leaving behind your earthly flesh and giving over to God all that is you. There is a finish line to cross, a reward to be lost, and a hell to shun. But there is a full reward to be had, a heaven to be gained for those who endure unto the end. In Galations 3:3 Paul asks the Galatians if they were so foolish as to begin “in the spirit” and then be “perfected by the flesh”. We must remain vigilant in rebuking those who would mislead us with wrong interpretations of God’s word. That is the answer to the ‘why’ questions. So that we can bare each other’s burdens and be our brother’s keepers.

Benson comments– “Lest you lose the reward of what you have already done, which every apostate does; but that we receive — Which every one that is faithful unto death shall do; a full reward — That, having fully employed all our talents to the glory of him that gave them, we may receive the whole portion of felicity which God has promised to diligent, persevering Christians.”

Adam Clarke comments– “This reading is more consistent and likely, and is supported by at least as good evidence as the other. We find that if these persons did not keep on their guard they might lose their salvation, and the apostles their rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. Even this intimation might put them on their guard. Had the apostle said ye cannot finally fall, what a different effect would it have produced!”

Ellicott writes– “The result of the error would be loss of the fellowship with the Father and the Son in truth and love.”

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Again, there really is not need for too much discussion as this is pretty clear. If you subscribe to crying out LORD LORD and do not have the doctrine in you, you are not abiding with God. These are His words. Not only does God want you to believe in Him, He wants that faith to produce obedience. He does not just want you to believe in Him, He wants you to abide with him. The word abide (μενων) refers to being one with, not separating or becoming something different. That’s how close God wants you to be with Him. But if we transgress by not being one with the doctrine of Christ, God tells us we are not one with Him, but that we have become something different; we are apart from Him. If we do keep the doctrine then we are one with Him. And this is so important to God that He tells us, that if anyone comes teaching something that is not right, we are not to receive that person. Now, John is saying that this person should not be permitted to teach or preach in the house of God because that is not the doctrine of Christ. But this verse does not stop at the house of God alone. If you are a true Christian, then when you leave church and go home, you are truly leaving one house of worship and going to another house of worship. So if the anti-christ is not to be in the church house, he is not to be in your home also. In-fact, the next few words tells you to not bid him God’s speed. This means that we are not to encourage them to continue to preach, teach, talk false doctrine. If you encourage an anti-christ, you then are promoting the false doctrine and are now one with the enemy of Christ. God is simply saying, pick a side. There is no middle. You are either one with me, or you are not.

Benson states– “….so the Christian sister to whom the apostle wrote this letter, being probably rich, and of a benevolent disposition, thought herself under an obligation to supply the wants of those strangers who went about preaching. Wherefore, to prevent her from being deceived by impostors, the apostle here directs her to require such teachers to give an account of the doctrines which they taught; and if she found that they did not hold the true Christian doctrine, he advised her not to receive them into her house, nor to give them any countenance. And this advice of the apostle was certainly perfectly proper, because they who entertained, or otherwise showed respect to, false teachers, enabled them the more effectually to spread their erroneous doctrine, to the seduction and ruin of those whom they deceived.”

Ellicott writes– “Although it would be possible to love unbelievers, in the sense of earnestly desiring that they might come to a knowledge of the truth, it would be wrong—for sincere Christians it would be impossible—to hold out to them the right hand of fellowship. Especially dangerous would it be for the matron and her family.”

This sharing of the word is done so that we may allow the spirit to convict each of us accordingly. I can only know for sure where I stand. Am I a deceiver, or does God abide in me and me in him? I fail everyday to be perfect. But I strive to be as perfect as possible. I am confident that this is a goal that only Christ attained, but I cannot let that be the excuse to do less than I am gifted to do. The truth is, I may not be gifted to do much at all. But God, I believe, loves to see the effort. I must try to grow and learn and to allow the spirit in me to produce works that bring glory to the throne of God.

If you stand in the mirror, what will the reflection tell you about your relationship with God and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your home, straight from the cross to the Christian!

Joy is One Prayer Away

I think one of the reasons that people think Christians are a crazy group of people is because one true attribute is that, for those who truly worship God, we put God first. It looks crazy to those who do not worship God when a Christian rejoices in hardship.

Right now I know a man suffering from a rare form of Leukemia. Yes, it is true that he wishes this would pass and that he would remain healthy and watch his children grow old. Yes, he asks God for healing. But he prays more for peace. He trusts God will have His way, and that brings about a peace in him. There have been highs and lows in this journey, but the one consistent is his faith in the Creator. Another example is morality. I think most people have a line they will not cross. Most of us have a line where we will end friendships, walk off a job, or in some fashion terminate a relationship. For Christians who read and truly desire to be a follower of Christ, that moral line is much more conservative. People will look at a believe and say,” you left because of that?” What we find to be deal breakers in our walk with Christ is everyday living for most people in the world today. It is all because we are not the dictator of morality. We recognize God has that authority, and we try to obey God’s word, not the norms of a fallen society.

The Apostle Paul wrote the letter, with Timothy, to the church in Philippi. The first chapter starts off under the title of “Joy in Suffering”. Yet, at the time he wrote about his Joy, Paul was looking into the face of death as he anticipated his sentence from Rome for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. But instead of looking at it with fear, instead of compromising his faith and beliefs to save himself, instead of looking at it as the end of his life, he looked at it as an opportunity to continue to preach Christ as he defended himself, knowing that no matter what happened, God’s throne would be glorified. Looking at the situation and wanting to stay on earth to spread the gospel, and wanting to leave this earth to be with the LORD in heaven, allowed Paul to be okay with whatever God’s plan was. Paul looked at his service as continual until he died, and was happy to die in that service. Paul stated that even as he defended his actions, because he would be proclaiming Christ, he was still serving the LORD.

Philippians 1:15-20

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

So when you have the mental attitude that no matter where you are, no matter what is going on around you, God put you there on purpose to spread His Gospel, the true believer asks, how can this get any better? How can I not cry tears of joy, in the midst of great sorrow?

So then we go to Chapter two, and read about joy in serving. Again, remember that the words Paul and Timothy put together here, were at a  time when Paul believed his sentence in Rome would be death.

Philippians 2

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Joseph Benson commented;

The apostle, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, having exhorted the Philippians to walk worthy of their Christian profession, by having their conversation according to the gospel; and, as nothing is more required by it, or can be more suitable to it, than mutual love among the followers of Christ, he here beseeches them, by every thing most affecting in Christianity, to fulfil his joy, by exercising that love.

Of verse 3 John Gill commented.

but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves; not as to the things of the world, in respect of which one man may be a better man than another, and he must know and think himself so; nor with respect to the endowments of the mind, and acquired abilities, which one man may have above another; and the difference being so great in some, it must be easily discerned, that one is more learned and knowing, in this or the other language, art, or science; but with regard to, grace, and to spiritual light, knowledge, and judgment: and where there is lowliness of mind, or true humility, a person will esteem himself in a state of grace, as the great apostle did, the chief of sinners, and less than the least of all saints; one in whom this grace reigns will pay a deference to the judgment of other saints, and will prefer their experience, light, and knowledge, to his own; and will readily give way, when he sees such that are of longer standing, of greater experience, and more solid judgment, as he has reason to think, than himself, are on the other side of the question; and so peace, love, and unity, are preserved. This grace of humility is an excellent ornament to a Christian, and wonderfully useful in Christian societies.

Other verses throughout the bible that remind us that we are to have joy as followers of Christ and being His, no trouble is too great, no situation is too bleak, no fear is too great for God to overcome.

James 1:2-3

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Romans 15:13-14

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Being filled with the spirit should bring you so much joy that you no longer need to rely on yourself for happiness. When we lack joy, we, as believers, have freely handed it over to satan and said here it is, take it, I don’t feel like focusing on God today. Non-believers cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to be filled with comfort and joy when times are so hard you literally have no idea where the next meal is coming from. Many non-believers try to fill that void inside with sin, pleasures of the flesh that lead  you down the path to utter darkness. But when we rely on God, when we rejoice in Jesus Christ and have no trust in the flesh. That sadness, that desperation, that loneliness is replaced with the joy of hope for an everlasting tomorrow. Love, which was once conditional and emotional, is now shared with everyone you meet, known and unknown. Sinners and brethren are loved from the depths of your soul that you never new existed until it was revealed to you by the dwelling of the Holy Spirit. You understand that love because you now get the picture of how God loved you even when you did not love Him. I have never in my life felt love for stranger like I do since accepting Christ. I have never known the depths of love like I know for my brothers and sisters in Christ, some of whom I have never met face to face. There is no greater joy than feeling that FOR them, and feeling that FROM them. I can make it through anything; not because my name is Mike, and not because I am special. Mike is an utter failure, destined for hell before I ever left my mother’s womb. No, I can do anything because my head is an Almighty, Omniscient, Sovereign God, creator of all that is. He is in me and all around me because that is how I choose my inner-circle. It is only one prayer away for you too.

If you stand in the mirror, what will the reflection tell you about your relationship with God and what are you going to do about it? May the peace of God be abundantly heaped upon you and your home, straight from the cross to the Christian!