Philippians 3:13-14. How to Be Successful In The Christian Life. The Quick Simplest Biblically True Explanation is: Jesus is our Example to Follow.
There is No Success in a Christian Life outside of Jesus. Yes, Life is Hard. The Christian Life Often Feels Impossible. As a Christian Please Do Not Quit, Give Up The Christian Life. Forget The Past: The Good, The Bad, Keep Moving Forward. Jesus will Reward Hard Working Christians who haven’t Quit Standing up for their Christian Faith. They are Moving Forward in their Christian Life until the End of their Life.
The Christian Life is Not Working Your Way to Heaven. Following the Golden Rule, Living a Moral Life to Get to Heaven. Salvation is Settled for a Christian. A Christian is Saved and is Not in an Endless Process of Attempting to Please God in a Vain Attempt to Get to Heaven. Salvation is 100% Jesus 0% You, Human Effort. A Christian is Saved by Believing in Jesus, in his Finished Work on the Cross, to Believe the Gospel Only.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
There are Thousands of Sermons, Books, and Christian Writings on Philippians 3:13-14. Because these Verses are very Encouraging with a Promise of a Prize.
It is Essential to Understand that most of what you will find in Sermons and Published Writings about Philippians Chapter 3 is False. Counterfeit Christianity. They Twist the Scriptures to Teach Works.
The Bible Doesn’t Teach Works as a Way to Get to Heaven.
Philippians Chapter 3 DOES NOT TEACH WORKS SALVATION. Philippians 3:13-14 and the CONTEXT of the Passage IS NOT TEACHING YOU CAN WORK YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN.
“…the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Salvation is 100% Jesus 0% Works, Human Effort.
The Entire CONTEXT of Philippians Chapter 3 is Salvation through Jesus Christ ONLY:
The Point is, Christians Should NEVER GIVE UP Serving Jesus in the Christian Ministry.
Because if You Give up and Quit Serving Jesus You will Not Receive the Rewards, Prizes, for Specific Biblical Rewards that You would have Earned because of the Work You Did as a Christian.
This Prize, Reward is Not Eternal Salvation / Eternal Life which they Already Have:
1st John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Salvation CANNOT BE Won, Earned. Salvation is Not a Reward, a Prize for Works You have Done.
Salvation is Freely GIVEN to Everyone who has Believed on Jesus Christ Only. To Everyone who has Believed the Gospel ONLY for their Salvation:
The Entire Passage.
1st John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Also:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jesus is Clear that Salvation is Not What You can Do to Work Your Way to Heaven. Salvation is Not a Reward for Your Good Works.
This is Very Clear in the Bible. The Bible From Genesis to Revelation Only Teaches Salvation Through Jesus:
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Salvation is a Freewill Choice to Either Believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Go to Heaven or to Reject Jesus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Go to Hell.
To Understand Philippians Chapter 3 it is Essential to Understand what the Christian Life is and is Not.
The Christian Life is NOT A Process of Working Your Way to Heaven.
The Christian Life is How Christians Should Live Because: THEY ARE SAVED.
What is the Christian Life?
After a Person is Saved, the Christian Life Begins.
The Christian Life is Serving Jesus in the Christian Ministry. That Does Not mean: Go to Bible College, Become a Pastor / Traveling Evangelist, Having an official title in your Church, etc…
The Christian Life is Following Jesus Example in the Bible. Jesus Main Focus was to Preach the Gospel. To Live according to what the Bible Teaches.
Christians should Share the Gospel, Never Be Ashamed of the Gospel. Another term for Sharing the Gospel is Evangelism. Being an Evangelist is Simply sharing the Gospel with Other People. This is something All Christians should Naturally do. (To be an Evangelist you do not have to be Ordained. Given the Title by a Church a College, by anyone Official in the Church.)
All Christians Are supposed to be Evangelist’s
At the Very Minimum Every Christian Must Be an Evangelist. To be an Evangelist You Need to Share the Gospel. The Biblical Foundation of this is Everywhere in the Bible. For example:
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Key Points:
1) A Servant of Jesus Christ 2) An Apostle 3) Separated unto the gospel of God 4) We have received grace and apostleship
All Christians are to Serve Jesus, be his Servants. An Apostle: The Definition of an Apostle / Apostleship is to be a Messenger of God.
(All of the Witnesses of the Resurrected Jesus Christ were Officially An Apostle of Jesus Christ. This was an Official Title within the Christian Church. These Apostle’s had an Official Ministry to Preach the Gospel to All of the World.)
People get easily confused about an Official Title in the Church, which is an Official Ministry. And Simply being an Evangelist or what the Bible Also Calls being an Apostle, and having an Apostleship.
I will do my best to clarify that in the Bible there were Both Titled Apostles and regular Non Titled Apostles at the same time. They were all Given a Specific Ministry to perform. The Titled Apostles were All Witnesses of Jesus Resurrection. Their Specific Ministry is Over Today Because they are All Long Dead. Right now there are Apostles / Apostleship’s with no official title in the Church.
People who are Active in Spreading the Gospel, in Soul winning are doing the Work of an Apostle of an Evangelist. They have an Apostleship, a Mission from Jesus to do the Work that they are doing. They Do Not Need a Bible Degree from a Bible College to do the Work, the Ministry that they are Doing. Most of Jesus’s Apostles were Not Educated Formally in a Public Institution of Biblical, Studies. They were Not All College Graduates or what would have Equaled that at the time.
Biblical Examples:
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
This passage in Acts Chapter 10 is where the Definition of an Apostle comes from. These Apostles were Actual Witnesses of the Resurrected Jesus.
These Apostles were Eyewitnesses of Jesus Earthly Ministry from the beginning to the end when Jesus ascended into Heaven. Their message was Powerfully received and Believed. There is No more Believable Testimony then Eyewitnesses. This is How / Why The Gospel of Jesus Christ was Quickly spread around the World from these Eyewitnesses. There were Hundreds of these Apostles. Eyewitnesses that Preached the Gospel throughout the Earth.
Now Back to the passage in Romans Chapter 1
Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:5-7 Clearly Paul is saying that an Apostleship, being an Apostle is another thing as well. There were the Eyewitnesses Apostle’s who with Authority were Spreading the Gospel throughout the World. There are / were Also Apostles who do / did not Claim to be Eyewitnesses of the Gospel who are / were sharing the Gospel with people and were told to do so by Paul and Jesus.
This is Clear: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome…
The Message Could Not be More Clear: “YE ALSO THE CALLED OF JESUS CHRIST”
ALSO, ALSO, ALSO, ALSO!!!!
Paul is saying that the Ministry of Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ is ALSO for ALL CHRISTIANS.
Understand this:
In Verse 7: 7 To all that be in Rome… This Letter (The Book of Romans) Romans, that Paul wrote was written to ALL the Christians that were in Rome.
The Message is Clear as a Christian the Ministry of Sharing the Gospel was Not Only a Ministry of Paul’s and the other Apostles that were also Eyewitnesses of the Resurrected Jesus. Evangelism, being an Apostle is ALSO the Responsibility of ALL Christians.
Giving up on Your Life Can Happen because of Early Success or Failure:
Failures:
Relationships that Fail. Breaking up with the person you are or were in Love with can Destroy your Life, but it should Not. People Stop living their Lives over someone they were Never even Married to. Others feel their Life is Over Because of being Divorced. They Live Bitter Lives, because of the one that got away. Or Bitter Lives because of Getting Divorced.
I Find it Sad, Disturbing, Disgusting when men (Women do the same thing, I have heard them. There are too many Movies about it.) from 18 to 50 years old and older who are living back in High School in their minds. I have listened to too many of them (I refuse to still Listen to men 30 and older who have this conversation. I steer away from it. If they will Not talk about anything else I will say: “I have to go. You need to get over it and live the life you have now. You are Never going to be happy still thinking about a 13, 14, 15 year old girl etc…, who rejected you in High School. Get over it and Forget it.) going on and on about how Good it was in High School. How they wish they could have a Do Over. “If I could live it over again, have a do over, I would know how to have gotten such and such a Girl… I saw her the other day and she still looks Good. I could have made it with her if I did things differently…”
My reply: “No, You Don’t know what she was thinking about you. You will Never know why she rejected you then. You then and Now are thinking Only about her Looks. It is Disgusting for you 30 years old (even 50+ years old) to be longing for a 15 year old Girl because of Physical Attraction. This is exactly what you are wanting, by wishing you could go back to High School again…”
Not Achieving important Goals. People set Goals and if they cannot get to them they Quit instead of setting a New Realistic Goal. Quitting would be going back home and living with your parents… Find a New Career. If College does not work for you enroll in a Trade School for example.
Success:
People who have an Early Success often Never do anything of Value afterward. The Success could have been High School and or College Glory: Academics, Social, Sports etc… You might Laugh at this one but it is Absolutely True. There are Millions of Men and Women in their 50’s, 60’s and Older that Never Achieved Anything they want to talk about other than what they did in High School / College. They Never Stop Talking about the “Good Old Days…”
Living in the Past is Bad.
I am nearly 60 now and I just will not go down that road with people any longer. I do not want to have those conversations any more. I am tired of hearing them from people of any age. People in College miss their Days in High School.
Seriously, this is a Dangerous rut to Live your Life in. I was in Navy Boot camp when I was 17 and I was glad to be off living my life. High School and the Past was Not what I was thinking about. There were Dozens of guys in my Boot Camp wishing they were still back in High School. I told them they would Never make it in the Military if they were Not focused on getting through Basic Training, then A, School, etc… In Boot Camp I was the Education Petty Officer. One of my Jobs was to help people make it through Boot Camp. So Yes, I had dozens of men I helped to focus. So they could make it through Boot Camp. I had to Get them to Forget Everything in the Past and to Concentrate on making it out of Boot Camp Successfully.
In the Military Boot Camp is just the first step. Many People have 2 years of training they have to get through before they even get to their first command. Then at their first command they have to get through OJT: On The Job Training. Before they can even be Qualified for the Military Job they signed up for, went through schools for. People can and do Wash out of the Military at any phase. The most Advanced Jobs take Many Years of Training before you are Qualified to hold the Title that you went to Advanced Schools for.
This is also True for Numerous Civilian Careers. In the Military you can washout to the point you get discharged. Typically though if you wash out During a Military School you are then sent to a Ship or a Squadron and you will be unrated… It is the lowest rung on the ladder. Many people who have found themselves in this position have valued it later. Because they worked their way up from the bottom to a New Career Field. A job that they were better suited for. They rose through the ranks and became Very Successful in the Military and in Life.
The First Point is We all Fail. Failures are Never a Reason to Quit.
The Second Point is when you Fail Get up and Keep Moving Forward.
Find a different New relationship. Maybe you Need a New a Different Career. Do Not Go Backward. Whatever you have Failed at should Not be used as an Excuse to Not Keep Moving Forward in your Life.
The Third Point is Forgetting the Failures, and the Successes in your Life.
Both Failures and Successes if you dwell on them can Keep you from Moving Forward. Life is about Living and Moving forward. You can always be moving forward.
Everything I have Said is Biblical:
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14 are the text verses for this message. But it is always essential to have the complete context of the passage to be sure the passage is being correctly explained.
The Entire passage:
Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Paul in verse 6 is explaining that he had a Zeal for God. He was active in doing what he knew was God’s Will.
Paul was a Very Devout Priest in Judaism he was a Highly educated Pharisee. He Persecuted, had Christians Murdered because his understanding of Judaism told him to do so. He was also under orders from his Temple to do so.
In verses 7-8 Paul is regretful of what he did in the Past: Persecuting, having Christians Murdered, his Life as a Pharisee. Everything he had done before he became a Christian he said is Dung, is Loss.
Our Lives Before Salvation add up to Nothing. Without Jesus, we are Nothing. Paul is Speaking from the Heart.
In Verses 9-15 When Paul says Win Christ.
The Context is Clearly to Grow in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ. To Become more and more Like Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul spent decades Not Knowing Jesus. Decades Lost without Salvation, without Understanding the Scriptures.
Philippians Chapter 3 and Romans Chapter 7 are Extremely Emotional Chapters where Paul is using examples about himself, his life, to Teach Biblical Truths.
You will find many other Verses in the Bible where Paul is Deeply Personal and Speaking Powerfully from the Heart in Hopes that People will Understand the Biblical Truth he is Teaching.
Back to Verses 9-15
Paul is talking to a Group of Christians here in Philippians Chapter 3. He is so Emotional because, he doesn’t want these people to waste their Lives. He is Essentially Pleading with them to Not Waste their Lives.
The Word Apprehend / Apprehended is used several times in this passage. So Let’s look at the definition of this Word:
Apprehend
APPREHEND’, v.t. L. apprehendo, of ad and prehendo, to take or seize.
1. To take or seize; to take hold of. In this literal sense, it is applied chiefly to taking or arresting persons by legal process, or with a view to trial; as to apprehend a thief.
2. To take with the understanding, that is, to conceive in the mine; to understand, without passing a judgment, or making an inference.
I apprehend not why so many and various laws are given.
3. To think; to believe or be of opinion, but without positive certainty; as, all this is true, but we apprehend it is not to the purpose.
Notwithstanding this declaration, we do not apprehend that we are guilty of presumption.
4. To fear; to entertain suspicion or fear of future evil; as, we apprehend calamities from a feeble or wicked administration.
apprehended
APPREHEND’ED, pp. Taken; seized; arrested; conceived; understood; feared.
APPREHEND – Definition from the KJV Dictionary
Paul is saying Plainly that He is Not Finished with the Ministry Given to Him by Jesus.
There is More to be Done. He can Still Grow Stronger in his Faith in Jesus. He can Become More Like Jesus.
Paul also uses the word Perfect which Biblically means Complete.
Paul Doesn’t think he, or anyone else, can be Perfect in the sense of being Sinless, Flawless, Being an Exact Copy of Jesus, etc…
Paul’s Goal, the Goal We Should All Have, is to Follow Jesus’ example to us written in the Bible.
1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1st Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
I must point out that there are Corrupt So-Called Christian Churches / Christians that are Following Paul. They Completely Reject Jesus. They Discard Everything that Jesus says in the Bible: “Jesus Ministry was Not for the Salvation of the World. Jesus came to Save Israel, the Jews Only. Paul Brought in the Plan of Salvation for the Gentiles.”
Dispensationalist are so messed up with their False Unbiblical Man Made Doctrines. They Teach Multiple plans of Salvation. The Bible Teaches there is ONLY One Plan of Salvation for Everyone!!!! Dispensationalist they WORSHIP THE APOSTLE PAUL. DISPENSATIONALIST REJECT JESUS!!!! They Reject the Gospel only for Salvation.
Beware and Reject Counterfeit Christians, Counterfeit Christianity.
These False Churches / Christians, including Almost All IFB Baptist Churches, Teach this ( They Falsely Teach that Jesus ONLY came for the Jews, that his Entire Ministry was to Israel to the Jewish People. So Today what Jesus Taught is part of the Old Testament. They Directly say to Ignore Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that Jesus Ministry was Nothing Different than any other Old Testament Prophet. They Falsely use Dispensationalism to throw out Everything Jesus said. “You cannot Base Christianity on what Jesus Preached, what he Taught. Jesus was Not Speaking to anyone other than the Jews.” “Paul came to Bring the Doctrine of Christianity. His Writings are Entirely what Christianity is Based on. You cannot Base Salvation on what Jesus Taught…”)
To one degree or another IFB Baptist Churches, 90% or more of All Baptist Churches teach this. They Speak out of Both Sides of their Mouths.
When Paul said to Follow him he Never Said: Reject what Jesus Taught. I have my own Doctrine that is Different than what Jesus Taught.
Paul Doesn’t teach a Different message than what Jesus Taught.
Repeatedly in the Bible when Paul says to Follow me. He makes sure to say as I Follow Jesus. Paul is Extremely Clear that Everything he has to say is what Jesus Taught to him. If you compare what Jesus said / taught and what Paul and all the other Authors of the Bible (The Bible was written by the Holy Spirit of God through Men.) taught you will Not find a Single Actual Contradiction.
2nd Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
All False Churches/ False Christians Reject Jesus. They Worship a Different Jesus that they invented:
Jesus speaking:
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
For any Honest person, The Above Passage in John Chapter 10 will Forever Close the Conversation on Who to Follow.
There is a Reason the Christian Faith is Called Christianity.
Jesus is the Author of Christianity. Jesus is the One who Died for All of the Sins of the World, Not The Apostle Paul or anyone Else.
Salvation is Through Jesus Alone.
All False Counterfeit Churches / Christians Deny what Jesus Clearly Taught:
They either Add Works (Water Baptism, Repent of Sin, Forsake Sin, Give Your Life to Jesus Christ, Turn From Sin, Penance, You must Join this Church, Turn From Sin, etc…) to Jesus Finished Work of Salvation, The Gospel, or they like the Mormon’s Completely set up their Religion Based on a Person: Joseph Smith.
Please Do Not Put Your Life, your Eternal Soul, in the Hands of anyone but Jesus. The Apostle Paul Never said to Follow Him Instead of Jesus.
Beware of All Churches that Follow the Writings of someone other than Jesus. Like: John Calvin “Calvinists”, Peter Ruckman “Ruckmanites”, The Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, Methodist Churches, Baptists Churches, etc… Also Churches that are Part of a Convention steer clear of.
Southern Baptist’s they are Tied to the Southern Baptists Convention, An Unbiblical Governing Body that is above the Authority of the Bible.
All Baptist Churches have an Origin Based on a Man other than Jesus. The Religion of the South was Baptists. The Baptists of the South were Behind the Civil War. Without Baptists Churches there would Not have Been a Civil War. The KKK Origin and membership was Baptist. The KKK was a Baptist Religious Organization.
Baptists Churches Absolutely Deny this. Well the KKK wore hoods they covered their Faces, covered up their identities so it should Not Surprise Anyone that Baptists Churches will Deny their KKK History.
To this Day I have Never Been to a Baptist Church in the South that Wasn’t Extremely Racist. I attended Baptist Churches for more than a Decade starting in the early 1980’s. The more I looked into the History of the Baptist Church the More I realized I had to Leave the Baptist Church Completely. Yes Because of Racism. The Final Straw, my Ultimate Reason was Because 99% of Baptists Churches teach Works. They are a False Religion, Counterfeit Christianity.
Please Educate Yourself further and open and Read All the information in the Below Links. People Want Proof of what I write so I like to Provide the Best Links I can to Information that will confirm what I am writing, talking about.
Baptists in the South and the American Civil War
Yes, the Civil War Was About Slavery | Baptists and the American Civil War: In Their Own Words-
Ku Klux Klan: Origin, Members & Facts | HISTORY
What Church to Go to? How to Find a Church?
I am 59 years old and I am Not Certain that I ever Attended a Church with a Saved Pastor. So I cannot say that I was Ever Part of a Christian Church.
How was I Saved? I was Saved by the Holy Spirit of God. I would Say the Person Responsible for my Salvation was my Grandmother. She Gave me Several Bibles to Read and I Devoured them. I Loved Jesus and I wanted to Spend Eternity in Heaven with Jesus. I found Salvation in the Bible.
I Believed the Gospel Only for my Salvation. My Next Door Neighbor Also Hosted a Vacation Bible School at their Home teaching Bible Salvation to Children. They Taught the Gospel and we Memorized many Salvation Bible Verses. The Next Sunday in Church the Pastor had a Sermon on Salvation and he had Children come forward to the Altar who had Gone to Vacation Bible School. He talked with each Child individually.
I was 8 years Old. He Asked Me? “At Vacation Bible School Did You Learn how to Be Saved?”
I replied: “Yes. Jesus Died for Me. He Paid for All of My Sins on the Cross. He was Buried and Rose from the Dead to Save me. Than I quoted John 3:16.”
He Asked me: “Do You Really Believe this or are you saying this because this is what you were taught at Vacation Bible School and You are just repeating what you were told?”
I replied: “This is What I Myself Believe. I Believed it Before Vacation Bible School. I learned it in the Bible…”
My Pastor Finally said: “Good. If You Truly Believe this then Please Stay on the Altar and Pray to Jesus as Long as you want to. Tell him what You told me here. Ask Jesus to Save You. If You Truly Believe what You told me, you do, than Jesus will Answer Your Prayer and he will Save You.”
There were 7 Children in total, from what I can remember that the Pastor talked to on the Altar. I was the Last one…
I stayed on the Altar for a few minutes Praying…
The Reason I think that this Pastor Might Not have been Saved is Because the Church was a United Methodist Church. The United Methodist Church Doesn’t Teach Bible Salvation. They Teach You Can Lose Your Salvation.
Looking back on my years in his Church. He like a Good United Methodist Pastor was Very Catholic. He had the Doxology, We Always had to repeat the same verses every Service. People including myself had 15 minutes of Pre Sermon Rituals Remembered that we All Like Robots had to repeat. He Baptized New Born Babies to Get rid of Original Sin.
I think what he did with Children is whatever a Child told him was correct. No matter what the Child said to him. He would Ask them if they Truly Believed it. If they did he told them to Pray that then and Ask Jesus to Save You.
Like the Catholic Church the Methodist Church Doesn’t Teach a Person can Know for Sure that they are Saved. They Believe in Works Salvation so when You Die You cannot know if you will Really Go to Heaven.
The Altar Call for Children was just part of the Process for Methodists. This is common in many different Churches.
Saying that Prayer was Just one Step in Many Steps to a Possible Salvation. If You lived a Good Enough Life when You Died you would Go to Heaven is the Basic Concept…
My Father was so Messed up and Stressed out because of Church he Gave up Church Completely when I was around 13, when he was 40. My Dad lived the Next 42 years without Faith in Jesus. I remember my Mother Crying about it and Arguing with him about going to Church. They had a Huge Blow-up.
My Father Said: “Get Yourself a Drivers License and then you can take the kids and yourself to whatever Church you want to go to. But I am Done with All of that.”
I think that was the Last word my Dad ever said about it. I Learned Later that my Mom was Very Afraid of Getting my Dad Angry. Once my Dad made up his Mind that was it. The end of the Conversation forever.
When he died he did not have a Church Funeral. His Obituary Did Not Mention Church at All.
People who Believe they are a Christian who Belong to a Church, they will have a Christian Church Service and a Church Burial. Their Obituary would say Something like: “A Faithful Serving Member of the United Methodist Church for over 50 years…”
Their Last Pastor would Typically write their Obituary. My Dad was in Hospice for several months before he Died. He could have written his own Obituary. Since he had a published Obituary I think he either wrote it or he approved of what was written. His Obituary mentioned his Military Service, His Post Military Career and His Love for Woodworking. He had the other Basic Elements of an Obituary a list of names: His Wife, Parents, Siblings, his Children and his Grand Children. There was Nothing at all about him being a Christian. All I can take from this is My Dad Died without Faith in Jesus at All. Seriously, he could say that he Loved Wood Working but he couldn’t say he Loved Jesus… My Dad is an Example of a Man who REJECTED JESUS AND WENT TO HELL.
(Working with Wood is Something my Dad rarely did. Once every 10 years or so until he was 60 he would do something that could be called Wood Working. He did Nothing that was actually Wood Working. Home Improvement would be more accurate than Wood Working. He hung some drywall to replace Paneling he did not like for example. He did very little with wood. I think the Wood Working was added because when the News Paper read what was submitted they Asked is there anything He Loved to do? Hobbies? Anything? So my Brother said Woodworking… I am just brain storming what possibly happened.)
Counterfeit Christianity Destroys Lives for many reasons.
For some because they were taught there is Only a Small Hope for Salvation at best. They think they Deserve to Go to Heaven. The thought they might go to Hell is Always in the back of their minds.
Countless People Lose their Temper Easily when it Comes to just the Topic of Jesus. They are driven over the edge if someone wants to have a Conversation with them about Jesus.
I see this Everyday. People Hate God, they Hate Jesus. They Are Angry that God Would Dare Send them to Hell. They Are Angry because they Dwell on the Possibility of Going to Hell. This thought is like a Constant itch they cannot scratch. It deep down causes them real mental and physical anguish.
Death and Hell is Always in the back of their minds.
To Cope with it most people Reject that Hell is Real. The Most they are willing to Believe is that: Heaven is Not Real. Hell is Not Real. Or Everyone will go to Heaven. At the Very Worst They will have to do Penance in Purgatory for sometime before they will get to Heaven.
This is what I know people think because they write this type of stuff continually on Social Media. They even make videos saying exactly this. I am not guessing. This is what Thousands of people say daily online.
As Life Goes on I think Everyone thinks about Heaven and Hell, at least occasionally. People Try different things: Going to a Church. Going to some sort of Religious Organization.
Everyday I see People with a Deep Hatred for Christianity. I feel this Anger comes from Frustrated people who Don’t want to go to Hell. They Lash out at Christians / Christianity because they Feel they will Go to Hell and they Hate to think about it. They Think they are Victims of Christianity. They want to just Reject Hell as a Place they Might Go to but they cannot get the thought out of their heads. Because The Voice of the Holy Ghost is inside their Heads telling them they have the Choice between Heaven and Hell.
This is not a Theory on mine. This is From the Bible. Jesus said this:
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Everyone Knows that they are a Sinner.
Everyone was Given a Conscience by God to Tell them what is Sin and what is Not Sin. When we Sin we know that we are Sinning. We also Understand that there is Always a Consequence for our Sin.
Jesus called these Hypocrites out for their own Sins. They wanted this Woman to Be Stoned to Death but Jesus said Wait up… You Guys are Hypocrites. You are Guilty of this Exact Sin too. Where is the man she was having Adultery with…
Jesus Forgave her of her Sins because he is God and as God he can Forgive Sin.
Note when Jesus told her to Go and Sin No More he was Not saying that is how a Person is Saved by Not Committing Sin. He is Really saying to her that Sin Does Have Consequences. So Do Not think it is OK to Sin Because it is Not OK.
Also You must understand that this passage is Not a Salvation Passage. The Point of the Passage is Jesus is The All Knowing God. He Knew the Sins of All of these people and he Pointed out their Sins, their Hypocrisy. Jesus Never makes Light of anyone’s Sin. He Also Never Tells a person that they can Save themselves from Hell by Not Sinning.
This Passage in Jude Explains that Jesus Hates Sin, But Jesus is Merciful to Sinners:
Jude 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
The Conclusion of this is that We All Know that we are Sinners that Need Jesus to Save us from Hell.
Christians Need to Actively Share the Gospel with People and Despite their Sins, No Matter how Vile their Sins are we Need to Work as Hard as we can to Open their Eyes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To Drag them away from the Very Fire of Hell itself.
Jesus is makes it Clear Hell is Real and it is a Place of Fire.
Jesus is our Only Savior From Hell Fire. We cannot Save ourselves from Hell. The Consequence for Our Sin is Hell if we Reject Jesus Free Gift of Salvation.
Everyone Knows that there are Consequences for their Sins.
The Vast Majority of People Chose to Believe that Being Good Enough in their overall Lives will cancel out All the Bad they have done. People want to think of themselves as Being Good. Too Good to Ever Go to Hell.
Almost No one Believes that Jesus is Enough to Save a Person from Hell. They Reject this. False Counterfeit Christianity has taught them that they have to Suffer, Do Penance, Because of their Sins.
John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
I Do Not Get Angry at Catholic’s, Mormon’s, the 7th Day Adventists or any other Religious people because of their Religion.
People in Public have Blown up at me Just for Carrying a Bible.
My Carrying my Bible with me Caused them to Blow up. I did not even look at them or say a word to them. They ran at me and started shouting at me because they saw I was carrying a Bible. This type of thing has been very common in my Life. Passing out Gospel Tracts, having actual interaction with people, that I started, about Jesus causes people to lose their minds…
This Unhinged Anger is from people that Fear Hell and Death.
It is Very Easy to Ignore a Bible, to refuse a Gospel Tract… The simple thing to do is to Ignore the Bible, the Gospel Tract. There are Angry People you don’t want to waste your time with. Just walk past them. This is simple.
They Angrily engage with Christians because of their Extreme Hatred for Christians, Christianity for Jesus.
Counterfeit Christianity is Counterfeit because it closely looks like the real thing.
A Trick that Counterfeit Churches do is to talk out of both sides of their mouths. The Pastor will sometimes Preach the Gospel without Works. But the Gospel Tracts and most of the Church literature will Add Works to Salvation.
This is done to Bring down the Homes of True Christian Families. Real Christians will Join the Church because they casually look at it and might just be very Ignorant Christians. They will become Corrupted and Doubt their Salvation because of the Mixed Messages they keep hearing in this Counterfeit Church. Their Unsaved Children will possibly Never Become Christians because 99% of the time they hear a False Gospel taught Preached.
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Life is Meaningless without Jesus.
The Only way to Live Life is to become more and more Like Jesus. To share in his sufferings…
Breaking this down we need to have the full context of what Paul is talking about.
In Philippians 3:10-14 the Apostle Paul is talking about being Christlike. He wants to Follow the example Jesus gave us.
Paul wants to Know Jesus on the Deepest Level possible, including his sufferings.
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Paul when he says apprehended, in this context it means to have achieved.
