Beyond The Four Spiritual Laws

[Beetow]

● Eph 6:5-6 . . Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

The Greek word for "slaves" is doulos (doo'-los) which is an ambiguous word that can mean slaves by voluntary or involuntary means. The first would be something like an indentured slave; which Webster's defines as a contract binding one person to work for another for a given period of time. Jacob is a good biblical example of indentured slavery. He sold fourteen years of his life to uncle Laban in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage. (Gen 29:18, Gen 29:27)

The practical application applies to giving one's employer an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. But pay is not really the primary issue. Subordination is the primary issue, and has been in this epistle since 5:21. Believers may not like the idea, but they are not independent agents with Christ; no, he owns you: bought and paid for as flesh on the line.

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1Cor 6:19-20)

So then, a Spirit-filled employee will serve workplace employers with a conscientious regard for their indentured-slavery status with Christ; which is really difficult for American believers because their country has such an abhorrence for slavery and such a high regard for freedom, revolution, and independence. But though believers are slaves to Christ, they are not slaves to a slave driver. Note the gentle demeanor of the request below.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matt 11:28-30)

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice-- holy, acceptable to God --which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom 12:1-2)

I once worked with two Christian men in a welding shop who demanded a sit-down with the superintendent to air some grievances. I took it upon myself to remind them that Peter directed Christians to endure what they thought of as unfair treatment from employers (1Pet 2:18-25). Well, they ignored both me and Peter because they felt insulted to be treated like children by management and wouldn't rest until they told them so.

What you have there is a case of rabid male pride overruling The Lord's wishes. Not good. Peter was given the keys of the kingdom (Matt 16:19). If Christians believe that to be true, then for them, scorning Peter is all the same as their scorning Christ-- it's a domino effect all the way to the top.

"Whoever listens to you; listens to me. Whoever rejects you; rejects me. And whoever rejects me; rejects the one who sent me." (Luke 10:16)
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[Beetow]

● Eph 6:7 . . With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men

"good will" excludes grumbling and foot-dragging. Compare Jonah's service to the Lord. Now there is a primo bad example if ever!
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[Beetow]

● Eph 6:9a . . Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven,

The "masters" in that verse are Christian masters; Paul's letters were written and sent to churches rather than to the world at large.

If there is one political maxim that seems to ring true in every generation, it's that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's in the human heart to abuse authority and to oppress and exploit people rather than manage them to everyone's advantage.

Christian masters, and Christian slaves, are siblings together in God's family (Gal 3:28). Therefore, Christ's law is to be exemplified by both the slave and by his master.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)

A slave master willing to sacrifice his life to protect his slaves would be a very unusual master; but that is the very attitude of a Spirit-filled master towards his Christian slaves; and should be the attitude of a Spirit-filled supervisor towards his Christian employees: which is the attitude of a good shepherd rather than that of a self-serving predator.

The Christian master's rank doesn't mitigate his accountability; he has no advantage over the Christian slave. Both must give an accounting of themselves, and neither the master nor the slave will be given the slightest preferential treatment. No, they will be recompensed on the merits of their faithfulness; rather than their positions.

"There is no favoritism with Him." (Eph 6:9b)
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[Beetow]

● Phil 1:27 . . Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

"conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" is talking about Christian social skills, e.g. kindness, courtesy, tact, diplomacy, tolerance, lenience, civility, encouragement, sympathy, compassion, etc.

Those kinds of behaviors have the effect of bonding people instead of alienating them. When people are bonded, they are more likely to pull together instead of working independently and/or against each other.
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[Beetow]

● Phil 1:28 . . In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

The classical version of Christianity is a much hated religion by a number of its opponents for a variety of reasons; which I won't attempt to list except for the obvious.

1) There's a supreme being.

2) There's just the one supreme being.

3) He deserves respect.

4) The cosmos-- all forms of life, matter, and energy --is the product of intelligent design.

5) There's a frightful reckoning looming on the horizon.

6) There' a Hell and eternal suffering.

People don't like to be reminded of those six elements; and classical Christianity's enemies would love nothing better than to silence its followers because their beliefs are annoying and make people uncomfortable.

Plus, the average person does not like it one bit to be judged; in point of fact, they really hate to be judged. Well; classical Christianity is a very judgmental religion; which, again, annoys people and makes them uncomfortable; so it's not surprising that classical Christianity's opposition is sometimes so hostile and militant.

Adversity's goal is to thwart and/or discourage. This is not to say that Christ's followers are forbidden to be at all intimidated by adversity. It's all in how they cope with it.

Take for instance king Hezekiah in the 18th and 19th chapters of the book of 2Kings. When Sennacherib's army threatened to take Jerusalem, Hezekiah got scared but he also got to praying. Even had his prayers been futile, it was still the right thing to do.

Ezra also encountered adversity when he returned to Israel to oversee reconstruction of the Temple but stood tall and prayed his way through all of it.
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[Beetow]

● Phil 2:1-2 . . If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

"unity" is a buzz word among ecumenicals; but Christ's directive in no way pertains to ecumenicals whose core belief it is that no one's wrong, and everyone's a Christian if they say so. No, The Lord's directive only pertains to a very narrow cross section of Christians whom he labeled: "those you have given me" (John 17:9). It is they for whom The Lord prayed for unity. (John 17:11, John 17:21-22)

The Greek word for "tenderness and compassion" is splagchnon (splangkh'-non) which means: an intestine. Your gut is the very place where you "feel" pity and/or sympathy for others-- that is; if you're capable of those kinds of feelings; not everyone is.
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[Beetow]

● Phil 2:2-3 . . Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

If there is at least one place on earth where believers should be on the same plane with each other it's church; but that's not always the case as human beings are just naturally prone to status; especially among pastors, choir members, Sunday school teachers, Deacons, Deaconesses, etc.

Some people aren't content with mediocrity; no, they have to be head and shoulders above the crowd, they have to be admired: they have to be feted, they have to be heard, they have to be noticed, they have to be somebody, they have to be a mover and a shaker, they have to be up in an ivory tower; they have to have their finger on the pulse; they have to be in the limelight. And above all; they have to be right because it is totally contrary to conceit's nature to be wrong about anything; even superfluous minutiae.

If you should find yourself in a position around your church, whether as an usher or a cook for men's Saturday morning prayer breakfast, make sure your heart's in the right place because there is coming a performance evaluation for the Lord's sheep where some of the elite are going to be very embarrassed when they're exposed for the ambitious achievers they really are.

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and will expose the motives of men's hearts." (1Cor 4:5)

» An especially bad case of "vain conceit" is on display at 3John 1:9-10
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[Beetow]

● Phil 2:4 . . Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

The "others" in that verse are exclusive. Paul's directive pertains only to the classification of people to whom he penned his letter; viz: "saints in Christ Jesus . . together with the overseers and deacons" (Phil 1:1)

Seeing as how The Lord expressly forbids selfish ambition amongst his own; therefore, before proceeding with your ideas, be very sure to ponder all the possible ramifications of your actions first.

Stepping on people's toes, and/or thwarting their ideas so that yours prevail, fails to satisfy the law of Christ; which requires believers to love their fellow believers as Christ loves them (John 15:12). It also fails to satisfy the Golden Rule which says: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. (Matt 7:12). Always looking out for No.1 just simply isn't very nice.
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[Beetow]

● Phil 2:5-8 . .Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross.

That's an interesting contrast between Christ and Adam. He and his wife made a definite grab for equality with God. (Gen 3:4-5)

It's just amazing how well Christ played down his divine origin and conducted himself as a regular guy. Even the people with whom Jesus grew up in his home town were highly doubtful he was so well connected.

"They said: Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say: I came down from heaven?" (John 6:42)

Even his cousin John had no clue that Jesus was the very person for whom he was the forerunner.

"I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me: The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-34)

But there is always that one "king of the mountain" in church who just has to be head and shoulders above everybody else; for example:

"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not." (3John 1:9)

Diotrephes not only opposed the apostles; but also excommunicated people who dared to ally with them. And to think that guy operated not in a Devil-worship church, but in a Christ-worship church. (3John 1:10)

(chuckle) Mr. Diotrephes apparently was on, what we today would label, an ego trip.
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[Beetow]

● Phil 2:12 . . As you have always obeyed-- work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Some people's interpretation of that passage pretty much echoes Santa Claus' holiday practices. For example the lyrics from the classic jingle: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list, and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice:
Santa Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!

There's no grace in that song-- none at all --no generosity, no altruism, no kindness, no charity, no love, no peace, no understanding, no sympathy, no patience, no tolerance, no courtesy, no compassion, no forgiveness, viz: there are no gifts in Santa's bag; only merit awards for those who prove themselves worthy enough to deserve them.

But we know from other passages that an exemption from the sum of all fears isn't a merit award, rather; it's a totally free-of-charge rescue from the wrath of God by means of the ransom that Christ himself paid with his own life's blood rather than out of the sinner's pockets, so to speak. In point of fact the Greek word soteria, from which is translated "salvation" means rescue, i.e. remove from peril.

But now once the sinner is removed from the peril of the sum of all fears, he's expected to begin developing a rapport with God and a life of piety (a.k.a. holiness) which serves an altogether different purpose in the plan of salvation.

» The phrase "fear and trembling" was one of Paul's favorite colloquialisms; for example:

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling." (1Cor 2:3-4)

And another:

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to The Lord, and not to men" (Eph 6:5-8)

"fear, and in trembling" doesn't mean Paul recommends shivering in terror and anxiety like a frightened gerbil; but that a believer's attitude should be free of pride, arrogance, and conceit, i.e. free of a superiority complex and/or a master-race mentality; for example:

Paul was very courteous to the Corinthians, and made himself of no reputation at all, even though he was one of The Lord's hand-picked apostles and they were a bunch of pagan heathens at the time who deserved nothing but the cold shoulder. Paul's attitude rubbed off on the Corinthians because they in turn deferred to Paul's associates with fear and trembling just as he had treated them all at one time.

"I had boasted to [Titus] about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling." (2Cor 7:14-15)

So then, what we're talking about here with "fear and trembling" is honor, respect, submission, deference, and reverence rather than terror and anxiety; and it's actually one of the Beatitudes.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:3)
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[Nicola Jane]

● Phil 2:12 . . As you have always obeyed-- work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Some people's interpretation of that passage pretty much echoes Santa Claus' holiday practices. For example the lyrics from the classic jingle: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list, and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice:
Santa Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!

There's no grace in that song-- none at all --no generosity, no altruism, no kindness, no charity, no love, no peace, no understanding, no sympathy, no patience, no tolerance, no courtesy, no compassion, no forgiveness, viz: there are no gifts in Santa's bag; only merit awards for those who prove themselves worthy enough to deserve them.

But we know from other passages that an exemption from the sum of all fears isn't a merit award, rather; it's a totally free-of-charge rescue from the wrath of God by means of the ransom that Christ himself paid with his own life's blood rather than out of the sinner's pockets, so to speak. In point of fact the Greek word soteria, from which is translated "salvation" means rescue, i.e. remove from peril.

But now once the sinner is removed from the peril of the sum of all fears, he's expected to begin developing a rapport with God and a life of piety (a.k.a. holiness) which serves an altogether different purpose in the plan of salvation.

» The phrase "fear and trembling" was one of Paul's favorite colloquialisms; for example:

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling." (1Cor 2:3-4)

And another:

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to The Lord, and not to men" (Eph 6:5-8)

"fear, and in trembling" doesn't mean Paul recommends shivering in terror and anxiety like a frightened gerbil; but that a believer's attitude should be free of pride, arrogance, and conceit, i.e. free of a superiority complex and/or a master-race mentality; for example:

Paul was very courteous to the Corinthians, and made himself of no reputation at all, even though he was one of The Lord's hand-picked apostles and they were a bunch of pagan heathens at the time who deserved nothing but the cold shoulder. Paul's attitude rubbed off on the Corinthians because they in turn deferred to Paul's associates with fear and trembling just as he had treated them all at one time.

"I had boasted to [Titus] about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling." (2Cor 7:14-15)

So then, what we're talking about here with "fear and trembling" is honor, respect, submission, deference, and reverence rather than terror and anxiety; and it's actually one of the Beatitudes.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:3)
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Excellent !! beetow
really well explained and written
a good seed sown in me x
God bless

 

[Beetow]

● Phil 2:14 . . Do everything without grumbling or debating

It used to be an unwritten rule in the US Army that GIs could complain all they wanted just so long as they did what they were told. Well; Christ isn't pleased with that.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." (Col 3:23)

The problem with grumbling is that it's an attitude of rebellion; for example:

"And the people spoke against God and Moses saying: Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food." (Num 21:5-6)

Well; long story short, God punished the people's grumbling by sending a swarm of deadly reptiles among them, and many bitten by the reptiles died because their venom was wasn't just lethal, it was 100% fatal. (Compare this to the covid-19 virus. It's lethal, but not necessarily fatal. The overall survival rate of the reported cases in the USA has thus far been very high; ranging in the ninety percentile.)

The word for "debating" is dialogismos (dee-al-og-is-mos') which is sometimes translated "evil thoughts" for example:

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matt 15:19)

Dialogismos sometimes keeps people awake at night as they obsessively re-wind and re-play a conflict with somebody over, and over, and over again in their heads.
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[Beetow]

● Phil 3:1 . . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in The Lord!

The Greek word for "brethren" is adelphos (ad-el-fos') which is a masculine noun for a male relative. But it's use is flexible. Adelphos can also include one's female relatives too; I mean; after all, men and women are all siblings around the table in God's home. And when Paul wrote to a church, he oftentimes used the word adelphos to address the entire congregation.

Rejoicing "in The Lord" is way different than rejoicing in yourself; which is vulnerable to one's mood and/or circumstances. The Lord once told his disciples that they shouldn't rejoice that demons obeyed them; but that their names were written in Heaven. (Luke 10:20)

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Col 3:1-4)

That passage could be said to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say:
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
( Horatio P. Spafford, 1828-1888 )
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[Nicola Jane]

● Phil 3:1 . . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in The Lord!

The Greek word for "brethren" is adelphos (ad-el-fos') which is a masculine noun for a male relative. But it's use is flexible. Adelphos can also include one's female relatives too; I mean; after all, men and women are all siblings around the table in God's home. And when Paul wrote to a church, he oftentimes used the word adelphos to address the entire congregation.

Rejoicing "in The Lord" is way different than rejoicing in yourself; which is vulnerable to one's mood and/or circumstances. The Lord once told his disciples that they shouldn't rejoice that demons obeyed them; but that their names were written in Heaven. (Luke 10:20)

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Col 3:1-4)

That passage could be said to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say:
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
( Horatio P. Spafford, 1828-1888 )
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so good Beetow love the horatio words also x
God bless

 

[Beetow]

● Phil 3:2a . . Beware of dogs,

Dogs in ancient Israel were regarded with the same degree of abhorrence that we in the west regard rats. They weren't your average domesticated pet, but rather, feral, homeless curs that prowled city streets and landfills, feeding on garbage, road kill, and the corpses of low income folk who died without proper burial A study of the dogs of the Old Testament reveals just how low in one's estimation is the person regarded as one (e.g. 1Kgs 14:11, 1Kgs 21:19, 1Kgs 21:24, 2Kgs 9:29-37; cf. Luke 16:21).

Feral dogs qre not only unsanitary, but treacherous too.

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matt 7:6)

There are also guard dogs; which would correspond to people so passionate and protective of their religion of choice that they will literally kill people who refuse to agree with them; for example:

"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet." (Ps 22:16)

The "dogs" in that passage were Israel's religious elite; the very ones who had Jesus arrested and put to death on trumped up charges. Pilate caught on right quick that the Jews weren't after Christ's blood on account of crime; but because of envy (Matt 27:18). In other words: Christ was an effective rival that had to be eliminated. Christians have really got to watch their backs around Machiavellian zealots like that crazy enough to murder people who dare to oppose and/or criticize their belief systems.

A "dog" then, can be categorized as someone who is spiritually feral; which Webster's defines as: (1) of, relating to, or suggestive of an animal; viz: savage, (2) not domesticated or cultivated; viz: wild, untamed, (3) having escaped from domestication and become wild, and (4) beastly.

A dog in the spiritual sense, is little more than a brutish human scavenger destined for a very unpleasant future in the same category as witches, fornicators, murderers, idolaters, and liars. (Rev 22:13-15)
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[Nicola Jane]

● Phil 3:2a . . Beware of dogs,

Dogs in ancient Israel were regarded with the same degree of abhorrence that we in the west regard rats. They weren't your average domesticated pet, but rather, feral, homeless curs that prowled city streets and landfills, feeding on garbage, road kill, and the corpses of low income folk who died without proper burial A study of the dogs of the Old Testament reveals just how low in one's estimation is the person regarded as one (e.g. 1Kgs 14:11, 1Kgs 21:19, 1Kgs 21:24, 2Kgs 9:29-37; cf. Luke 16:21).

Feral dogs qre not only unsanitary, but treacherous too.

"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." (Matt 7:6)

There are also guard dogs; which would correspond to people so passionate and protective of their religion of choice that they will literally kill people who refuse to agree with them; for example:

"Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet." (Ps 22:16)

The "dogs" in that passage were Israel's religious elite; the very ones who had Jesus arrested and put to death on trumped up charges. Pilate caught on right quick that the Jews weren't after Christ's blood on account of crime; but because of envy (Matt 27:18). In other words: Christ was an effective rival that had to be eliminated. Christians have really got to watch their backs around Machiavellian zealots like that crazy enough to murder people who dare to oppose and/or criticize their belief systems.

A "dog" then, can be categorized as someone who is spiritually feral; which Webster's defines as: (1) of, relating to, or suggestive of an animal; viz: savage, (2) not domesticated or cultivated; viz: wild, untamed, (3) having escaped from domestication and become wild, and (4) beastly.

A dog in the spiritual sense, is little more than a brutish human scavenger destined for a very unpleasant future in the same category as witches, fornicators, murderers, idolaters, and liars. (Rev 22:13-15)
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very good word
God bless you x

 

[Beetow]

● Phil 3:2b . . Beware of evil workers,

"evil workers" probably refers to ersatz missionaries like Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. In the apostle Paul's day, it was followers of Judaism going about disputing with Christians; e.g. Acts 15:1.
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[Beetow]

● Phil 3:2c . . Beware of mutilation.

Mutilation in this particular instance isn't criminal mutilation, rather; it refers to voluntary ritual circumcision; viz: initiation into the covenant that Moses' people agreed upon with God as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. There were Jews in various cities back in the apostles' era telling Christians that protection from the sum of all fears depends upon circumcision.

"And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved." (Acts 15:1)

The apostles disagreed.

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:" (Acts 15:24)

The primary reason the apostles disagreed is simply because Christians don't associate with God via Moses' covenant; rather, they associate with God via Christ's covenant, a.k.a. the new covenant. (Heb 8:1-13)
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[Beetow]

● Phil 3:17 . . Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before, and now say, again even with tears: many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their appetites, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

I'm pretty sure that passage can be said to be speaking of the tares that Christ spoke of in Matt 13:24-30 and Matt 13:36-43. The law of averages, combined with Satan's machinery, insures that every church has a percentage of tares on the roles.

The tare is an interesting plant. In its early stages, only a well-trained eye can tell the difference between it and wheat or barley. Plus the tare's root system so intertwines with the roots of good plants that they can't be pulled up without destroying both.

It's all saying that churches are pretty much stuck with tares once they've become an integral part of operations; so we just have to learn to live with them; sort of like backpackers learning to live with snow and ice, wind, heat, cold, soggy, and snakes, bears, cougars, and insects. Just as it's futile for backpackers to try and eliminate nature from their backpacking world; so it's futile for churches to try and weed tares out of their midst. But churches can, at least, take steps to protect themselves once the tares become apparent.

Tares are somewhat different than heretics. Tares are sort of like Esau. Though Isaac's eldest son was irreverent; he was content at home and made no attempt to reform his family's spiritual values.

Tares hinder a church's spiritual growth, and are quite useless for the Lord's purposes; but they're usually content to co-exist with the conscientious Christians in church. Though tares are more or less worldly, I wouldn't go so far as to say they're a serious threat to unity.

Tares are a curious lot. Though they go Sunday after Sunday in church and Bible class listening to hours and hours of preaching and teaching, nothing they hear ever seems to sink in. It all bounces off like bananas thrown at a Russian tank.

Heretics, on the other hand, are typically reverent; maybe even religious from their toes to their fingertips. They love Bible study and likely attend prayer meetings too. But they're detrimental to unity because of their activism. They not only push to reform their church's spiritual values; but worse: steer it off in another direction. Heretics are far more than just enemies of the cross; they're a disease; and though tares are to be pitied, heretics deserve to be cursed.

"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." (Titus 3:10-11)
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[PloughBoy]

I lot of times a watch and watch different "Threads" and don't say anything unless i feel a unction from the "Spirit of God to do so. But that does not stop me from observing things. I watch the "styles" of some who engage in debates, and notice the passion where some are more bias, I watch the "AD Hominem" action upon others, who's doctrine seems sound. And a lot of my brothers and sisters here on "TalkJesus" I know, knows better! And some do have the "Gift of Discernment" from the "Holy Spirit" of God! I am not calling out all my brothers and sisters in Christ, because a lot do not Have this "Gift"! But some do, sitting there in "FEAR" and afraid to Call out this "Form of "WITCHCRAFT" teaching ," under the title Thread, "Beyond The Four Spiritual Laws" and allowing this form of "indoctrination" to take place. And leading "Thousands" astray" under the umbrella of teaching the meaning of "Holy Scripture" and the meaning of "Biblical words'"! Yes I do understand, when we mis quote, or fully don't understand a portion of "Holy Scripture' or have not grown into "biblical maturity" and the true meaning of words, such as "Sanctification, biblical imagery, holiness, Sovereignty of God, or such terms as "God is Sovereign". that is acceptable in a sense. But "witchcraft" comes in all kinds of forms, for it is most powerful lure to christians and "nominal Christian" with a "sultry' look, with slithering movements "for it is spiritual" by doing so "You will make yourself a enemy of GOD" with a Capital "E"! And it is most attractive to the "female" gender.

Do not forget "SATAN" quotes SCRIPTURE too, and explains what it means! Now, have I become "The Antagonist"

New International Version
Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

New Living Translation
Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

Have fun "Interpreting those "dogs"!