Walking With Christ

Webers.Home · Oct 15, 2021

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• Phil 3:2a . . Beware of dogs,

Dogs in ancient Israel were regarded with the same degree of abhorrence
that we in the west regard rodents. 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 remains 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 are 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 deranged 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.

So 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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Webers.Home · Oct 16, 2021

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• 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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Webers.Home · Oct 17, 2021

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• 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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Webers.Home · Oct 18, 2021

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• 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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Webers.Home · Oct 19, 2021

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• Phil 4:4 . . Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again: Rejoice!

Words and grammar in the Bible convey information; otherwise language
serves no useful purpose. When the apostle Paul says "always" he means
always or he wouldn't say it like that. So then, part-time rejoicers in the
Lord are failing to comply with the Lord's wishes.

Now the thing is: rejoicing in the Lord is not the same as rejoicing in life. In
point of fact, there's really not all that much to be permanently happy about
in life on earth.

"Utter futility! —said Koheleth— Utter futility! All is futile! What real value is
there for a man in all the gains he makes beneath the sun?" (Ecc 1:2-3)

We can name lots of things in life that bring us happiness and satisfaction,
but the problem is: it's all fleeting, i.e. it's all temporary, viz: transient.
There's very little that brings us lasting happiness and satisfaction. And then
on top of that, there's the specter of death; viz: it's only a matter of time
when our life on earth— everything we've accomplished, everything we've
accumulated, and everyone we've ever known —is separated from us like a
young military recruit's hair falling to the floor in a Marine Corps barber
shop.

The negativity of life on earth can be greatly moderated by always keeping
one's eye on the future as it's revealed in the teachings of Christianity's lord
and master.

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and
that your own joy might be full." (John 15:11)

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33)
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Webers.Home · Oct 20, 2021

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• Phil 4:5 . . Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Greek word translated "gentleness" is epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace') which
essentially means: mild.

Webster's defines "mild" as gentle in nature or behavior, moderate in action
or effect; not sharp or bitter, i.e. mellow; which is just the opposite of fierce,
harsh, rough, scathing, mean, abrasive, stormy, intemperate, strict, and/or
severe.

Though a mild/mellow person is affable, they aren't necessarily a wimp; no,
they're just not easy to provoke. The quite opposite would be a thin skinned,
reactive, defensive personality that goes to war at the drop of a hat.

Mild people don't threaten, nor come at you with bared teeth and narrowed
eyes. They're reasonable and rational, rather than emotional and reactive.
Assertive, confrontational people have no clue what it is to be mild; and
those are the very ones losing sleep with evil thoughts as they obsessively
re-wind and re-play a conflict with somebody in their heads over, and over,
and over again rehearsing things they should've said, and would've said, had
they thought of them.

"Blessed are the meek." (Matt 5:5)

Moses was meek (Num 12:3) and Christ was meek (Matt 11:29, Matt 21:5).
Personally I wouldn't categorize either of those two men as meek. So then,
what really is meekness?

Primarily, to be meek, in the Biblical sense of the word, is to be temperate.
A temperate person isn't eo ipso a cowering milk toast. Anybody who's
studied the life of Moses and Jesus can easily testify that neither of those
men were timid; no, they walked softly but carried a big stick, so to speak.
Never mistake true meekness for a yellow streak.

Jacob and his dad Isaac were temperate men; but could be very strong
when the situation called for it. Temperate people pick their battles carefully,
and never waste anger and energy on trifles.

There are Christians in this world who're simply implacable. They just cannot
live and let live. Turning the other cheek is to them a worn-out cliché that no
one takes seriously anymore. For them rivalry, conflict, revenge,
competition, retaliation, recriminations, and grudging are a way of life: every
disagreement is an act of war-- they're peevish, emotional, bitter, harsh,
unloving, cruel, thoughtless, and reactive; and they thrive on complaining,
criticizing, chafing, carping, finding fault, tattling, bickering, retort upon
retort, rejoinder upon rejoinder, sarcasm, endless debate, dredging up old
unresolved conflicts, gainsaying, and getting in people's faces and giving
them a piece of their mind.

It seems like those people are always getting indignant about some petty
outrage or another. Well; those kinds of Christians are definitely not in the
"gentle" category. They're hellish, toxic demons who relish letting their
wrath be evident to all instead of gentleness because when they're upset;
they want everybody to know it.
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Webers.Home · Oct 21, 2021

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• Phil 4:8 . . Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things.

I think we may take Phil 4:8 to mean that Christ's followers should make an
effort to remember the Bible's values and its principles, i.e. not let them go
in one ear and out the other; which is somewhat similar to Deut 11:18-20
where Moses' people were urged to make use of every opportunity to
meditate upon God's ways so as not to forget them and thus neglect their
practice.
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shittim · Oct 21, 2021

And today, we have the indwelling Christ, this is the day they longed for.
We are required to keep our minds stayed on Him and be His hands and feet.
bless you brother

Webers.Home · Oct 22, 2021

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• Phil 4:9 . . Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or
seen in me-- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

The emphasis here is not only God but also peace. In other words; God is
able to stabilize people's minds during times of stress.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33)

I think Paul often spoke from experience. In other words; he didn't just
believe what he taught, but he knew what he talking about as someone who
tasted the goods.

You know, sometimes I think that too many Christians are somehow under
the impression that the New Testament's epistles are not all that important
in matters related to faith and practice. They've made the Sermon On The
Mount their religion and they think that's all they need. But if they want the
God of peace to be with them instead of off in the distance; then they are
simply going to have to revise their estimate. Compliance with the epistles is
not optional; no, it's essential.

"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of The Lord."
(1Cor 14:37)

"We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by The Lord Jesus, that as ye
have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would
abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by
The Lord Jesus." (1Thess 4:1-2)

"And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't
obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is
like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your
appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But
if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law— the law that sets you
free --and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God
will bless you for doing it." (Jas 1:22-25)
_

Webers.Home · Oct 23, 2021

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• Col 2:6-7 . . So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to
live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

That directive, of course, is restricted to the faith as you were taught by Paul
and his contemporaries. He and they taught only one faith rather than a
buffet of faiths to choose from.

"There is one faith" (Eph 4:4-5)

It's neither wise nor humane to encourage somebody rooted and built up in
Christian cults to continue in those faiths: e.g. Moonies, Christian Science,
Seventh Day Adventism, Herbert W. Armstrong, Mormonism, and/or the
Watchtower Society, et al.

Paul emphasized receiving Christ Jesus as "lord". The Greek word is kurios
(koo'-ree-os) which means: supreme in authority but not necessarily
supreme in being.

Curiously there are a number of Christians out there who regard Jesus'
authority no different than they regard the authority of the prophets. But
when the Old Testament seems to oppose Christ's teachings; Christians have
to go with Christ.

"I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in the
darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

And besides: Christ comes highly recommended.

"Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice out of the cloud,
saying: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to
him." (Matt 17:5)
_

Webers.Home · Oct 24, 2021

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• Col 2:8 . . See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and
deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic
principles of this world rather than on Christ.

That's likely talking about versions of Christianity adjusted to appease one's
culture-- viz: compromising --which are insidious because they're typically a
clever product of divine instruction tempered by natural logic, i.e. sophistry;
thus the command to Christianity's leaders:

"Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.
Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when they will no longer listen to right teaching. They
will follow their own desires and seek teachers who will tell them what it is
they wish to hear. They will reject the truth and heed fantasies." (2Tim 4:2
4)

The olde adage to "strike while the iron is hot" certainly applies in this
situation, i.e. Christianity's leaders need to be teaching their people God's
ways and means while they have their ear instead of waiting to chase after
them after they've lost their attention. Calling folks to repentance is always
harder because it's easier to influence folks when they're close to home than
when their minds are afar off.
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Webers.Home · Oct 25, 2021

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• Col 2:16-17 . .Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or
drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a
Sabbath day.

Some liturgical versions of Christianity incorporate diets, rituals, rites, holy
days of obligation, and even special dress codes in their worship practices.
According to the principles stipulated in the 14th chapter of Romans, those
things are optional rather than mandatory. To insist otherwise is to play God
and to usurp Christ's sovereign right to make the rules for his own church.
_

Webers.Home · Oct 26, 2021

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• Col 2:18a . . Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial.

Now we're getting into the sphere of asceticism; which Christ has never
approved. Asceticism describes a life-style characterized by abstinence from
materialism and various sorts of worldly pleasures (e.g. sex, cosmetics,
movies, dancing, alcohol, romance novels, soaps, gambling, and the
accumulation of material wealth) often with the aim of pursuing religious and
spiritual goals. Ascetics, by the very nature of their philosophy, insinuate
that Christ was wrong to consume wine and/or provide it for a wedding.

Ascetics think themselves to possess a superior spirituality over and above
regular Christians; but Paul popped that bubble soundly.

"These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them
conceited. They are not connected to Christ, the head of the body." (Col
2:18c-19)

(chuckle) Paul depicted ascetics as sort of like the headless horseman in the
Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.

NOTE: Webster's defines conceit as an excessive appreciation for one's own
worth or virtue; viz: a superiority complex. Conceited folk typically regard
themselves infallible, smarter than you, and holier than you.
_

Webers.Home · Oct 27, 2021

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• Col 2:18b . . And don't let anyone say you must worship angels, even
though they say they have had visions about this.

That passage is a good one to keep paired with the one below.

"I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and
saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them
to me, but he said to me: You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with
you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of
this book. Worship God." (Rev 22:8)
_

Webers.Home · Oct 28, 2021

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• Col 3:1-2 . . 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.

Christianity is a lethal religion. It puts Christ's followers to death on the
cross with him as joint principals in the purpose of his crucifixion. They are
encouraged to think of that as a reality; and not only that, but also to
account their resurrection to immortality a done deal, i.e. it's in the bag
because they are joint principals with Christ in that too. (Rom 6:3-11, Gal
2:20)

NOTE: The Greek word translated hidden can also mean secret, for example
Matt 13:35 where it says:

"I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept
secret from the foundation of the world."

And John 19:38 where it says:

"And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly
for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of
Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of
Jesus."
_

Webers.Home · Oct 29, 2021

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• Col 3:5a . . Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly
nature

The earthly nature of Christ's believing followers was judged, sentenced, and
executed on his cross but they won't be rid of it till they pass on because
man's earthly nature is part and parcel of his earthly human body.

"Nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" (Rom 7:18)

However, if Christ's followers want to take advantage of God's kindly
patronage and providence, they have got to take the bull by the horns. This
has been an axiom since the very beginning.

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what
is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must
master it." (Gen 4:6-7)

"And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that
God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have
fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice
the truth. (1John 1:5-7)

The Christian way of life is literally an on-going perpetual fight against
nature.

"I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in
the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and
making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

. . .What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my
mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of
sin." (Rom 7:21-25)

At this point, the epistle lists a catalogue of behaviors that aren't practiced in
heaven; and since Christ's sheep are destined for that place, they need to
start living now like they'll be living then because that life is permanent
whereas now is only temporary.
_

Webers.Home · Oct 30, 2021

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• Col 3:8 . . Put off all these: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires
and greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Webster's defines "malice" as desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to
another. Behaviors like deliberate chafing, needling, ridicule, mockery,
taunts, demeaning comments, ugly words that tear people down rather than
build them up, denigrating labels, biting sarcasm, fault-finding, carping
criticism, thoughtless remarks, petty ill will, spite, vindictiveness, and
stalking are all malicious behaviors that no one in heaven ever practices
because heaven is a place of kindness and peace.

The Greek word for "filthy language" is aischrologia (ahee-skhrol-og-ee'-ah)
and means vile conversation.

Webster's defines "vile" as (1) morally despicable or abhorrent, (2)
physically repulsive; viz: foul and/or odious, (3) of little worth or account;
viz: common, vulgar, (4) tending to degrade, demean, and/or denigrate, (5)
disgustingly and/or utterly bad; viz: obnoxious, contemptible, unacceptable,
disagreeable, and (6) base; viz: crude, churlish, and/or unrefined.
_

Webers.Home · Oct 31, 2021

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• Col 3:9-10 . . Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old
self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed
in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Humanity's original self began its created existence in the image of God
(Gen 1:26-27). In other words; Adam started off as an honest man. Clearly
then; dishonesty doesn't reflect the image of God, rather, it reflects the
Devil's image.

NOTE: It's interesting that the Colossian believers were lying to each other,
and no doubt would have continued had not Paul commanded them to stop
it.

The Greek word translated "renewed" basically means to renovate; defined
by Webster's defines as: (1) to restore to a former better state (as by
cleaning, repairing, or rebuilding), and (2) to restore to life, vigor, or
activity, i.e. revive.

The word appears in only one other place in the entire New Testament at
2Cor 4:16, which says:

"Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed
day by day."

Sometimes renovation requires demolition and beginning all over again from
scratch, In other words: total regeneration.

The Greek word translated "knowledge" basically refers to recognition, i.e.
acknowledgement, viz: discernment.

Reconstruction of one's innermost being-- especially the conscience --is
essential because humanity's intuitive knowledge of what's acceptable and
what's unacceptable is unreliable due to the forbidden fruit incident
portrayed in the third chapter of Genesis.

This relates to one of the tragedies of Hell. People down there never gave
God an opportunity to overhaul their spiritual condition; so now they're no
better as persons in the afterlife than they were in this life. After all is said
and done-- after the big judgment of Rev 20:11-15 is completed, and the
new cosmos of Rev 21:1 is up and running --Christ caps everything by
announcing:

"Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue
to be vile." (Rev 22:10)

In other words: people who end up in the lake of fire will remain just as
much in need of renovation there as they were here.
_

Webers.Home · Nov 1, 2021

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• Col 3:12 . .Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience.

Apparently the Colossian believers were neither compassionate, nor kind,
nor humble, nor gentle, nor patient; and would have continued to be that
way had not the apostle Paul spoken up.

His basis was the Colossians' standing as "God's chosen people, holy and
dearly beloved" I mean: is it appropriate for people in a favored position
with God to behave as devils?

You know; judging from the descriptions of some of the first century
churches, I get the impression that were we to go back in time to visit one,
we'd be walking into a snake pit!
_

Webers.Home · Nov 2, 2021

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• Col 3:13 . . Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you
may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

1John 4:10-11 contains a brief synopsis of how the Lord forgave.

"Herein is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His
son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought
also to love one another."

Jesus taught his followers to be nice to not only their friends, but also their
enemies. Apparently God was practicing Jesus' teachings long before many
of us ever heard of them. (Matt 5:44-48)

• Col 3:13 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all
together in perfect unity.

The virtues began their list with Col 3:9, which are honesty, compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness.

One of The Lord's constant rubs with his religious opponents was their
virtually 100% lack of kindness and compassion; which effectively
invalidated their rituals.

"Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice." (Matt
9:13)

Some folk honestly believe that Christ's statement, taken from Hosea 6:6,
practically repealed the entire God-given book of Leviticus. But that's not
what either Hosea or Jesus were saying. They meant that God much prefers
that people be civil to each other rather than religious to their fingertips.

In other words; an ungracious person's lack of things like sympathy,
patience, tolerance, lenience, helpfulness, pity, and common courtesy
causes God to reject their worship just as thoroughly and bluntly as He
rejected Cain's. I really think that God is insulted when people lacking
humanity come to church actually thinking He's glad to see them show up
for some quality time together.
_

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