“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:17-21 NASB1995)
When we are born into this world, we are born with sin natures, separate from God, and unable in the flesh to be acceptable to God. And in our own flesh we can do nothing to be saved from our sins and to have eternal life with God. We cannot even come to faith in Jesus Christ unless God the Father draws us to Christ. And even the faith to believe in Jesus is not of ourselves, but it is persuaded of God and is gifted to us by God. And no amount of good works, done in the flesh, will earn us salvation from sin.
But faith in Jesus Christ is persuasion of God as to his righteousness and holiness, and of our sinfulness, and of our need to die with him to sin, by faith in him, and to be raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Faith in Jesus Christ, which comes from God, will result in walks of surrender and obedience to God, and no longer in sin, or it is not genuine faith which saves us from sin. For faith = obedience, and disobedience is unbelief.
But there are many people today who are teaching an altered gospel message that allows for lip service only to assure one of salvation from sin and eternal life with God. But many of them are deceivers, morally unclean, and manipulators, who spread lies, and not the truth of God’s word. But we are not saved from our sins by lip service only, and then obedience to God and holy living become optional. For faith which saves results in death to sin and walks of obedience to our Lord or it is not faith which saves.
And this is why we have such warnings as this, for many who profess faith in Jesus Christ walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose god is their sinful appetites, who set their minds on earthly things, and whose habits include lying, cheating, stealing, committing adultery, sexual immorality, moral impurity, mind manipulation, and the like. And so some of them are teaching that we can just say we believe in Jesus and now we have salvation from sin and eternal life with God. But God requires death to sin and obeying him.
So, we are not to follow those who are teaching that a mere profession of faith in Jesus is enough to secure us salvation from sin and eternal life with God. Our actions must match our words. Faith without works is dead. But these are not works of the flesh trying to earn our own salvation, but they are the works of God being lived out in the lives of those who are of genuine faith in the Lord. For if our faith does not result in death to sin and walks of obedience to God, it is not biblical faith which saves. It is not of God.
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]
My Sheep
Based off John 10:1-30 NIV
An Original Work / June 24, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
My sheep hear me. They know me.
They listen to my voice and obey.
I call them and lead them.
They know my voice, so they follow me.
They will never follow strangers.
They will run away from them.
The voice of a stranger they know not;
They do not follow him.
So, I tell you the truth that
I am the gate, so you enter in.
Whoever does enter
Will find forgiveness and will be saved.
Nonetheless whoever enters
Not by the gate; other way,
He is the thief and a robber.
Listen not, the sheep to him.
Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,
Who laid his own life down for the sheep.
I know them. They know me.
They will live with me eternally.
The thief only comes to steal and
Kill and to destroy the church.
I have come to give you life that
You may have it to the full…
They know my voice, so they follow me.
Enemies of The Cross
An Original Work / July 28, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
