Philippians 3 15-21

 a paraphrased ‘enter the story’

 🍃🕊️  reading & study  🕊️🍃

04/16 ~ From New Testament Letters

   (In the Order Believed Written)

   Paul’s Letter To The Philippians

15 - Let those of us who are mature remember these things. {It’s not easy to stay anchored in the solid onward Truth. There are many distractions, many doctrines, teachings and attitudes. But! 2Tim.3:16 says “all scripture is for training”. Training for what? Do we want to miss it.. be a trainee later, when we could’ve served during the Lord’s long second advent.. also during this life if possible. (One of the times the word all wasn’t changed to all things.) What if that advent is a longer, full scope version of his first so brief one? Isn’t that more logical? Sure, initial conditions during GWT judgment ‘day’ for some (few?) may be as portrayed in the rich man and Lazarus parable, and the outside of the vision narrative of Revelation 22 ..as inner conditions, tongue parched for the water of life, gnashing of teeth.. Why not? Progresses to weeping, beating self up with many stripes.. But Jesus “will draw all” Jn.12:32, even the Hitlers, the Idi Ahmins, serial killers, child sex traffickers... But logically, they won’t get off easy. Not by a long shot. Can we imagine eventually, and for a long time, the totally gut wrenching remorse?? Which is exactly how it should be. And does anything work upon the heart as well as heartfelt remorse?

     So how do we stay on course? The course set by God our Father? Should we wash our minds with the words of the world? Do we think the world cannot put on sheep’s clothing, and speak out of both sides of its mouth? Speak like the wolf at the same time.. What is the “washing of the word”? Some believers scoff at that idea.. so be it. Won’t last forever. ..Paul says hang onto what you learned, the message of and about Christ, which he likely taught them.}

    If in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal it to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

      17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is ruin, their god is their passions and they glory in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things. {Things of the world and worldly issues.} 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject all to himself. [Pas - all, in this verse and many others, is usually changed to read “all things”.]

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🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Philippians 4:1-7

My own studies. Been neglecting Psalms (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150) and the Prophets.