Thread by @ThomasCoutouzis

#Exetweet thread

1/ "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;...

2/"...in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God." Philippians 1:27-28

I want to focus on v28. In context Paul is encouraging the brethren to live in a manner that pleases God.

3/ In verses 29-30 Paul tells the brethren that the price for living a Christ-like life will bring about suffering just as Paul experienced for Christ's sake. Even Christ said:

"If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you." John 15:18

4/ The persecution brought upon believers by the world is because it hates Christ. The world hates everything He stands for and will even go so far as revising the actual interpretation of Scripture to create a different Christ that is palatable by the world

5/ If you do not bow to this manmade Christ then the world will persecute you.

This manmade Christ (which is antiChrist) hates righteousness and loves sin. It is Satanic to the core.

This manmade Christ believes in homosexuality, when the actual Christ instituted that...

6/...marriage is between a man and a woman (See Genesis 2:20-25).

This false Christ will promote abortion when the real Christ says "Do not commit murder" (Exodus 20:13) and "flee sexual immorality" (1 Cor 6:18).

The false Christ will promote women pastors/elders...

7/...when the real Christ says, "women are to keep silent in churches" (1 Cor 14:34) and "I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man (context is church), but to remain quiet." (1 Tim 2:12).

The false Christ will say, "you are defined by your ethnicity."

8/ The real Christ says, "There is neither Jew or Gentile, for you are all one in Christ. (See Galatians 3:27-28)

These are just a few of many ( false Christ's say listen to your heart, love yourself, etc...) I can go on.

Failure to conform to this false Christ will result...

9/...in persecution from the world, just as Christ suffered. Just as Paul suffered. Just as you will suffer.

The protective bubble that has housed Christians in America is about to burst. Are we not worthy to suffer just as our brothers and sisters in Sudan or Russia?

10/ We will. We will be fired from jobs for not conforming. We will be refused charity and medical attention because we cling to the truth of the real Christ. We will be denied jobs, cursed, beaten, thrown into jail, refused service at establishments, tormented, etc...

11/ This is much closer than you think. The noose around the regenerate necks is tightening in America. You will see those who you thought believed capitulate and befriend the world. Apostasy will be rampant as they join the world & its false Christ.

12/ Getting to v28 with persecution in mind, Paul says, "in no way be alarmed by your opponents -- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too from God."

The negative "no" is "me in Greek and denies all hypotheticals and subjectivity.

13/ "Alarmed" is "pturo" which means "to frighten/scare". This would imply that our persecutors will do terrible things to us that will "frighten" us. Think about having cancer and your employer fires you for your Christian beliefs leaving you without health insurance.

14/ That would "terrify" you. In context Paul is saying that no matter your situation, "do not be frightened by even the hypothetical persecutions of your opponents".

Don't let your mind cause you to fear by harping on worst case scenarios of what your enemies may do to you.

15/ If you fear what man can do to you, then you will stop fearing God. Then you will stop "conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

If the believer is not alarmed by their opponents then it is a sign of your enemies destruction.

16/ "In no way be alarmed by your opponents -- which is a sign of destruction for them".

When you get to a point that you are at peace with your persecution, you trust God and are not fearful of man...that is a sign of their coming destruction. It is a judgment on them.

17/ Paul adds that it is a sign of "salvation for you, and that too, from God."

I find this interesting. Those who do not fear the evils that man concocts against them reveals a heart that is truly regenerated by Christ. Instead of bitterness they forgive.

18/ These brethren show that they truly believe. They serve the real Christ so they fear the One who can destroy noth body and soul, not the one who can only destroy the body.

As a Christian you will suffer for "His sake". The suffering and endurance will prove you are His...

19/19...as you endure trial after and are never terrified by your opponents and what they have or will do to you.

It is the grace of God that sustains you proving your redemption in Christ is real.