Philippeans 2:12–Here Paul is telling God’s people to whom he was writing that they must WORK out their own salvation with fear and trembling. If one is responsible for setting switches and gauges on an apparatus that controls a deadly substance one does so with utmost care (“fear and trembling”) for his life depends on the correctness of his actions. The exact settings for the apparatus are written in a set of instructions designed specifically for that apparatus. God is telling us through Paul that we must “set our switches and gauges” (words, thoughts and deeds) exactly as God’s guide–His Word–instructs us. Otherwise we will do, say or think the wrong things. Knowing that Satan offers a variety of different “sets”–church doctrines–for religious man, God warns Bible readers to beware of them. We are commanded to follow His instructions to the letter in order to receive salvation. Any deviation from them and death will be the outcome. In His great love He has left us specific rules and regulations–His road map–that will take us through the strait gate and along the narrow way leading to His kingdom (Mat. 7:13,14). Eternal life awaits at the end of that way and that way only. The work He is referring to is obedience to His specific instructions. Only those saints who complete those works, who work out their salvation according to His instructions and follow those instructions “… to the end” (Mat. 10:22) will spend eternity with Him in His kingdom. This process is summarized as “overcoming” (Satan) in Revelation 3:21,22. The choice for salvation-seekers is as plain as black and white–God’s gospel or Satan’s gospel, between which a great gulf exists. The church tries to straddle the gulf. She wallows in the mire of Satan’s camp while telling herself that she is one with God. This “set” was followed by the church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) and is being followed by today’s self-professed church. To her God issues a warning and a call. Those with ears to hear His Words will hear, repent, do a 180 degree turn and follow/obey Him. Only a few, He said, will do so (Mat. 7:13,14). Be one of those few and live with Him in His Kingdom forever.

Colossians 1:9,10–Paul admonishes saints to be filled with the knowledge and understanding of God’s will (by studying His Word) so that they can “be fruitful in every good WORK while increasing in the knowledge of God.” We must know God by knowing, believing and obeying His Word, thereby performing the works required for salvation. In 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul talks about the “race” of life (sometimes referred to as “the walk”) that every salvation-seeker runs. The question is not that we run, but how we run: “Do you (the church) not know that those who run in a race all run, but (only) one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may attain it.” In the previous verse he identifies the rules of the race–the gospel of God. Notice that he uses the word “you,” which shows that he is writing to God’s church. Notice also that those in the church must run God’s race and run it according to His rules in order to receive salvation. Just being in the church was/is not enough. Belonging to a church, pastoring a church, being religious, etc. achieves nothing. In Galatians 1:6-9 Paul refers to God’s set of rules–the gospel–noting that to deviate from them perverts them and that the one who does so is cursed by God. Note that he emphasizes this truth by repeating it. Isaiah does the same type of repeat in 28:9,10,13. By repeating a statement God is saying that the statement or doctrine is of utmost importance. He brought this out when speaking to Joseph concerning the years of plenty to be followed by years of need in Egypt. Joseph said to Pharaoh: “… the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God” (Gen. 41:32). God repeats His warning about deviating from His gospel and about how to study His Word. The gospel-dictated race must be run by God’s rules. Cain and the five foolish virgins all ran a race and all followed a set of rules. However, they ran their race by rules they had concocted. So does the Counterfeit Church. The introduction to this website lists some of the rules–her perverted gospel–she follows while running her race. Note that the race she is running is not God’s race. Her race map/rules have taken her through the wide gate and are leading her along the broad path which leads to death. Get off that path now. Come out of her and be separate–steer clear of the unclean thing. Then, and only then will God be your God and you will be His child (2 Cor. 6:17). To be continued. L.J.