Verses seven through nine: In verse 7 the Apostle Paul admonishes the people to lift up their spiritual leaders. He then identifies those who deserve the people’s support as THOSE WHO SPEAK GOD’S WORD WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THEIR WALK. Paul tells the people to watch them, listen to them, then emulate them. How does one know if one’s spiritual leader is faithful to God’s Word? This is possible only BY STUDYING GOD’S WORD. Everything comes back to the Word. Jesus is called the Word of God (Jn. 1:1-4,14/Rev. 19:13). He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Translation: Saints are to honor those God has placed over them, who speak His unchanging Word and obey it, who “walk as Jesus walked” (1 Jn. 2:6) in word, thought and deed. Jesus was God’s Word and will in human form. “In Him there is no variableness (changing) neither shadow (hint) of turning (away from the Father’s Word” (Jam. 1:17). Nor shall there ever be. In verse 9 Paul warns the people against what today are called “denominations” (“divisions”-1 Cor. 1:10) and the false religions they generate. In Galatians 1:6-9 he warns about the perversion of the gospel in which choice words and phrases are changed in order to make a passage say what false prophets and false parishioners want them to say. He calls these perversions “strange doctrines” (vs 9). The vast majority of Catholic/Protestant doctrines are “strange” in that they have been lifted from foreign religions. Due to Scriptural ignorance and laziness on the part of the people, Satan’s false prophets are able to substitute heathen doctrines and customs for God’s Word and get away with it. See the Introduction to this website for a few examples.

Verses ten through fourteen: Here Paul is telling the church then and now to go “outside the camp”–outside traditional religion–for only there can Christ be found. In verse 13 he warns that those who do so will suffer persecution at the hands of those within the camp–the whole of professing Christendom. Note that when this happens true saints are “bearing HIS (Christ’s) reproach.” What greater honor could a saint want than to suffer at the hands of counterfeit Christians for being obedient to Jesus Christ. In verse 14 God promises to those who so suffer a place in the future headquarters of the Kingdom of God–New Jerusalem. For this reason those “outside the camp” are to offer to the Lord the sacrifice of praise while they are being hated and despised by those “within the camp.” God sanctifies (sets them aside for holiness and holy work–vs 12) His people for this purpose. Unlike ancient blood sacrifices, the saint’s sacrifice is the giving of praise to Him for the honor of suffering for His sake.

Verses seventeen through twenty-four: In verses 17 and 24 Paul again tells the people to obey those who teach them the ways of the Lord while watching over their souls. Those whom God has ordained for spiritual leadership will be held accountable to Him. Pray for those in leadership positions, submit to their teachings and follow their example. In verse 21 Paul tells the people that by honoring the blood-sanctioned New Covenant (vs 20) they will be doing the will of God. By doing the work that is pleasing to Him they will bring glory to both Father and Son. What more could a saint want? L.J.