As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.

   Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

   The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Some have, in fact, already turned away to follow Satan.

   . . . [Jesus] called His disciples and the people around Him, and said to them, "If anyone wants to follow in My footsteps, He must give up all right to himself, take up his cross and follow Me. The man who tries to save his life will lose it; it is the man who loses his life for My sake and the gospel's who will save it. What good can it do a man to gain the whole world at the price of his own soul? What can a man offer to buy back his soul once he has lost it? If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in the Father's glory with the holy angels around Him."

Taken from Eph. 2, Phil. 3, 4, I Tim. 4, 5, Mk. 8, The New International Version
and The Phillips Translation. For free Lifescope book, write to Box 1575,
Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.