Dangerous pitfalls a Christian should Avoid.
- marcc51drums
- Jun 26, 2019
- 7 min read
The "world" can be a scary place. Rightfully so. But as Christians, as believers,
remember who it is you are working for. THE LORD !
Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
In the above passage in Galatians, Paul was opposing false teachers who had perverted the gospel by leaving out the essential message of the Cross and substituting a return to the Jewish ceremonial laws. They gloried in the flesh, in man’s religion, and not in the faith of the Scriptures, not in the Cross of CHRIST. Paul says they did it out of love for the world and out of the fear of men.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (( "HIM" - being, GOD. ))
False Doctrine Such as Another Gospel
(Gal 1:8)
(Gal 5:9)
(Gal 5:12)
(2 Peter 2:1)
(Eph 4:14)
(1 Tim 4:1)
Ungodly Motivations
(Matt 7:15)
(2 Cor 11:13)
(2 Cor 11:15)
(1 Cor 14:34)
(1 Tim 2:12)
(2 Tim 3:8)
(Titus 1:6)
(Titus 1:6)
(2 Peter 2:1)
(3 John 1:9)
(Jude 1:12)
Untrustworthy Attitudes
(Prov 25:19)
(Acts 20:29)
(Acts 20:30)
(Rom 16:17)
(2 Thess 3:14)
(Titus 3:10)
(Jude 1:18)
(1 Tim 3:5)
(1 Tim 6:4)
(2 John 1:10)
Supporting Schisms or Divisions
(1 Cor 1:10)
(Acts 20:30)
(Rom 16:17)
(1 Cor 10:14)
(1 Cor 3:3)
(James 3:16)
(James 4:11)
(Jude 1:19)
Walking in Darkness
(Rom 13:12)
(2 Cor 6:14)
(Eph 5:11)
(2 Tim 2:21)
(1 John 1:6)
Participating in Sin and Worldliness
(Gal 5:19)
(1 Cor 5:9)
(1 Cor 5:11)
(Eph 5:11)
(2 Tim 2:16)
(2 Tim 2:22)
(1 Tim 6:11)
(James 4:4)
Judging One Another in Malice and Wickedness
(Luke 6:37)
(Matt 7:3-5)
(1 Cor 5:8)
(James 2:13)
(James 3:14-16)
Defiling Your Conscience
(1 Cor 10:28)
(2 Cor 6:17)
(1 Tim 5:22)
(2 John 1:11)
(Gal 4:8-12)
(James 4:17) While we are indeed commanded to go and preach the Gospel to all nations, we Christians must realize that doesn't mean associating ourselves with or having relationships with certain kinds of people. The Bible warns us that there are some people we should stay away from, but should keep praying for.
Choosing Your Friends
Sometimes, we Christians have this wrong notion of "becoming a Jew to Jews and becoming a Gentile to Gentiles," just like what the apostle Paul said, according to 1 Corinthians 9:19-21.
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself servant to all, that I might win even more. To the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might win the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are outside the law, as outside the law (being not without God's law, but under Christ's law) that I might win those who are outside the law."
Some people who try to apply this without first understanding it end up compromising their standards, sinning, and failing to represent a holy GOD. Sadly, there are some who teach this wrongly.
Those who don't understand what Paul meant are at risk for making the wrong friendships. These beloved brothers often start with the right intention to help bring a person to CHRIST, but end up being influenced instead by the person they sought to bring to the light. Sadly, that's not how CHRIST wants us to reach people.
People to Be Careful Around, But Keep Praying for -
I hope to share some insight with you regarding the people we should pray for and hope for the best, but still be careful around, according to the Bible. 1. Evil People.
"Don't envy evil people or desire their company. For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble." (see Proverbs 24:1-2)
Sadly, many Christians fail in this. Don't ever desire to be in the company of a person who desires to put himself ahead of others always, plotting the downfall of his enemies. Don't desire to be with them.
2. The Religious But Selfish.
"...lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (see 2 Timothy 3:4-5)
Brothers and sisters, religiosity can be faked. We should be careful to look at the lives of those who profess to be Christian: Do they really show signs of repentance? GOD'S grace empowers us to live a changed life. If we can't see the change, then we should be careful.
3. A Fellow Believer Who Cherishes His Sin.
"But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person." (1 Corinthians 5:11)
The Bible says, "Bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33). Be careful about the Christian brother or sister you choose to befriend and give access to your life. Their habits and mindsets might corrupt you. Take note: They're "Christian," but have un-Christ-like values and behaviors...
Don't let them influence you.
Pray for Them Instead.
Remember:
1 John 3:15
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
GOD loves them and wants us to pray for their salvation and share the Gospel to them.
But let's be careful not to let (them influence us).
We should influence by encouragement... By encouraging them to better understand JESUS CHRIST- and the 'gift' of Salvation. John 5:24-27; “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. The Bible says that we are to “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4: 1-3). GOD wants us to grow in our “knowledge of the Son of GOD and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). It’s easy to become discouraged and depressed. It often seems like the wicked prosper while the godly suffer. Sometimes we may feel like crying out with David (Psalms. 13:1): How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5:9-11 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 John Chapter 2
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Galatians Chapter 6:1-18,
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (To the Galatians written from Rome.)
