Mark This Man Too

Philippians 3:17 KJV

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

The Apostle was no friend to today's "feel good" sort of Christianity. Paul was quick to tell us,

Romans 16:17 KJV

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

And again, 

2 Thessalonians 3:14 KJV

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

He just would not have stomached this sort of Christianity that lets anything pass for true faith and practice. His was a distinct, determined and decided kind of faith. He had met the Saviour and the Saviour had changed his life. He knew from whence his message came and urged his audience to embrace it. So much was this true that he also urged his audience to reject anyone anywhere who preached or practiced something different. He wrote to the Galatians,

Galatians 1:8-9 KJV

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Strong words!

On the other hand, Paul wasn't a negative man. He was thankful that the gospel was preached by either his friends or his enemies (yes, the Apostle had preacher enemies). Here he creates a lesson from the other pole than Romans 16:17.

We ought to mark the man who cause divisions and note the man who does not obey the Word of God.

We ought to separate from them. We ought not to keep company with them. (to ignore this lesson is to be guilty ourselves of not walking according to the Word of God) But we ought to do more than that.

We ought also to mark the man who does follow the example of the Apostle, 

• The man who does obey the Word of God
• The man who does strive for the unity of the brethren in the church 

and we ought to purposely keep company with that man. This man will be a help and benefit in our own walk with God.

Paul said in Philippians 3:19 that the end of the those who do not walk as he has taught is destruction. On the other hand, the Psalmist said, Psalms 37:37 KJV

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.