Two Examples
Notes
Transcript
Two Model of Living one’s Life
Philippians 3:17-21
Online Sermon:
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To live one’s life worthy of the Gospel of Christ is far
from an easy task! Though the believer has passed from death
to life and is now sealed by the Holy Spirit does not mean one
has arrived at spiritual perfection! Even though as a believer we
can say “NO” to sin this does not mean that we have become
sinless. We have the
mind of Christ and
participate in the
divine nature yet
find the lure of
earthly pleasures of
this world often
leads us down many
paths that do not
honor Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King! To make matters
worse believers are near so many contradictory points of view
from both the saved and unsaved that ascertaining the truth is
near impossible to determine in the sea of “grey” in which we
live! So, to learn how to be holy as God is holy, we courageously
open our Bibles and invite the Spirit to show us the giant motes
in our eyes that are keeping us from seeing and obeying our
Lord! And yet while God’s word is not difficult to understand,
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after all the Spirit of truth lives inside of us, it certainly is
difficult to head the words of James; do not be hearers of the
word but doers (1:22-25)! As human beings we have the
tendency to imitate the words and deeds of others when doing so
gives us pleasure. While it is easier to imitate those on the broad
path where all choices are acceptable; surely there are believers
around us that shine like stars in the sky because they have
learned how to take God’s Road map to holy living, the Bible,
and put it into action for His honor and glory, that we can
imitate! In today’s passage in Philippians 3:17-21 Apostle Paul
states the key to holy living is found in imitating the words and
deeds of other Christians but only to the extent that their lives
personify Christ! To accomplish this our mindset must be on
our citizenship being in heaven and the eager expectation of the
Lord who will one day give us glorious bodies that will at last
be like Him.
As we go through today’s passage ask yourself if
you are an example of Christlikeness to be
emulated by others or an enemy of the cross to
be avoided because your glory is being found in
your shame?
Nothing but the Gospel
Successfully running to win the prize of living a life
worthy of the Gospel of Christ requires one to have the right
mindset. No matter how successful the believer is at
proclaiming the Gospel message (1:5), seeking unity in the Spirit
(2:1), and suffering for Christ’s names sake when asked (3:10);1
one must never become so arrogant that one foolishly believes
one has arrived at perfection (3:15)! Even if one forgets what is
behind and gives all the honor and glory for one’s current
successes to the
Lord (3:13-14),
the mature in
Christ
know
full well that
they
have
indeed
not
reached
the
pinnacle
of
“spiritual
attainment.”2
The truth is that even though God promises the believer if we
draw nearer to Him He will draw nearer to us (James 4:8), we
tend to get weary on His race track and often wander away!
Considering the intense persecution, the Philippians faced and
the lure of the Greco-Roman culture that placed such high value
on self-indulgences; some of the Philippians were starting to fall
away from living the Gospel message (3:16). While we don’t
know specifically what Paul meant by those who “at some point
you think differently” there are several likely meanings. 3 First,
there were false teachers such as the Judaizers who were
preaching inclusion into the kingdom of God was through
circumcision and the keeping of the law (3:1-4).4 Second,
“perhaps some Philippians were experiencing a loss of
confidence in God’s promises for the future, as was the case in
Corinth (1 Corinthians 15:12—‘How can some of you say there
is no resurrection of the dead?’).5 Third, since Paul talked a lot
about unity it is likely that there were disagreements over how
to live a life worthy of the Gospel.6 To combat the tendency to
wander away Paul told the told the Philippians they should be
“open-minded and teachable” by God who would reveal His
truth to them.7 Like the Galatians they were to be “keep in step
with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)8 and be “confident that He who
began a good work in them would carry it on to completion”
(1:6). If we are to run the race and honor God we simply must
1
5
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
261.
2
Roger Ellsworth, Opening up Philippians, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One
Publications, 2004), 68–69.
3
Ralph P. Martin, Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 162.
4
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
258.
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Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 97.
6
Gordon D. Fee, Philippians, vol. 11, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont,
IL: IVP Academic, 1999), 159.
7
Ralph P. Martin, Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 163.
8
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
260.
run in His way with our eyes fixed on the Son who bought our
atonement at the price of His very life.9
Should not our life song be to “turn your eyes
upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and
the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the
light of His glory and grace!” 10
Reflection. How well are you running the race in which God
has set out before you? Are you walking in step with the Holy
Spirit in both learning and living the Gospel message? Have you
wandered away from the truth that has set you free and are you
still teachable by the Potter who wants to continuously mold the
clay? How much of “your” understanding of God’s word comes
from the world and how much from direct revelation from God
Himself?
Following Faithful Examples
To accomplish the goal of living one’s life worthy of the
Gospel Paul told the Philippians, “Join together in following my
9
Alan Carr, “Running for the Prize (Philippians 3:12–16),” in The Sermon Notebook: New
Testament (Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr, 2015), 3014.
10
Alan Carr, “Running for the Prize (Philippians 3:12–16),” in The Sermon Notebook: New
Testament (Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr, 2015), 3014.
11
Ralph P. Martin, Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 11, Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 163–164.
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example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us a model,
keep your eyes on those who live as we do” (3:17). While
reading, meditating, and prayerfully taking in the words of the
Bible is critical in knowing what the road map to holy living is,
much can be learned by watching and imitating the
righteousness
“whom
God’s
grace has shone”11
very brightly. To
stand firm in the
faith we are to
imitate the great
biblical heroes of
the faith who were
known to walk with God such as Enoch, Noah, and Abraham,12
but specifically in Apostle Paul’s declaration, himself! This was
not an act or egotism on Paul’s part,13 after all he just finished
telling the Philippians that he had not achieved perfection and
had just finished suggesting the imitation of others such as
Timothy and Epaphroditus. We are only to imitate others how
they live their lives for and a reflection of Christ’s absolute
perfection and holiness!14 Imitate other believers when they
don’t preach Christ out of selfish ambition (1:15), when they
12
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
262.
13
Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 32, The New American
Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 142.
14
F. F. Bruce, Philippians, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Peabody, MA: Baker
Books, 2011), 127.
stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith
of the gospel (1:27), when they suffer for Christ’s names sake,
when they are like-minded having the same love, being one in
spirit and mind (2:1), when they do nothing out of selfish
ambition or vain conceit but look out for the interests of others
(2:3-4), when they have the same mindset as Christ (2:5), when
they don’t grumble or argue (2:14), when they hold onto the
word of life (2:16), when they honor other believers (2:29),
when they see past gains a loss for the sake of Christ (3:7), when
they see their righteousness through faith in Christ (3:9), and
when they forget was is behind and press on to win the prize for
which God has called them heavenward in Christ Jesus (3:14).
Not only is one to imitate Christlikeness as found in other
believers but one is also to live one’s life “blameless and pure,
children of God” so that one might shine like stars in the sky
(2:15-16)!
As an ambassador of Christ and royal priest you
are called to “set an example by your passions,
affections, emotions,”15 words, and deeds by being
knowledgeable of the Bible and putting those
Spirit inspired words into action. “Those who
pursue Christ will produce those who pursue Christ.
15
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 159.
16
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 156.
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And it is only those who continue to run after Christ who will
stand firm.”16 You don’t need an influential position in the
church to be a living, breathing example of living the Gospel
message. As believers we are all called to avoid anything that
might cause anyone to stumble in their walk with God17 by
passionately pursuing knowledge and obedience to His Son!
Reflection. Do you know that other believers examine how you
are living your life for Jesus? Are you striving to know Christ
more so that you might be a shining example of what it means
to deny oneself, take up one’s cross and follow the Lord? Have
you identified other believers that personify Christlikeness and
are inviting them to build you up in the faith and spur you onto
good deeds? Or do you feel you are such an amazing teacher
and so spiritually mature that other believers have nothing to
teach you?
Do not Follow Pretenders of the Faith
It is at this point that Paul warned the Philippians of the
dangers of imitating those who “live as enemies of the cross”
(3:18). While Paul does not identify who those enemies were
there are18 three likely possibilities. First, Paul could be
referring to the “opponents of Christianity in antiquity who
17
F. F. Bruce, Philippians, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Peabody, MA: Baker
Books, 2011), 127.
18
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 159.
regularly mocked Christians for their worship of a man who died
by crucifixion.”19 The Epicurean antinomians for instance
“loose living”20 was in stark contrast to
denying oneself, taking up one cross and
follow Jesus. Second, Paul could be
referring to the Judaizers who he earlier
called the “dogs, evil doers, and mutilators
of the flesh (3:2).21 While they made a
profession of faith in Christ,22 they were
enemies of the Gospel message due to their
insistence on adding circumcision and
“observation of the Jewish calendar and
dietary laws”23 as necessary requirements
for entrance into heaven. And third, Paul could be referred to
nominal Christians who do not have a “theological denial of the
cross” but have a “ethical divergence from the way of the cross
of Christ.”24 Self-denial,25 putting the interests of others above
that of one’s own, and a “cross-centered life of suffering”26 is
furthest thing from their minds. As Paul thought about the
thrown away potential of these image-bearers of God he could
not help but weep for his love for even his opponents was
great!27 Even though Paul does not identify those enemies of the
cross he was referring too, he gave three of their main
characteristics so they could be identified, and their example not
followed! First, their god was their stomach. For the Judaizers
their “food laws had become their religion”28 and for pagans and
the nominal Christians their “bodily desires and sensual delights
had displaced the divine and became their god.” 29 Second, ruled
by their passions they not only gratified their sexual desires,
greed, disrespect, gluttony, and laziness30 but third they glorified
19
Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to
Philemon., vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002), 361.
25
20
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933),
Php 3:18.
26
21
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 98.
27
22
28
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 159.
23
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 98.
24
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
264.
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H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Philippians, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk &
Wagnalls Company, 1909), 115.
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 157.
Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Php 3:18.
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 99.
29
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 157.
30
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 160.
these sins31 when their sins that should have brought them shame
and repentance!
With tears in his eyes Paul rendered his verdict
on them that their destiny is destruction because
their mind was set on earthy things rather than
the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14)!32
Paul warned the Philippians to not imitate
wayward, disobedient attitude towards Christ
lest they too share in their fate.
Reflection. There is a great danger in imitating those who are
not living for Jesus! When you look up to another believer do
you discern what in their life comes from Christ and is worthy
of imitating? Do you often foolishly say to yourself, “I am doing
the best I can and considering the sins of others, I am doing
great”? Are you a nominal Christian more in love with the god
of self rather than the Savior who purchased you at the price of
His very life?
Live as Citizens of Heaven
Paul concluded this part of his letter to Philippi by
stressing how important it was for the believers in Philippi to
have the right mindset. Instead of focusing on earthly things and
imitating the enemies of the cross and be destroyed, the
Philippians were to stand firm keeping their focus on the return
of Christ and
the
future
reality that He
will transform
their
lowly
bodies to be
like
His
glorious body
(3:20)!
Living one’s
life worthy of the Gospel message of Christ (1:27) requires one
to “realize this world is not our home.”33 Though the “little
Roman polis,”34 Philippi, had much to be proud of with its
Roman status as a clone of Italy, they were not to boast in Caesar
but the Lord as their only source of joy, hope, and peace.35 “The
true Savior was not the deeply flawed Caesar, but the heavenly
31
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933),
Php 3:19.
34
32
35
R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 158.
33
Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin,
and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference,
2016), 161.
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R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway Books, 2007), 158.
Osvaldo Padilla, “Philippians,” in The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary, ed. J.
Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2020), 1182.
Lord Jesus Christ!”36 When the Philippians were humiliated and
persecuted for Christ’s name sake by the elite of Roman society
they were to remember that they are already citizens of heaven
of Jesus, the Messiah, who is Yahweh, the God who created the
heavens and the earth!37 “Writing from a Roman prison to a
Roman colony, Paul spelled out a greater vision of the future
than any Caesar could ever accomplish.38
While the groanings of this life were not easy to
endure (Romans 8:18-27), the Philippians were
to eagerly await the Lord’s return who “unlike
the murderous Nero”39 can and will “by the
power that enables Him to bring everything
under His control, transform our lowly bodies so
that they will be like His glorious body” (3:21).
and destructible,41 will one day be transformed by the One who
is sovereign over all things visible and invisible (Colossians
1:16) into spiritual bodies that are imperishable, raised in glory
and in power (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
Reflection. When life gets hard and the valleys of persecution
exceptionally deep and painful are you able to feel incredible joy
because you know you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and
as such are already a citizen of heaven? Are you looking forward
to the new spiritual body that you are about to receive that is not
subject to decay and cannot sin? What is the first thing you will
say to the Lord when you meet Him face to face … why not say
it now?
Conclusion
Though Paul referred to the body “as the “body of sin” (Romans
6:6) and the “body of death” (Romans 7:24), he did not express
Gnostic or dualist contempt for the body, as if the body itself
were inherently corrupt and evil.”40 Instead Paul was rejoicing
that our old bodies that were born corruptible, frail, vulnerable,
To live one’s life worthy of the Gospel of Christ requires
one to have the right mindset. Even though we have been
washed by the blood of the Lamb and sealed by the Spirit of God
Himself, this does not mean we have reached a pinnacle of
spiritual attainment! The truth is that despite God’s promise if
36
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 100.
39
37
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
269–270.
40
38
41
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
272.
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Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 101.
G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
(Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009),
272.
Paul Barnett, Philippians & Philemon: Joy in the Lord, ed. Paul Barnett, Reading the Bible
Today Series (Sydney, South NSW: Aquila Press, 2016), 101.
we draw nearer to Him, He will draw nearer to us, in the face of
persecution and the lure of self-indulgences we tend to wander
away from God, forever struggling to become holy as He is holy!
While reading, meditating, and prayerfully taking in the words
of the Bible is critical in knowing what the road map to holy
living is, much can
be learned by
watching
and
imitating
the
righteousness of
other
believers
when they reflect
Christ’s absolute
perfection
and
holiness.
Those
who pursue Christ
will produce those who pursue Christ. Since there are many
pretenders of the faith and lukewarm, nominal Christians that
exists we must be careful to not emulate those who have their
minds set on earthly things and those who the cross-centered life
of suffering and obedience is the furthest thing from their minds!
Those who are ruled by their passions to gratify their sexual
desires, greed, disrespect, gluttony, and laziness should not be
emulated but instead wept over for they truly are enemies of the
cross who have glorified sin that should have brought them
shame and repentance. Running the race of life to win the prize
means standing firm keeping our focus on the return of Christ
and the future reality that He will transform our lowly bodies to
be like His glorious body! So, let’s live in the present as citizens
of heaven who are about to go home in a new spiritual body that
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imperishable, incapable of sinning, raised in His glory and
power.