The attitude of a mature Christian
Notes
Transcript
15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.
16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.
Intro
Do you consider yourself a mature adult?
My expectation when I was young. (college, get married, when have a child)
Ask anyone aged person, no one would easily consider themself a mature human being.
Definition of maturity can vary depend on cultures as well.
Put aside of definition of worldly view of maturity
How does a mature Christian look alike? What a mature christian would do in their lives?
Apostle Paul teaches us the attutitude of mature christians.
Today’s passage is from Philippians 3:15-17 .
Let’s alternate.
“15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. 17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.”
Background of book.
If we want to know background of any Paul’s epistle, we ought to read the book of acts.
For the book of Philippians, we should read Acts Ch 16.
9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
It was in Paul’s 2nd missionary journey, as we just read,
in response to a vision he saw “a man of Mecedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to “ and help us.” Paul, Silas and Timothy got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, to answer it as the call of God to preach the gospel.
From Troas - they travelled to Philippi
Philippi was a Roman colony.
It was named after the father of Alexander the Great, King Phippi II of Macedonia. The city became the place where retired Roman soliders resided so the city became very prominent along with Thessalonica.
Paul couldn’t find a synagogue there because there were no more than 10 jewish men resided in the Philippi. At least 10 or more Jewish men were needed for a synagogue
Rather He found a place of prayer by the riverside on Sabbathday.
During Paul’s several days stay in Philippi, He converted a woman named Lydia,
Paul casted out the demon spirit from a slave girl.
The jailer’s all family had come to believe in God.
All these stories are recorded in the book of Acts.
40 After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.
So when Paul left the city, he left some devoted group of Christians.
And He is writing this letter to people in Philippi when he is is prison.
Few difference about this book from other Paul’s epistle.
Unlike other letter of Paul, this book is little different. This letter doesn’t mention of Paul’s apostleship. Almost all letter of Paul mention of it, this one doesn’t.
Many warm and positive words were in this letter. I give thanks.. I am confident, I rejoice.
Although, Paul addresses the issues that the church had, from this letter we are able to feel Paul’s love toward to church members in Philippi, and love from church to Paul.
The church of Philippi was the 1st church who supported Paul’s mission with offering and it was one of the reason why he wrote this letter as well to show his appreciation.
Not only they gave him money, the member of Philippi shared the suffering with Paul for the gospel.
7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
So, Paul is writing them how a mature Christian should continue to live in Chapter 3:15-17 today.
Philippians 3:15 (NRSV)
15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.
First of all, we need to know the meaning of mature.
In Greek, it is 텔레이오이. It means perfect, mature, complete
in King James version, the word mature was translated as “Perfect”
Philippians 3:15 (KJV 1900)
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
In new testment, 텔레이오이, which translated either mature or perfect was used many times.
Matthew 5:48 (NRSV)
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
wow. So when Paul talks about the maturity, it is being perfect as God? We know that it is not possible. Also we can strive live to be perfect and that should be our goal, but we will never get God’s level of perfection.
But if we look at other verse, we can relieve little bit.
Hebrews 5:14 (ESV)
14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Greek word 텔레이오이 is also used to in Hebrews Chapter 5:14. What is solid food here? It is the word of God.
So the mature person is who is able to swallow the word of God whether it is sweet or bitter and have power to discern by constant training.
I titled this message “The attitudes of a mature Christians”
What are the attitues of a mature Christians?
We are going to find out those in the book of Philippians.
what’s amazing about the scripture is that most of time we can find the solution in the same book or same chapter.
Let’s go back to previous texts. from 3:10-14
1st attitude of a mature Christian
1. Want to know Christ and power of his resurrection.
1. Want to know Christ and power of his resurrection.
Philippians 3:10 (NRSV)
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,
Mature Christian want to know God more and want to know the power of his resurrection.
2. Want to share Jesus’s suffering and become like him in his death.
2. Want to share Jesus’s suffering and become like him in his death.
Philippians 3:10 (NRSV)
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,
3. Continue to press on to make it his own and to receive the heavenly prize.
3. Continue to press on to make it his own and to receive the heavenly prize.
Philippians 3:12 (NRSV)
12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Paul doesn’t not think he has perfected in his ministry, but he press on to make it his own.
He doesn’t think about his achievement, but still targeting for his goal. The prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 (NRSV)
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
these attitude are of a mature christians.
wanting to know Christ, wanting to know the power of resurrection.
willing to share Jesus’s suffering, and want become like him in his death.
wow..
However, there is a problem. verse 15.
Philippians 3:15 (NRSV)
15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.
There were people who disagreed with mature Christians.
people are at different level of maturity.
don’t be quick to judge them.
but who are those people?
Philippians 1:15–18 (NRSV)
15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
False gospel preached? No..
Then Paul wound’t be rejoicing. They were immature Christians.
* they were lacking in mature christians’ attitude.
wanting to know Christ, wanting to know the power of resurrection.
willing to share Jesus’s suffering, and want become like him in his death.
Rather, they want to be famous, they wanted to be well known.
But it did not matter to Paul. What’s his reaction? He rejoices and he says he will continue to rejoice?
How can be he rejoicing? Because he knew there is God who will reveal to them like Paul was being revealed by God.
Philippians 3:15 (NRSV)
15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.
Philippians 1:6 (NRSV)
6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Paul wasn’t quick to judge those are not mature. Rather He had strong belief that God will reveal to them as well.
The How does God do it? How does God reveal to them?
Through our prayers..
Ephesians 1:16–19 (NRSV)
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
God reveals to our brothers and sisters through our prayer..
Philippians 1:9–11 (NRSV)
9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Isn’t is amazing?
Through our prayer, God will reveal to them, also to us.. by the spirit.
I am here because of my mom’s prayer.
4th attitude of mature Christian is
4. A mature Christians pray for others.
4. A mature Christians pray for others.
Lastly, a mature Christians observe and follow example.
5. A mature Christians observe and follow the example.
5. A mature Christians observe and follow the example.
Philippians 3:17 (NRSV)
17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.
First, when I read this verse. Oh man Paul is not humble at all.
After reading all his messages, man… he is following Jesus wholeheartedly. He deserves to say that.
not only Paul, there were people who also lived according to the example. Isn’t great?
My senior pastor. 한기홍 목사님. I want to be like him. I want to learn from him.
Read books written by mature pastors who are doing ministry well. learn from them
Mature Christian always observe good example and follow.
conclusion,
Do you consider yourself a mature Christian? I don’t..
What can we do?
1. We can pray.
1. We can pray.
let’s read again from Ephesians 1:16-19
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
2. Observe and follow example.
2. Observe and follow example.
read Paul’s pastoral letter,
read book written by pastors you look up to
observe great example around you and imitate them.
By doing that, I am sure we can all grow every single day.. We will never say we are mature adult, but we will have the attitude of a mature christian until we see our Lord Jesus. Amen