Stand Firm in the Faith: Replicate. Reject. Remeber (Philippians 3:17-4:1)

Weak Foundations

A condo in Surfside, Florida collapsed on June 24, 2021. The collapse was caused by a "severe strength deficiency" in the pool deck. Furthermore, Donald Dusenberry, a consulting engineer, would suggest a foundation-related matter — potentially corrosion or other damage at a lower level.” One resident also reported seeing some sort of hole open up near the pool just before the partial collapse, which supports the idea that the collapse began underground. Poor construction and a weak foundation eroded over time brought destruction to the homes of hundreds of residents and the lives of 98 people. Just as there is great danger to having a weak foundation and severe strength deficiency in apartment complexes, so there is great danger to having a weak foundation and erosion of your faith.

I’m afraid so many in the church today are building the house of their faith in the Lord on weak theology, an eroding of the confidence of scripture, and a false view of the gospel. Love always wins. Judgement not lest ye be judged. I don’t need to be in the church to go to heaven. Its no wonder so many in the church are deconstructing from the Lord. They are not standing firm in the Lord, but are falling away.

Those who fall away at some point in their walk stopped participating in discipleship. They stopped learning from others who were standing firm in the faith how to continue to stand firm until the very end. Paul is concerned to some degree about some int eh church falling away because he exhorts them to stand firm in 4:1

Paul says in

Philippians 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Paul exhorts the church to stand firm in Christ. What does he mean by the phrase “stand firm?” To stand firm is to be like a soldier who does not break rank, even when the enemy is threatening to advance in his position. Like a good soldier who holds his ground in the fiercest fighting, Paul encourages the Philippians to stand firm in the Lord. Do not lose ground on your in your faith. Hold fast and keep pressing onward toward your prize! I love the way Tony Merida puts it, he says, “Paul urges the church to “stand firm,” that is, “stick with it,” “endure,” or “never give up the Christian walk” (Carson, Basics, 98). It’s an appeal to persevere in light of our heavenly citizenship and the Lord Jesus’ climactic return. Because our citizenship is heaven, don’t give up. Persevere. (Merida, Tony, and Francis Chan. 2016. Exalting Jesus in Philippians. Edited by David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference.)

Paul explains how to persevere in Philippians 3:17-21. In summary of Paul’s teaching, he essentially says,

Stand firm in the faith by replicating the godly, rejecting the worldly, and remembering the promises. (Philippians 3:17-21)

Paul offers a three principles to discipleship: imitate the good, reject the bad, and remember the end. What I gather from Paul this morning is discipleship is active, intentional, and necessary if you are going to not fall away.

Stand firm in the faith by replicating the godly (Phil 3:17)

Philippians 3:17 ESV

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

In verse 17, Paul alludes to discipleship when says “imitate me” and “keep your eyes on” Christians who exemplify the faith.” The phrase Paul uses for “imitating me,” is the Greek root mimēsis, which English uses for the word mimic. Paul advocated that the Philippian Christians take the initiative to attach themselves (keep your eyes on) to mature believers whose Christ-like life was worth mimicking. Considering the Philippian culture, the church would not be surprised by Paul’s exhortation of imitation. Imitation as the goal of discipleship was common in Greek antiquity.

Hans Weder explains,

“In Greek culture, regarding discipleship, the teacher-student relationship is predominantly characterized by the concept of mimēsis. Teachers and students are bound together by a certain teaching and practice of life, and the student is recognizable in his imitation of the teachings and life of the teacher.”

If students wanted to flourish or live a better life, or they wanted to obtain a higher position in society, they would attach themsleves to a teacher they could imitate. Where as students in Greek culture had ulterior motives for wanting to be connected to a teacher, the Christian is compelled by an inner Holy Spirit wrought obligation to be like Jesus.

Albert Barnes once said,

The most deeply felt obligation on earth is that which the Christian feels to imitate the Redeemer.

Albert Barnes

The Holy Spirit does not want to be grieved by you living according to the world (Eph 4:30). Instead, the Holy Spirit compels you live in a way that pleases the Father by being transformed into the image of the Son. This is why discipleship exists in the church. It is Holy Spirit empowered transformation.

Chris Byrley defines discipleship as the process of devoting oneself to a teacher to learn from and become more like them. For the Christian, this refers to the process of learning the teachings of Jesus and following after his example in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Byrley, Chris. 2014. “Discipleship.” In Lexham Theological Wordbook, edited by Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, and Rebekah Hurst. Lexham Bible Reference Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. )

Christ uses mature Spirit empowered believers who are further along in their sanctification to disciple those who are younger in the faith toward conformity to Jesus through imitation. Discipleship is a learning process that is empowered by the Spirt, guided by the word, and uses shared life experiences in context of the church with the goal of discipleship being to know God and love him more. The Puritan John Milton says,

The end of all learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate Him.

John Milton

On the back of John Milton, I would say the end of all discipleship is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love and imitate him?

As some of you know, I am a fan of George Mueller. He was an extraordinary man of faith who saved thousands of orphans and believed what he prayed and saw God do amazing ministry miracles in his lifetime. He wisely says to you and I,

“I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord” (in Piper, “George Mueller’s Strategy”). George Mueller

What did it mean to be “happy in the Lord”? Mueller said this:

“The more we know of God, the happier we are.… When we became a little acquainted with God … our true happiness … commenced; and the more we become acquainted with him, the more truly happy we become. What will make us so exceedingly happy in heaven? It will be the fuller knowledge of God.” George Mueller

Do you know the secret to standing firm in the faith? It is being exceedingly happy in God. Knowing brothers and sisters who deeply know God is a means of grace to your faith. They are worth imitating because they help you be exceedingly happy in God. Holy imitation let imitation is a means of grace that God uses to strength your faith by helping you know him better. Don’t lose heart or feel discouraged. Some of you might be tempted to think of this kind of discipleship as,

“An ideal that everybody is expected to honor but nobody is expected to attain.” Anonymous

Paul does not seem to think so. In the context of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he wanted the church to know Jesus’ humility. Keep in mind the two big ideas we’ve covered in Philippians 2-3 is humility and unity. Our text this morning is coupled right next to chapter 4, where Paul has two ladies who are against each other. He’s anticipating his instruction to them. He wants those ladies who disagree, and others in the church who are in discontent, to have the mind of Jesus. Paul wants them to mimic those who have encouragement in Christ, who comfort people in the love of Christ, who participate in the Spirit, who have a deep and genuine affection and sympathy for the saints, and who find joy and maintaining the unity in the church as Christ does (Phil 2:1-4). Because you have His Spirit, His word, and His church, discipleship is not only an ideal to be honored, but Jesus makes it attainable.

Stand firm in the faith by rejecting the worldly (Phil 3:18-19)

This is one of the only times Paul mentions he cries over those who walk as enemies to the cross of Christ. Lamenting, he says,

Philippians 3:18–19 ESV

18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

In contrast to replicating the godly, Paul warns the Philippian church to reject the worldly. The people he is speaking of are so-called Christians in the church. No one seems to be able to identify them with certainty. Carson, O’Brien, and others note that they appear to be people who make some sort of profession of Christian faith, but in reality they oppose the gospel (Carson, Basics, 92; O’Brien, Epistle, 452). They could be either Christian Jews who were the Jesus-plus people or Christian liberals who sin because grace abounds . Either way, Paul refers to them as enemies of the cross.

The worldly walk as “enemies to the cross of Christ.”

John Calvin describe these people as pretenders. He says

“They pretended to be friends; they were, nevertheless, the worst enemies of the gospel.” John Calvin

(The Epistles of Paul to the Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, page 107)

What can you think of as the worst enemy of the gospel? A pretender. A hypocrite. These were so-called Christian leaders in the church who said they trusted Jesus, but bore no cross-carrying example in their faith. They taught doctrine that was contrary to truth and was leading the church away in heresy. Their life was lived in rebellion to Jesus. Their pattern of life was contrary to the godly Paul spoke of in Phil 3:17. They walked as enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul offers four characteristics of the these worldly “christians.”

Four Characteristics of the worldly

Their end is destruction

The worldly are destined for hell. The word for “destruction” is an eschatological word. It can mean annihilation, which some theologians take that to mean there is no hell. God’s judgement is that you no longer exist. No fire. No suffering. No purification. No darkness. No gnashing of teeth or worm. The word is also used, however, to describe God’s eternal judgement on those who reject his salvation. Paul uses the same word for destruction to describe what happens to those who do not obey the gospel in his letter to the Thessalonians. Paul says Jesus will,

2 Thessalonians 1:7–9 (ESV)

...inflict vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Paul does not mean annihilation. He means eternal hell. The end of everyone who does not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus will suffer the punishment of eternal hell, away from the presence of the Lord, and away from the glory of His might.

Their god is their belly

The worldly are a law unto themselves. If they were the Jesus plus people, they prided themselves on conforming to the strictest food laws of the religious Jews. If we are speaking of the libertines, then it refers to their worldly appetites. J. Motyer notes that these people recognize no need and no authority outside personal satisfaction. Their appetites dictate their lives. (Motyer, J. A. 1984. The Message of Philippians. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.) This amounts to the worldly putting their confidence in the flesh, which Paul said had no eternal value in the previous verses. Instead of worshiping with a grateful heart to the Lord, these people, they live to please themselves.

Their glory is their shame

The worldly put confidence in the flesh that causes them to celebrate what offends God. The word shame carries the idea of exposed sexual organs. It could refer to circumcision, or glorying in being circumcised. It can also refer to gross sexual immorality, greed, disrespect, and laziness. The worldly boast in idolatry and sin that God finds abominable and admonishes us to avoid. For example, sex before marriage is normal in our culture, but is shameful in God’s eyes. Christians should give no credence to sex before marriage or even outside of marriage. We shouldn’t normalize it nor should we except it as normal with our children or brothers and sisters in the church. Our culture finds idleness and laziness comedic and normalizes it on T.V. shows and movies. God finds it shameful, and we shouldn’t participate in shameful idleness. Just because our culture has given up on monogamous marriages between a man and a woman, and accept unholy unions and divorce as a pattern of normal living, we must always see it as God’s sees it. God hates divorce and he calls same sex unions an abomination. You cannot stand firm in the Lord and glorying in what is shameful.

Their minds are set on earthly things

Here Paul addresses the root problem of the worldly. Their minds are not set on the things that are above, but are set on earthly things. When the Bible speaks of your mind, what it means is your heart. Craig Troxel notes, “Our intellectual abilities—our thinking and planning, ideas and insights, musing and meditation, memories and imagination, knowledge and ignorance, wisdom and folly, doubts and convictions—are all attributed to the heart in the Bible. (Troxel, A. Craig. 2020. With All Your Heart: Orienting Your Mind, Desires, and Will toward Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.)

The Bible teaches that your intellect, reasoning, and even your doubting flow from your heart. Solomon says to his sons,

Proverbs 15:14 ESV

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

David draws a parallel between his heart and thoughts in Psalm 139:23

Psalm 139:23 ESV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

Jesus describes his people’s lack of understanding through a dull heart.

Matthew 13:15 ESV

15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

Mark notes,

Mark 2:6 ESV

6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,

Before Jesus’ death, he exposed doubt rising up in their hearts

Luke 24:38 ESV

38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

Your heart has your mind, and your mind has your heart. If your affections are worldly, your thinking is worldly. If your thinking is worldly, your affections, and pattern of living is worldly. If you set your mind of earthly things, your heart is worldly. That is what Paul teaches the Roman church to

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

To conformed in Romans 12:2 is to be molded like cookie dough in a cookie cutter. Paul warns about allowing your mind/heart to be molded into this world. The world refers to the sinful rejection of God. Its the part of the world where Satan has some leash, where those who are dead in their trespasses and sins are sons and daughters of wrath who live and have their being (Eph 2:1-3). Paul says to not allow your mind and heart to be molded like cookie dough in a cookie cutter into the pattern of this world. Or, in other words, do not set your mind on earthly things. It leads to destruction, confidence in the flesh, and living a pattern of life that is shameful to God.

One of the most powerful conforming influences in our culture is our media. People who have massive followings on Youtube are called influencers. Hollywood is another powerful influencer. What makes Media so influential is it knows how to grab your heart with a story using drama, humor, fear, and suspense. Their stories draw you in and connect your intellect and affections to characters and their plot line. And when you engage these stories passively and without a theological and critical eye, you allow Youtube, Hollywood, and Netflix to conform you into their image.

Consider for a moment how the LGBTQ culture became so prominent in an America that was the most conservative country in the world. Those who advocate for the lifestyle understood the power of media, and they dominate the media and big tech industry. Writers of movies and sitcoms began imputing gay characters in their stories. By the time the 1990’s come around, you have shows like Will & Grace promoting gay leads and using humor to normalize LGBTQ culture. Now add the decline in Christians reading their Bibles, attending church, and not participating in the Great Commission, you have the culture we have today. Professing Christians, entire churches, embracing a lifestyle God forbids.

I’m not fear mongering over T.V. consumption or implying any hatred of the LGBTQ community. We are not allowed to hate anyone. We cannot, however, genuinely speak truth in love to our neighbor if we are conformed in the world’s image. Christian, if you are engulfed in social media more than you are engaged in the Bible, prayer time, and discipleship, you run a high risk of being conformed to the world. And its not just the world’s love for sexual immorality. Your anger can be conformed into the world’s image. You sense of justice can be conformed into the world’s image. Your compassion or even the lack of can be conformed into the world’s image.

Paul calls on you, instead to set your mind on Jesus and be transformed into his image.

The transformation happens when God saves you. When God saves you, he takes your heart of stone out and replaces it with a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). The light of Jesus graciously illuminates your heart to see and understand on the one hand how God sees your sin, and on the other hand Christ’s atoning redemption. Because your heart can see, understand, and feel your need for a Savior, you can call on the Lord with a pure heart (2 Tim 2:22) and a sincere faith (1 Tim 1:5). God’s grace and truth can shine “in your heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Craig Troxel notes, “This light does not bypass the mind. It opens the mind. Faith and knowledge are not archenemies. They are blood brothers and share a home together in the heart.” He says, further, “If knowledge fills the human heart, then saving knowledge fills the new heart. It is there in your heart holding hands with belief, trust, love, confession, salvation, and the other members of the family (Rom. 10:9–11).” (Os Guinness, Doubt: Faith in Two Minds (Herts, UK: Lion, 1976), 30; Troxel, A. Craig. 2020. With All Your Heart: Orienting Your Mind, Desires, and Will toward Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.)

So what you think and feel matters a great deal to your ability to stand firm int he faith. Paul, later in his letter compels the Philippian church to think about Godward things. He says,

Philippians 4:8–9 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Notice how what you think and feel are connected to what you practice (v9). You want peace? Set your mind on the things that are above. You want holiness? Set your mind on the things that are above? You want your life to have purpose? Set your mind on the things that are above? You want to wise? Set your mind on the things that are above? You want to know the Father more? You want to be transformed into the image of the Son? Set your mind on things that are above. You want to stand firm in the Lord? Reject the worldly and set your mind on the things that are above.

And while you are setting your mind on the things above, stand firm in the Lord by remembering God’s promises for you.

Stand firm in the faith by remembering the promises (Phil 3:20-21)

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Paul ends this part of his letter with three realities that give you hope and help you stand firm.

You are a citizen of heaven.

The Philippians were colony of Rome. They enjoyed the benefits of Rome but they were living in a foreign land. Dennis Johnson describes it like this

“To be a citizen of Philippi was to be a citizen of distant Rome, where Caesar ruled his far-flung empire, with all the attendant privileges and responsibilities. So also Jesus-followers in Philippi, whether their status in society was slave or citizen or something in between, were citizens of a distant cosmic capital, of heaven itself, where their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, infinitely mightier than Roman emperors, was ruling the universe.”

(Johnson, Philippians, page 236)

Paul reminds them as a colony of heaven, their real citizenship was in heaven. Of course they had the rights and privileges of heaven. They enjoyed access to the Father, wisdom from the king, and the blessings that pour down on those who belong to heaven. For now, however, they must live as a colony of heaven on earth until Jesus returns. Just as it was for them, so it is your brothers and sisters. We belong to heaven. Our hearts long for heaven in the same you a foreigner longs for his homeland. Your name is in the Lambs Book of Life. When the Roll is Called up Yonder, you will be welcomed by your fellow heavenly countrymen. For now, live out your citizenship in heaven. Live to make God’s name reverent. Live to advance His kingdom on earth in the hearts of men. Live to joyfully and eagerly obey him as they do in heaven. Rest in His provision and forgive as those who’ve been forgiven, and stand firm in the Lord against the powers of darkness.

Jesus will come for you.

Jesus promised

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

We are waiting for our risen Savior to return. Jesus is not in the grave. He has risen. He has ascended. He sits right now at the right hand of the Father interceding for us as our Lord. As our Risen Lord, he is our sovereign King and rules and reigns with perfect power and justice. He will reconcile and restore all things to his perfect will. When he returns, it will not be as a humble child but as a warrior king.

Revelation 19:11–15 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

And when it is all said and done,

Revelation 21:1–5 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

You will receive a glorified body.

Paul says that Christ will transform us by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself. Its the same power that raised him from the dead, and its the same power that restores all of heaven and earth, and your new body. Paul says to the Corinthian church

1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV

49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

John says

1 John 3:2–3 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

You and I will be like Jesus when he appears. We will be pure, able to live in heaven for all eternity. We will have a body like his resurrected body that tastes the glories of heaven, sees the wonders of heaven, hears the infinite sounds of heaven, smells the delicacies of heaven, and feels the warmth of friends and the peace of Christ in heaven. Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be!

Strong Foundations (3-2-1 Discipleship)

On a personal level, the application is clear. Replicate the godly. Reject the worldly. Remember the promises. At a grassroots level, all of us should be in some form of discipleship: discipling or being discipled. Our Sunday 3-2-1 discipleship model helps achieve that: Sunday Morning, Home Fellowship Groups, and DNA Groups. You should be participating in all three. Furthermore, if you an opportunity to disciple a younger saint in the faith one on one, we will support you in that endeavor. It is easy to complain about problems in the church or the immaturity of people. Be a part of the solution and disciple young saints in the faith.

Building More Foundations

We have an opportunity to build more foundations for

Biblical Counseling Center

A Christ Honoring Disciple Making School