Philippians 3:17-21
Prison Letters Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Imitating Grandpa
Today we wrap up chapter 3 of Philippians. I think it is important to take the chapter as a whole and it will give us some context for the verses we are in today.
Listen carefully as we read the verses leading up to today’s text.
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.
2 Watch out for “dogs,” watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh.
3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—
4 although I once also had confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee;
6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.
8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ —the righteousness from God based on faith.
10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead,
14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.
16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.
17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.
Such a bold and somewhat intimidating statement. Paul says imitate me.
That is…
Watch what I do and follow my example. See how I live and then copy that.
Imagine with me making this statement in your life.
Hey I want you to imitate what I do and follow the example that I live.
Here is the key in this statement.
7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.
8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ —the righteousness from God based on faith.
10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Paul’s focus on imitating him is not on his past behaviors.
His focus is on his present relationship with Jesus.
His new credentials are all wrapped up, not in who Paul is but in who is Savior is.
You also have all these cultures that are colliding. You have the pagan worshippers, the ones who say Caesar is Lord, the Jews and now a group of people who are followers of Jesus.
In this new life imitate me as I imitate Christ.
18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things,
Lots of discussion on who he is referring to in these verses.
Is it…
Jews
Pagans
Christian converts who are not practicing the way of Jesus
At first, I thought this was referring to the Pagan culture that existed in Philippi but then the more I studied this and looked at these verses in the context of the rest of the chapter then I tend to lean towards this referring to the Jews.
Verse 2 watch out for “dogs”, watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh.
He then mentions circumcision.
No matter what group you believe he is talking about the message is the same.
Be alert to many who live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
with tears he says this
Their end is destruction and their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame.
I tend to lean towards this being spoken of the Jews again because of this language. Their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame.
You could make a strong argument about the Jews and their diets. I also think you could do the same with the pagan rituals.
Their glory is their shame. This could refer to circumcision.
Their focus is on earthly things.
Trying to understand which group he is referring to helps us with context but again no matter the group then the message is the same and that is to be alert and watch out for those whose focus is on earthly things alone.
I remember a time when we would share the Gospel with individuals and they would place their faith in Jesus and then a Jehova witness would run in to them at walmart and they would invite themselves over to read the scriptures together.
When you think of Jehova witness, I think this scripture would apply today to them as well. They live as enemies of the cross of Christ. They are focused on earthly things.
20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
One New Testament scholar said this is one of the most misinterpreted scriptures in Paul’s writing.
Many interpret this verse to mean that we are citizens in heaven and we are here just “waiting” to go to our home.
Meaning life on earth doesn’t have a lot of purpose only to pass through and get to the place we are a citizen of.
I would argue as well that this is not the purpose or correct interpretation of this verse if you read it in context of the verses around it and the entire chapter.
In Philippi, the Romans have pushed out Roman citizenship to these out lying communities. You live in Philippi but you are Roman citizen. You still follow all the Roman ways and you help to implement Roman life style while you are in Rome.
Paul uses this idea to get through to them. He says your citizenship is in heaven.
Forgetting what is behind and reaching for what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.
That is to live as a citizen of heaven here on earth. We as citizens of Heaven are called to bring the culture of Heaven to Earth. We are live, rule, and reign as citizens of heaven here on Earth.
Jesus in the model prayer. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
As a citizen of Heaven we bring the culture of heaven to earth. We live out Heaven’s actions on earth.
In what way do we bring the culture of Heaven to earth?
The Philippians 2 way
3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,
8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.
Paul says to bring the culture of Heaven to Earth
Sharon serving
Church member cooking for others
We do this by serving
21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
Power:
Represents energy in effective action
Living with the Kingdom in mind here on Earth
