Philippians 3:17-4:1 - True and False Teachers

Phil 3:17-4:1

17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 4 1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Last week we ended with Paul talking about pressing on toward the goal that he had not yet attained. He continues this idea when he says, ‘join in imitating me…”

Paul is not being proud of what he has done for he already deal with the pride issue when he discussed how he could have confidence in the flesh if anyone could, but he counted that as loss.

He desires them to imitate him and “observe those who live according to the example you have in us.”

How are they to imitate him and the “us” in vs 17?

Pressing on toward the goal, the prize of the heavenly calling. The resurrection found in Christ. But also living our their heavenly citizenship.

Vs. 18-19 - After he tells them who they should imitate, he uses contrast to show how they should not live…

…as enemies of the cross of Christ, something he as repeated frequently, this time with tears.

Jesus says to his disciples in Matt 16:24 that they need to, “take up your cross, and follow me.”

Their end is destruction

The Letter to the Philippians E. Mourning over the Enemies of the Cross (3:18–19)

These people think that they have already arrived at the goal (telos) and are already “perfect” (teleioi). They think that being perfect elevates them above the experience of suffering. But Paul paints a different portrait of those “who are perfect” (teleioi): they freely admit that they have not already arrived at the goal (3:12); they willingly participate in the sufferings of Christ (1:29; 3:10). Those who think that they have already arrived at the goal and avoid participation in the sufferings of Christ are actually traveling toward the goal of destruction. Paul sees their destruction as the inevitable consequence of choosing a self-indulgent lifestyle and opposing the way of the cross of Christ. In their deliberate refusal to suffer with Christ, they have separated themselves from salvation in Christ.

their god is the belly

Paul is talking about self-indulgence, there is no need for self-sacrifice as the cross implies, but because they believe they have already recieved perfection, now it is about self-satisfaction.

Romans 16:18 - For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded.

The word for appetites is the same Greek word used for belly here. You con not serve your own desires and Jesus at the same time.

their glory is in their shame

There are two prominent thoughts on what this might mean

he could be talking about circumcision and how obedience to the law would not bring glory but shame.

he could be talking about how they seek glory in things that ultimately bring shame when presented before Christ.

Can you think of something that people seek glory in what is their shame?

I think about those who brag about having an abortion

The whole Idea of Pride month is seeking glory in the things that bring shame before God!

their minds are set on earthly things

They are enemies of the cross because their minds are set on earthly things.

Their glory is their shame because their minds are set on earthly things.

They seek self-satisfaction because their minds are set on earthly things.

What ares of are lives do we sometimes set our minds of earthly things?

Paul now contrasts how we are different.

Vs. 20 - But our citizenship is in heaven where we will be expecting our savior.

The Philippians would have had a keen understanding of what Paul meant for Philippi was a Roman colony and Roman citizenship was a prize to be cherished. It afforded many privileges.

We have talked about being citizens of heaven before but I want to touch on two important things to remember:

Heaven doesn’t allow duel citizenship.

You want to invest in the place where your citizenship rests for what you put there cannot be taken from you!

The political overtones of Paul’s eschatology is evident by Paul’s use of “we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Vs. 21 - This idea of what happens when Jesus returns continues with Vs 21 when Paul says,

”He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,“

The “body of our humiliation is - who has something different in their translation of the BIble?

NLT - weak mortal bodies

ESV - our lowly bodies

KJV - our vile bodies

LEB - our humble bodies

What we get in exchange is a glorified body like the one Jesus has.

and we get this by, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

The Letter to the Philippians F. Expecting Christ’s Ultimate Victory (3:20–21)

The essential difference between the risen Christ and all who become like him in their resurrection bodies is his unrivaled power. Paul draws attention to the uniqueness of Christ’s sovereign power: Christ has the ability to transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control. Here again Paul’s language echoes the claims of Caesar. The Roman emperors claim absolute power over the bodies of their subjects. Paul sits in chains by Caesar’s decree. But only Christ has the power to bring everything under his control. The power of earthly tyrants to humiliate the followers of Christ will be overcome by Christ when he subjects all things to himself and transforms our bodies of humiliation to be like his glorious body. Christ, not Caesar, will exercise universal dominion by his power; Christ, not Caesar, will exercise his power to transform our bodies so that our humiliation will be transformed into glory.

Vs. 4:1 - Because of all this that Paul has said he now tells them to ”stand firm in the Lord in this way”