An Example

Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

An Example

In this passage Paul once again does what is always dangerous to d - designating oneself as an example. This sets oneself up for failure. One has to be either extremely arrogant, or transparently humble to project oneself as a model.

The world is full of the arrogant who send the message, “I have arrived; you would do well to follow me.” Modern advertising uses that scheme. Superstars and the supersuccessful are presented as models, the glamorous and luring lie being that if we use the commodity these persons use we will be like them.

Paul has confessed his limitation: “I have not attained—I am not perfect.” And here his deep feelings are captured in his words, “I tell you even weeping” (v. 18, NEB). He is pleading for folks to follow him not in his failures and limitations, not in his achievements, but in that which really matters—being laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

It is hard to say follow me as an example. This opens us up. It also exposes our weaknesses. Which frightens (to soft a word) most of us because we he been betrayed or hurt.

Can you think when you might have been hurt or betrayed?

It makes it hard to let people follow you, because if you are to lead with the kind of humility that Paul is calling for you have to open yourself up.

Enemies of the Cross of Christ

They are those “whose god is their belly and whose glory is in their shame.” “Belly” is a metaphor that suggests far more than mere gluttony. It covers all that belongs to the bodily, fleshly life of humans; also for the satisfaction of the carnal nature. But it covers even more than that. Paul uses this word as he uses the word flesh (sarx) to denote the old, earthbound humanity from which Christians have been rescued into the new humanity of Christ. It is equivalent to “the natural man” (1 Cor. 2:14), “the old manhood” (Rom. 6:6), “the first Adam” (1 Cor. 15:47).

That this is Paul’s meaning is understandable when we remember that he is talking about people who are within the church of Christ. That makes the pronouncement of judgment even more searing. Within the church there are those whose fate is destruction because they turn their freedom into a perverted liberty; their primary interest is selfish—self-serving, self-seeking, and self-justifying. Their minds are still “set on earthly things.”

He is talking to Christians.

Those that are still circumscribed by an earthbound life, refusing to be open to the gracious and transforming influences of heaven. By failing to accept the once and for all death of the old life, they disqualify themselves for the new. Their fate is destruction.

Knowing Christ Exposes Reckless Living

Joy comes in that Knowing Christ Exposes that Reckless Living

that living the way of the world

that seeking to fill the void of brokenness that we can’t fill. Only Jesus can.

A way of living that is contrary to the Way of the Cross is exposed because we are citizens of not just Laughlin, Not just NV, Not Just USA but of Heaven.

Believers know the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back from heaven. He will fully establish the kingdom of heaven, where we have citizenship. While we wait, we participate in kingdom activities, not worldly activities.

What is a citizen?

The citizen of Paul's day did not merely mean resident but person with rights, including, for example, the right to a trial. In the later half of Acts, the impetus for action is getting citizen Paul his fair trial. Citizens also had the right to vote, to marry, and make contracts. They had the responsibility to pay taxes and serve in the military.

The most essential features of citizenship are that it came with right and that it was exclusive. Not everyone was granted citizenship. It is estimated that only 15% of the population were actually citizens.

When Paul declares the ultimate citizenship of someone is not in the Roman Empire, but in Christ Jesus. For colonists granted citizenship in the Roman Empire and often former veterans, this would be a bold statement. The state which you served for twenty years and now gives you power through your rights...that state is not your ultimate loyalty!

Paul claims our citizenship in God's kingdom is based neither on birth nor our own military victories. It is all made possible by Christ. That is unthinkable!

Next Steps

What is righteousness? How do you become righteous before God? Does God consider you righteous right now?

Who is following your example as a Christian? Where is that example leading them? Can you recommend that someone follow your example? Why or why not?

Where is your citizenship?

—Bibliography---

Dunnam, Maxie D., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon. Vol. 31. The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982.

Singerman, Barbara. Beyond Surrender. Garland, TX: Hannibal Books, 2003.

Harris, W. Hall, III, Elliot Ritzema, Rick Brannan, Douglas Mangum, John Dunham, Jeffrey A. Reimer, and Micah Wierenga, eds. The Lexham English Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012.

Anders, Max. Galatians-Colossians. Vol. 8. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

http://www.zionsjonestown.com/paul/philippi/citizen.htm

Christian Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

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