The Two Outcomes

Thank you for watching what is our final video in Philippians 3, we will be studying verses 17-21. To be honest, we could very easily break the verses that we are about read into 3 distinct lessons but unfortunately that would throw the whole timeline of this series way off so I would encourage you to really spend some time dwelling on what we are going to read in this video. You may be familiar with Charles Dickens’ famous book, A Tale of Two Cities, and what we really are going to read today is A Tale of Two Peoples. If you’ve heard me preach before, you have probably heard me say before that there are only 2 types of people in the world: The People of God and those that aren’t. C.S. Lewis echoes this when he said, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." In the span of about 15 minutes, I want to try and look at 3 things: the example of Paul, those that are the enemies of the Gospel, and the citizenship of the People of God. Let’s go ahead and dive into Philippians 3:17-21. Paul writes in Philippians 3:17-21

Philippians 3:17–21 ESV

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

Living as an Example

Paul begins verse 17 by urging the Philipians to join in imitating him and to keep their eyes on those that walk according to example. Two things that are worth mentioning is that this really does drive an important point home to all ministers of the Gospel. Are you living a life that is worth imitating? There are eyes on you at all times. Are we living a life that is worthy of the Gospel? Martin Luther said, “Although we may conceal our works from men, we cannot conceal them from God; and at the last day, they will be disclosed before both men and angels.” I often think of what James says in James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Every word that I say from the pulpit will be judged. Every doctrine that I declare, every Scripture that I teach upon, will be placed under the grand tribunal of Heaven and this is a terrifying reality and it is something that any who feel called into Gospel ministry need to take into consideration. All of the Joel Osteen, Steven Furticks, Joyce Meyers will have every single word that they have uttered from the pulpit put under the microscope and they will have to answer for what they have taught. But this is true for all ministers, not just the false teachers. So, if you are considering a life of any kind in the ministry, take this to heart. The next thing I want to briefly touch on is that Paul is in no way saying that he is a perfect example. You only need to look at the last 2 videos to understand that Paul recognized that he was not a perfect example. What Paul wants to stress is what he says to the Church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Paul says here, “imitate me only as far as I imitate Christ because Christ is the only perfect example that we have to follow.” Guys, no one in this life is perfect, therefore, on one is worth imitating if they are not set heart, mind, body, and soul on imitating Christ.

Enemies of the Gospel

For times’ sake, let’s look at verses 18-19 again. Paul writes in Philippians 3:18-19 “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” In this world, we have Godly and ungodly examples. The world is not intolerant of God, the world hates God. The way we see the unsaved respond to Christianity should not catch any of us off guard, they are simply following the ways of their father the Devil. I had a professor in college who said that lost people act lost because they are lost. There are enemies of the cross of Christ everywhere. There are many who even claim the name Christian that are enemies of Christ but their story ends only in destruction. To those that reject Christ, this world and this existence is the closest thing to Heaven that they will ever experience. The things that are most shameful are the things that the ungodly glorify the most in. These are harsh words that Paul uses to describe the unsaved. When they die, they don’t just fade into nothingness, their end is is described as destruction. The great Puritan Thomas Watson said, “The wicked in hell shall be always dying but never dead. The smoke of the furnace ascends forever and ever. Oh, who can endure thus to be ever upon the rack? The word “ever” breaks the heart.” This should drive us to evangelism. Can we be so uncaring for the world that we would let the enemies of the cross march towards their destruction? Charles Spurgeon said, ““If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

Christian Citizenship

The people of God are inherently different from the world because their priorities are completely different from the world. Notice the contrast that Paul brings up in verses 20-21. Paul says in Philippians 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.” This earth isn’t our home. We are only passing through. We are like the children of Israel marching on towards the Promised Land. We won’t get to our Promised Land in a day but we know that where we are as we travel is not our final home. Something far greater is to come. We are the people of God. Every country will come and go but we have a home that is eternal. Now this reality guides us in all that we do. We are not the enemies of the cross, we are those that have taken up the cross and followed Christ. Every thing that we do should be done as if Christ Himself signed off on it. The cross of Christ should guide our every step. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “My faith determines my conduct; my conduct is a proclamation and statement with regard to my faith; and both of them together are always tested ultimately by what they say about the cross.” So, we march on. We follow the command of our Commanding Officer. We set our eyes solely on Christ and we live our lives knowing that our citizenship is in Heaven and we are only waiting for the moment when our Savior will transform us to be like Him. So, how will we find the endurance to do this? How do we navigate the enemies of Christ? By the power of the Holy Spirit and the assurance that Christ will subject all things to Himself. While Satan may be the prince of this world, He is not sovereign over this world. Jesus Christ is the King and He is sovereign and our lives must reflect that reality. I’ll end this study with a quote from Philip Graham Ryken. He says, “Kings are not to be ignored; they are to be honored and obeyed. If Jesus truly is our King, then we will show his gentleness in our homes, his patience in our trials, his diligence in our work, his faithfulness in our friendships, and his forgiveness for the people it is hard for us to love. Are you living for the King, or are you mocking him by living as if it hardly matters whether he is the King or not? The claim of kingship is not just a claim that Jesus makes about himself, but a claim that he makes on us.” Jesus is King whether the world wants Him to be or not. No one makes Christ the sovereign King, He simply is the Sovereign King and every action that we do is in recognition of He that is King over all. We are His people, citizens of His country, and one day we will see Him as He is and be transformed to be like Him. Let’s pray.