Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Philippians

Philippians 3:17-4:1 08/17/03

Introduction:

Illustration: Percentage of American teens who say they want to be like their parents: 39% Charis Conn

Explanation: The world is full of people we lift up as role models and it is not only children who watch…and emulate them.
Unfortunately many of these role models, in their arrogance are crying out to anyone who will listen ‘I have arrived; I have made it! You would do well to follow me’.

Rarely are we encouraged to imitate one who is humble. Yet this is just what we see in our text this morning. Paul, unlike the majority of role models in our day, says ‘I have not made it’ ‘I have not arrived’ ‘I am not perfect’…Follow me! Not my failures or limitations, not my achievements, but in what really matters..my pursuit to know Jesus Christ.

Look, we are human. We will follow others. We will emulate those we believe are doing better than we are. Often, regardless of how they got there.

Transition: BUT, Paul is stressing the importance of following the RIGHT examples. And our text this morning is a rather convincing argument.

Philippians 3:17

First, notice that Paul is encouraging the church to follow him…together,  corporately.

Second, notice that Paul is not saying to follow just him. He says to take note of those who are striving to know Jesus Christ.

Transition: But still, why would Paul risk sounding so arrogant and proud by telling others to follow him? It was not a lack of humility, but his concern and love for the Philippian Christians. You see, Paul knew the serious consequences of following bad examples. What are the consequences?

Philippians 3:18-19
Paul has a lot to say about those who are bad examples in our society…some even in the church. He calls them enemies of the cross. Can you think of anything worse than that?

But notice something. Paul’s, righteous indignation, his holy anger, is clothed with tears of compassion. You see, the people he is talking about are church people, professing Christians…but not possessing Believers because Paul calls them ‘enemies of the cross’. Since they add to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul says they are fighting against that for which Jesus died.

And notice, this brings him to tears, not to blows or hatred. We who know the Truth have no cause for being smug or self righteous, for it is only because God opened our eyes to His Son, Jesus Christ, that we stand and live in his forgiveness, love and acceptance.

With the right attitude established, what else does Paul say about these who are bad examples to follow?

Their destiny is destruction
Paul was speaking to those who believe and teach that salvation is earned by our accomplishments and self discipline rather than the once for all finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. He is saying that when you base your salvation on anything other than Christ alone, you will never know salvation, or the forgiveness, love and acceptance of God, because you will never really know Jesus Christ. And contrary to much popular teaching, there is a Hell and it will be an eternity of suffering for all who try to get to heaven on their own merits.

Paul trusted in Christ alone for his salvation…the right example to follow.

Their god is their stomach
This is not actually talking about eating but about people’s passions, their appetites, the things they desire more than anything else. This is the ‘whatever feels this good must not be bad’ mentality. These people are seekers of pleasure, at all costs.

I believe this text explains very clearly the reason for the upheaval in the Episcopal  church in America today. Have you seen the news? The Episcopal church in the US has elected, a practicing homosexual as bishop. This new bishop has said that he believes the bible is outdated and not written with what we know today. It’s information is limited therefore we can not trust, nor do we have to follow everything it says.

The bottom line for this and other issues disgracing the Christian church is that too many people believe ‘the Bible has no right to challenge their lives today. However, they have every right to challenge the Bible’…Why? Because their god is not the God of the Bible but the god of their stomachs.

Paul’s God was the God of the Bible as revealed in Jesus Christ, His son. He alone, is God, His Word, all of His Word is truth, now and forever. That is the right example to follow.

Their glory is their shame
It’s not enough that these individuals in Pauls day, and in our day as well, believe and teach false doctrine and live lives in opposition to God’s Word, they are proud of it. They are proud of those things… that ought to bring them shame.

Paul’s glory was in the cross of Christ alone…That’s the right example to follow.

Their minds are on earthly things
Illustration: DL Moodly is credited to have said ‘Some Christians are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.’ But I am afraid the opposite is more often true. Many Christians are so earthly minded that they are  no heavenly good.

Understand, it is not wrong for Christians to be concerned with earthy things, in fact it is necessary to life here on earth. But, Paul is warning the Philippian Christians and us, not to depend on earthly things to merit favor with God. That is the right example to follow.
 
Transition: Next, Paul reminds Christians that they have so much more than any of those bad examples can offer.

Philippians 3:20-21
Illustration: Larry Hagman, who starred as the evil J. R. Ewing in the "Dallas" television series, bought a mountaintop property near Santa Barbara, California. His mother, Mary Martin, suggested he call it Bali Hai after a song in the musical South Pacific in which she had starred. He said, "No, Mother, that's your show." He named the place Heaven because he said that it was as close to Heaven as J. R. would ever get. -- Robert C. Shannon

Isn’t it wonderful that the Christian is assured of heaven? And Paul once again reminds his Philippian brothers and sisters that they will enjoy heaven…together. And, there are real benefits to our heavenly citizenship.

1. Life rather than destruction. It is implied that our heavenly citizenship releases us from hell and death.

2. Life with Jesus rather then being abandoned. Paul says that we are eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus Christ to take us to our heavenly home.

3. Life in the sovereign hands of God. Paul says that until that day comes, we live in the hands of Jesus who controls everything.

And my personal favorite.

4. Life in a new body. We will have a body like Jesus. After all, our goal is to become like him.

Transition: There are great benefits to being a Christian, a citizen of heaven. But, as we learned last week, the road to heaven is long and we have a ways to go. So, Paul says, stand firm.

Philippians 4:1

What words of affection, of love to his brothers and sisters in Christ. What a wonderful example to follow. To have that kind of love for one another. It is this example that the early Christians followed and that others noticed. People will take notice today too if we would but truly love and care for one another.

Paul ends by summing things up. He said

Follow me, and you will persevere to the end,

Follow me and you will stand firm against any false teachers,

Follow me and you will not give in to bad examples,

Follow me and you will become like Christ.

Conclusion

Paul has set the pace,  He has become the example, He has made the challenge…

Will we follow the right example?...or even more important, Will we be the right example?