The Life of Christ Continues #6 (Studies in Philippians)
Text: Philippians 3:17-4:7
Acts 27:31- Don’t leave the ship!!!
How then shall we live?
This is a great question isn’t it?
It is one of the greatest questions Christians and churches really can ask. It is also a difficult one. We have so many different options today. It is one thing to know what one must do to be saved; it’s another to know what one should do now that he/she is saved!
You have the pull of so many different forces and philosophies in life. This is one of the things that the apostle Paul was so very concerned with.
The easiest time I had in my life when it came to making decisions about what to do or where to go was when I lived by myself and didn’t really belong to the church. You know what; I never experienced any inconveniences or difficulties. The only question that really concerned me was: ‘will this please and benefit me?’
The only responsibility that I took on was responsibility to me. Society?
Who cares?
What my neighbours thought?
Never thought about it! Did I care if Jesus was pleased with my decisions?
Well I would try to work a way around that usually by offering him a token prayer of contrition.
For Christians who are living in a world that has lost its way—how we live in front of their eyes as well as our example for younger and perhaps more impressionable Christians ‘how then shall we live?’ becomes extremely urgent.
The apostle Paul has been writing to his favourite church. He has so many fond memories of them that he is filled with joy over them. As he has been writing them though, he has brought up the idea that they are to live their lives worthy of the gospel of Jesus and he went on to explain that Jesus left heaven to become a slave and then died on the cross for the world so they were to respond in their own lives as people who will deny self for others.
Last week, we looked at chapter 3:2-16 and we saw Paul’s ultimate desire is simply to know Christ. Not to be known as the guy who has got everything together, or the guy who is the great I am, but someone who has not yet obtained perfection but is pressing towards that great day where he will attain the resurrection of the dead.
This is important to remember especially in our day that prides itself on nobody is allowed to judge another, Paul saw himself as imperfect, not yet having made the grade but seeing God is still at work in him. Because he is about to hit on the question of how should someone who is saved now live and it all centers on someone’s citizenship.
3:17-- The apostle calls his dear friends at Philippi to imitate him. There is one thing that can be discovered about this apostle is the fact he was highly conscious of his own conduct because of how it could positively or negatively influence another.
1 Thessalonians 4:1- ‘..we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.’
To not only imitate him but to ‘mark’ all who live like us! (Who? Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus and the like) Paul says we are a pattern to live by. It is interesting that while he saw himself as imperfect, he did see himself as a pattern of Christ likeness to follow.
The question is what kind of pattern?
Why is this so important?
3:18,19- We are the opposite of this:
There are enemies of the cross of Christ. Notice the apostle’s high emotions here. I write this with tears. Why?
- Was he afraid his beloved Philippians might be influenced by them and this would ruin them?
- Was he that upset that so many Christians have now become enemies of the actual cross that bought them?
Paul doesn’t just say they are enemies of Christ—that could be anybody. They are actually enemies of the cross! They make the cross of no effect.
Remember earlier in the letter Paul spoke about the ultimate self-denial of Jesus that led him to the humiliating death on the cross. All that pain, all that shame, all that gore, all that sorrow—nothing to these guys.
Who are these guys?
Paul says avoid following them.
Their end is destruction. When you follow their mode of life there is nothing but devastation in your path.
Their god is their belly. Their highest value is their appetites or their lusts. This is what really is most important. They can talk very highly about God but their god is their lust.
They glory in their shame. They don’t glory in the self-denial of Jesus, they don’t boast in the King who shed his blood on their behalf—they glory in what they should be ashamed of!
(If you picture this—Paul is setting up somebody who in our society is invited to a home for a meal—ends up making a pig of himself—tells the host or hostess I came because I wanted to honor you—then gives a great big belch and thinks good of himself for doing such.) When he should be ashamed he is proud.
Presents himself as if nothing is wrong.
Paul says these people are enemies of Christ’s cross in that they pose themselves as Christians but glory in their shame. They are Christians with loose living. 1 John 2:4
‘They do whatever their bodies want, they are proud of their shameful acts, and they think only about earthly things.’ NCV
‘Their god is their bodily desires. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world.’ TEV
You need to live like us Paul says and not like them. Why?
Vs.20,21- Because while they think of earthly things our citizenship or commonwealth is in heaven. You can be proud that you are a citizen of Rome, America or Canada but our citizenship, our home, our destiny is heaven. Why live worthy of the gospel?
Because we do not belong here. We are not at home on this earth, only satisfying bodily desires because this is not what we’re looking for. Hebrews 11:10,16
Their god is their belly; we worship by the Spirit of God
They glory in what they should be ashamed, we glory in Jesus
Their mind is on earth, ours is on heaven.
Because we are searching for that heavenly city—we are eagerly waiting for the return of Jesus. This is the ultimate day. Notice Paul says, we are waiting him as Saviour. What will happen?
Our lowly bodies will be transformed by him to be just like his glorious body. What is amazing here is the contrast between what Jesus did to come to us the first time and what will happen to us when comes for us the second time.
The first time:
in form of God—made himself nothing—took form of servant—found in human form—obeyed to death.
The second time:
us in form of man—we are made something—take form of our Saviour—found in his likeness—life forever.
Can we believe this?
Can Jesus do this to us?
Can Jesus really make us like him?
By the same power that enables him to subject all things to himself. He truly is Lord of lords and King of kings.
4:1- so because of this, this glorious hope of resurrection—stand firm in the Lord. You might be tempted to defect—don’t! Stay in fellowship with Jesus—don’t let the lusts of the body become your god that you serve.
Now, he gets to a reason for this letter. Paul has had a concern with unity in this church.
4:2,3- Euodia & Syntyche!
What was happening?
A disagreement of some kind. One that was of grave importance for Paul and for the church there. What does Paul suggest?
He entreats both to work this out. It is interesting here that Paul says both have equal responsibility to agree in the Lord. Paul is not interested in who is right and wrong. Paul is interested in the heart of unity.
How then shall we live?
Important question for both morality and community. It matters!
It matters so much that Paul even calls a friend of his ‘my true companion’ to get involved with this.
When a church has in their midst the mindset of some that says ‘I can’t love you unless….’ There is a problem.
The ultimate goal whenever tempted to disagree or hold on to grudge against another must be what Jesus said it should be:
to gain your brother and sister. Matthew 5:21-24, 18:15
The goal is not to ‘win a fight at all costs’, the goal is not to be a gunfighter for Jesus. The question when dealing with the community of the saved (please note Paul says their names are in the book of life—they are Christians despite the differences) is, will we focus on our differences, will we focus on defending ourselves or will we focus on Jesus?
Jesus who gave up his own reputation (2:7) to die for us!
Notice how Paul on rebuking these two women also praised them. I wonder if there is wisdom in that.
4:4-6- Perhaps the most famous section of the book, but keep it in mind with what Paul has just previously said.
Rejoice in the Lord always and again rejoice. There is that ‘in the Lord’ phrase again. How can you rejoice when there is so much conflict, so much tension or so much stress?
How can a situation that is sad or severely irritating be changed by command into a joyous one?
It can’t!
But if our focus is ‘in the Lord’ the situation itself is transformed.
Hebrews 13:5,6—I will not fear what man can do unto me!
Listen to what he says—let your reasonableness be known to everyone! Other versions will have gentleness or gentle & kind. You could say ‘sweet reasonableness’. This is the idea that one can be content with much less than his due. It is the idea of forsaking your right for another’s benefit.
Imagine Syntyche saying back to Paul do you know what she did?
Paul says, let your reasonableness be known by all—there is more than just you and her involved here.
My dad—I don’t want to hear another word, get along. But that’s not fair—I want to prove my point, I want to be told I am right even if I leave somebody in the dust.
This is an important Characteristic trait—this is to be known to all! Not just to some, not just to those we like—our gentleness or reasonableness is to be known to all!
Both the world and the church needs to see this. Our influence is important in the moral arena that we saw in ch.3 and in the relationship arena.
Why Paul?
The Lord is at hand!
- Is he near in space? He is near, he is aware, he knows, he is the real judge.
- Is he near in coming?
Either way, the message is clear—you don’t need to be up in arms, you don’t need to be anxious because the Lord is close.
So, don’t be anxious about anything! Easy for you to say Paul:
Remember, I’m in prison and I might be executed. Instead of anxiety: pray first (whether it is great or small—pray) and then show humility. What should we pray for in these difficult situations?
- to obtain a good and
- to avoid a wrong.
Let all men (not some) see your gentleness and let God see your requests.
Why can Paul write this?
Our citizenship is in heaven. I know how the story ends. I know what the final act of the great drama will be. It doesn’t matter how the script gets written.
4:7- and the peace of God—that passes all understanding (this is beyond our comprehension—known only by experience) will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
How then shall we live?
What is the goal for our life while here?
Is there anything better than to go to bed at night or to wake up in the morning having the peace of God?
Paul urges these Christians to keep their eyes on the prize, to not get bogged down with the things of the world. The fruitless desires that Satan throws our way, the emptiness of sin, the temptation to hold on to differences and keep grudges but instead to live in the pattern of Jesus:
self-denial which ends up in exaltation.
Have the peace of God—know that this is your destiny, though imperfect you are striving to become like the One who is perfect. The One who died for you and rose from the dead and invites you to know that powerful experience as well. Let’s stand and sing…
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