PHILIPPIANS
SCC 1/23/11
INTRODUCTION:
Everybody always wants to be somebody by imitating anybody who has become
somebody. We used to play fast pitch rubber ball in our neighbors yard. We had
a strike zone taped on the side of the house, which we used as a backstop while
pitching to one another. We had markers staked out in the yard for singles,
doubles, and so on. But each of us would imitate our favorite professional
baseball pitcher as we played. I was always Luis Tiant
of the Boston Red Sox with his fuman chew and
unorthodox windup that faced 2nd base before turning to the plate to
pitch. And this kind of imitation is also true of the spiritual life. We must
imitate Christ but I imitating you imitating Christ facilitates
that.
BE A PERSON WHO IMITATES CHRIST SO BY FOLLOWING YOU I CAN
IMITATE CHRIST
There is a process of reproduction at work here. We all have a responsibility
to set this process in motion so that the impact of Christlikeness is reproduced through us in the lives of
others. So while we are living out our lives here on earth there is an eternal
dynamic that must be at work through our lives.
1. Paul tells us to join him in being a fellow imitator together
with him as others are doing (Imitators of Christ) vs
17
The command is to ‘be imitators together with me’. This is not an option for
us. In reality we all must live our spiritual and personal lives in such a way
that people can imitate it and be the same as imitating Christ’s life. (1 Cor 11:1). He indicates that there are others already doing
this and the Philippians can join these together as they all follow Paul’s
example of following Christ. So it is not expecting to have others follow every
single area of our lives but to relentless pursue the life of Christ I emulate.
To strive and press on toward this is the idea. I think we would rather often
say ‘do as I say not as I do’ but our impact is built upon ‘do as I do’. That
is what governs our impact.
2. The reason for this imitation is that many are living as
enemies of the cross of Christ vs 18
Here then is the reason for this command. There are many who are not walking
this way. They are actually ‘enemies of the cross’. In
fact, Paul says he has told them this very often and now again but while
weeping. Notice the genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of these people.
The pattern of their lives is the exact opposite of Paul’s. This is such a
serious threat that every book in the New Testament except Philemon has a
warning about false teachers. They are a false example. Following them will
never get you to your goal of imitating Christ. But what kind of enemies are
these?
3. Those living as enemies destined for destruction vs 19
They will ultimately be judged and face judgment. Since they are enemies they
will be treated like enemies in the end. They will not be annihilated but they
will be ruined forever, separated form God and then
eternal judgment. So you better have enough discernment to understand who they
are, what they teach, and what God will do with them. That is why so much is
said about them in the New Testament. You do not want to be impacted or
influenced by them.
4. These enemies have specific characteristics vs 19
There are three further descriptions of these:
(1) Their God is their belly. Their appetites and addictions motivate the way they
live. Physical appetites motivate and deceive by telling us they will satisfy
us. Just do it and you will have what you want. They
also deceive us by telling us we cannot live without them. It says you got to
do that—you can’t live without it. That characterizes how these enemies live
and how they will impact you to live.
(2) Their glory is their shame. This reminds me of Romans 1:28-32 where
pagans unwilling to acknowledge God not only practice such things worthy of
death but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. There is no
shame and they hang their hat on the shameful things they do—much of it
described in those verses.
(3) Their minds set on earthly things. This seems to be one of the growing
influences in the church in America. It is this emphasis on life here in
this world kind of Christianity. This emphasis wears several hats. There is
the environmentalist hat that says our job is to take care of the planet. The
social gospel hat that says we must feed the hungry. The political hat that
says we must make America Christian. The prosperity hat that says God wants you
to be wealthy. All of these are earthly-minded false teaching. Watch out!
Instead be a person who imitates Christ so others following you
can imitate Christ. Make His your standard. Watch out for what you are
reproducing. Don’t be deceived and then deterred by false teachers. You will
suffer the consequences.
IMITATE CHRIST NOW AND HE WILL COMPLETE THE TRANSFORMATION WHEN
HE COMES FOR US
The reality is we do not belong here. So stop pretending as if you do. Make
sure you are not being influenced by others who only live for the now.
Everything in our world is motivated to motivate you to live as if this is all
there is in the universe. But for a believer that is never what we are to live
for.
1. The reason to imitate Paul’s following of Christ is because
our citizenship is in heaven (not earthly orientation) 20
In contrast to these enemies of the cross—salvation, sanctification,
glorification, substitution, propitiation, redemption—is our citizenship in
heaven. We live here on earth where we raise our families and do our business
and live our lives here. But while living here our citizenship is elsewhere—in
heaven. This world is not our home. This is not all there is. We are just a
passing through as the song says.
2. Our heavenly citizenship means we wait eagerly for the
Savior, Jesus Christ, from heaven vs 20
The point is that since believers have a heavenly citizenship we look with keen
interest for the Savior’s return from heaven. The word suggests a tiptoe
anticipation each and every day—the idea of a child standing on tiptoe waiting for his daddy to come
home from work at the end of the day. We have en entirely different
orientation than what the enemies of the cross want to give to us. We live our
lives in light of this anticipation. We know Christ is coming for us. Many
others had been waiting for the rapture before us but death eventually caught
up with them and now they are already home. So we who are still here wait this
way. I am not interested in speeding my death up. I want to enjoy my life and
serve the lord and see my families and ministry future. But I am doing all of
that while anticipating something much grander than anything that can be
offered here. It is my life with God and his people forever. So live in light
of that now. It will give you wisdom with which to conduct your life. Vance Havner
once said, “If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying
to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this
world.”
3. He will transform our earthly bodies to conform to his body
of glory vs 21
At the Rapture of the church Christ will transform our lowly bodies so that
they will be like His glorious body. In other words, we will exchange these
disease infested decaying bodies for ones completely transformed into the image
of Christ’s resurrected body (1 Cor 15:50ff). Our
natural body is earthly. Our resurrected body is
heavenly. Our natural body is perishable. Our eternal body is imperishable.
This body is seeded with decay, imperfect and weak. It will give way to a
perfect and powerful one. Our new bodies will be spiritual ones. They will be
material bodies directed by the Spirit not dominated by our flesh as they are
now. It does not mean our bodies will be immaterial and invisible. Our new
bodies will be supernatural ones. They will originate from a supernatural
source making them eternal and imperishable bodies. Death will not longer have meaning. And how will this transformation
take place?
4. He will conform us completely into
his image by the exerting of his power vs 21
This final transformation will not be gradual but sudden, immediate and
eternal. We will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet and
we shall be changed 1 Cor 15:52! Then we will be
conformed to Christ’s resurrected body. With it He could eat, be touched, appear in rooms without coming through the door. Jesus who
spoke the creation into existence will use that same power to transform our
bodies. It will be no problem for Him.
5. This is the same power he has to subject all things to
Himself vs 21
So we know that the power to perform this final and complete transformation is
the same power Christ has to uphold everything in the universe so that it is
sustained. It is the same power that brings all to an end. It is the same power
transforming you and me today on the inside. And when he comes for us he will
come in power and we will never be the same again!
SIGNIFICANCE:
1. The most significant thing you can
do with your life is to pursue your own Christlikeness.
Then anyone following you will also be following Christ. How you doing?
2. Do not lose site of your ultimate
transformation into full Christlikeness because that will
motivate you to pursue that now while you live here.