Main Text: Philippians 3:17-21

Philippians 3:17-21, Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

I. The power of a positive example.

A. Imitate me (as I imitate Christ). Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. I Corinthians 11:1

B. Imitate others (as they imitate Christ). For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. II Thessalonians 3:7-9

C. "God has no more precious gift to a church or an age than a man who lives as an embodiment of His will, and inspires those around him with the faith of what grace can do." Andrew Murray

D. "We ought to hear good instructions and good counsels of anyone, let him be whom he may. But yet we are under special obligations to hearken to the good instructions and examples of those whom God has made our teachers. For that is the very office to which God has appointed them to teach and to counsel us." Jonathan Edwards

 

II. The danger of a negative example.

A. They are enemies of the cross--they oppose everything for which the cross stands, the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

B. Their end is destruction--the trajectory of their lives tends toward ruin.

C. Their god is their belly--their every motivation is sensual, earthly.

D. Their glory is their shame--that which would shame a godly person is their delight.

E. They mind earthly things--they reject the mind of Christ for an earthly, secular perspective.

F. Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 23:30-32

G. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15

H. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14

I. "Beloved, I would rather have a thousand devils out of the church, than have one in it. I do not care about all the adversaries outside; our greatest cause of fear is from the crafty 'wolves in sheep's clothing,' that devour the flock. It is against such that we would denounce in holy wrath the solemn sentence of divine indignation, and for such we would shed our bitterest tears of sorrow. They are 'the enemies of the cross of Christ.'" Charles Spurgeon

J. "Whenever the true message of the cross is abolished, the anger of hypocrites and heretics eases, and all things are in peace. This is a sure token that the devil is guarding the entry of that house, and that the pure doctrine of God's word has been taken away. The church, then, is in the best state when Satan assaileth it on every side, both with subtle slights and outright violence. And likewise it is in the worst state, when it is most at peace. . . No man understands the Scriptures, unless he be acquainted with the cross." Martin Luther

K. "It becomes us to be so affected, that when we see the place of pastors occupied by wicked and worthless men, we shall sigh, and testify, at least by our own tears, that we are deeply grieved for the calamity of the churches." John Calvin

L. "They call themselves spiritual, yet they live for earthly things; indulging their appetites, living for self, yet pretending to be Christians, whereas selfishness is the very reverse of Christianity." Charles Spurgeon

 

III. The foundation of a godly life: the realization that our citizenship is in heaven.

A. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

B. Our citizenship (Greek politeuma, the source of the English word 'politics') is in heaven; new life, new standards, new goals, new priorities.

C. Because of His resurrection, we live in the expectation of our resurrection.

D. "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. . . It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in;' aim at earth and you will get neither." C.S. Lewis

 

IV. The promise of the future life: the subjugation of all things to Jesus Christ.

A. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:18-23

B. The what: the transformation of our body like unto His glorious body.

C. The how: by His all-conquering power.

D. "What is meant by our being citizens in heaven? Why, first that we are under heaven's government. Christ the king of heaven reigns in our hearts; the laws of glory are the laws of our consciences; our daily prayer is, 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' The proclamations issued from the throne of glory are freely received by us, the decrees of the Great King we cheerfully obey. We are not without law to Christ. The Spirit of God rules in our mortal bodies, grace reigns through righteousness, and we wear the easy yoke of Jesus. Thine are we, Jesus, and all that we have; rule thou without a rival." Charles Spurgeon

E. "What heart can conceive, or tongue recount--the daily, hourly triumphs of the Lord Jesus Christ's all conquering grace? We see scarcely a millionth part of what He, as a King on His throne, is daily doing. What a crowd of needy petitioners every moment surrounds His throne! What urgent needs and woes to answer! What cutting griefs and sorrows to assuage! What broken hearts to bind up! What wounded consciences to heal! What countless prayers to hear! What earnest petitions to grant! What stubborn foes to subdue! What guilty fears to quell! . . . Sitting on His throne of grace, His all seeing eye views all, His almighty hand grasps all, and His loving heart embraces all whom the Father chose--whom He Himself redeemed by His blood--and whom the blessed Spirit has quickened into life by His invincible power! . . . O could we but see what His grace is--what His grace has--what His grace does--and could we but feel more what it is doing in and for ourselves, we would have more exalted views of the reign of grace now exercised on high, by Zion's enthroned King!" J.C. Philpot