Text: Phil. 3:17-4:1
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 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.
4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
When I was beginning the process of becoming a salesman in the piano business my boss taught me some of the things I needed to know to be successful as a salesman. His 30 years of experience helped me see a way forward. His son Jim, who was successful, showed me the ropes and the day to day activities that were needed to be successful. One day they brought in a sales trainer to do a seminar. He taught us many of the same things that I had already learned to have a good foundation in sales. He said though that there was one very important thing you needed to do to be successful:
“You need to find someone who is successful and do what they do!”
The Apostle Paul writes:
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
This call of imitation from the Apostle Paul is a good word for the church in Philippi and for you and me as well. Look to those, he tells them, who have a life lived in the Spirit of Christ and keep your eyes on them. They are a good example for you and me and one that will make your walk with Christ better and more joyful.
Now you may think, who should I model myself after? Who would be a good example? Should I look to someone in the church who has the appearance of a faith life and model them? Well, I’m sure that there are a number of people here in church who would be good examples.
But Paul brings up a few things for the Philippians to consider:
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Boy, that’s hard to hear. Many people in the Philippian church have become, because of their walk, enemies of Christ. Not walking in the ways of the Lord.
We see and know this as well.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
The question Paul, wants to know is why? Why place your trust in things of this world and in things that will not endure when there is a gift in Christ that brings the joy of heaven and that reality to those who only deserve death and condemnation?
Matthew records in his gospel:
17 And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Matt 20:17-19
Paul now reminds the Philippians and us:
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Their citizenship is in heaven. Why? - Because of Christ and His sacrifice, and the gift of faith in His all sufficient death, for you. But, Paul here is calling those in the church to walk as imitators of him who is called by the Lord Himself to be Christ’s representative.
Now, Paul is speaking as he wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit so, his words are God’s words. In the same way, preaching today speaks forth God’s words to you in our day, so that you can hear from God and live out your faith according to God’s desires.
Now, what are those desires that God wishes for you and me? What is the work of God in the life of the believer? What is it that God wants for you and me and all whom the Lord our God will call to do?
29 “… that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29)
To Love God and our neighbor as ourselves or to return the love our God gives us back towards him and in service to those around us.
Belief, faith and trust … are gifts to you and me from our heavenly Father.
His confession, and the confession of all who trust in Christ, is made possible, not because of our will, but because of his will in us by the working of the Spirit of Christ in the life of the believer.
Because:
… our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body (after death) to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Christ will glorify those (all in Christ) … just as He was glorified. So, Paul is making the appeal to them and to us, to stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Those who stand firm do so because: We are Imitators of Christ by keeping our eyes upon Jesus!
Christ Jesus by His Spirit working in us makes us imitators of Him, though so imperfectly. We fail and fall short, but by the Spirit of God working through the word we are being made into his image, being sanctified and being made Holy.
Christ, by His all sufficient sacrifice, has made peace with God for you and now will form you into His image by the Holy Spirit in you who points you to Christ and leads you through the word into Holy living.
Each day and each week as the ups and downs of life roll in upon you, God empowers you through word and sacrament to grow and act a bit more Christ like as we go through our daily lives, as godly people and imitators of Christ where we can have the fullness of his Spirit working in us.
As Psalm 84:12 reminds us:
12 O LORD of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!
By the power of the Holy Spirit we who are his children trust in Him. God be praised for his glorious gifts to His children now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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