“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.”
Philippians 3:17-4:1 (ESV)
All around us, there are animals in nature that imitate other animals or their surroundings. If we look in the ocean we find the octopus that can change color, change shape, even move like other animals move. What about on dry ground, can you think of an animal or insect that imitates something else? Interestingly, even people use imitation.
Animals normally imitate something so that they can survive. People often imitate someone because they want to be like that person. Like that athlete, friend, musician…. But have you ever thought that imitating someone is for survival? In Philippians chapter 3 the Apostle Paul calls us to be imitators – for our spiritual survival.
Paul proclaimed the gospel and God established a church in the city of Philippi. It started small with the conversion of Lydia and her household. But we see God draw the Philippian jailer and family to saving faith along with many other faithful believers in the region.
He is now writing to them in response to the gift they sent to him while imprisoned in Rome. Epaphroditus, a leader in the Philippian church had traveled over 800 miles to bring Paul their gift and then returned with Paul’s message. Paul begins the letter with thanksgiving for their part in the gospel but doesn’t stop with a simple thank you note. Being imprisoned in Rome, Paul saw first-hand how emperor-worship occupied the life of Caesar’s court. Of course, it was also going on throughout the Roman Empire, particularly in Roman colonies such as Philippi. With this clash of worship and citizenship, Paul was compelled to encourage the church with the truth – it is not the Roman emperor who is worthy of worship, but their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the one who is truly God. He is the one they should worship.
As the letter continued Paul repeatedly pointed the believers away from the false teaching and false hope that surrounded them while redirecting them from the temporal to the eternal. The few verses quoted at the beginning of the article (Philippians 3:17-4:1) are no different and could be outlined as follows:
- Imitate Godly Examples (v. 17)
- Avoid Ungodly Enemies (v. 18-19)
- Focus on Everlasting Hope (v. 20-21)
- Stand Firm in the Lord (4:1)
Imitate Godly Examples (v. 17)
Paul calls the hearers of this letter his brothers – his siblings, brothers and sister. He’s done it before and each time we see this family reference it’s there to get our attention. It is like Paul is saying “Gather in, listen close to what I’m about to tell you. As part of the same spiritual family here’s what it looks like to be brother and sisters: join in imitating me.
Paul had a single focus: following Christ. He was committed to being a servant of God, striving toward this goal. As he wrote to another church family in Corinth he called them to the same action, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 )
This is the foundation of a godly spiritual walk that Paul laid for his fellow believers in Philippi – and it can be applied directly to our lives today. In our day-to-day personal interactions we are all involved in either imitating or being imitated.
Let us consider then how we walk. Are we known as Godly examples? Are we growing toward being spiritual examples? Or, do we land in the next category of people Paul describes?
Avoid Ungodly Enemies (vs. 18-19)
At the church at Philippi, there were many individuals Paul would not urge the believers to imitate. These were enemies of all that Paul stood for, all he taught. These enemies of God stood in stark contrast to Paul’s example. He calls attention to the life God desires by contrasting it with the life He rejects. This contrast helps believers then and now to more clearly see what we are to follow by also describing plainly what to avoid.
The “enemies of the cross of Christ” as they are described are against the very salvation Paul gave his life for. The very salvation Paul proclaimed in city after city, through beating and imprisonment, through shipwreck and snakebite, through rejection and rioting. One would be hard-pressed to find any hint of their imitation of Paul or other Godly believers. But these people looked good. They appeared to be “brothers” but in reality they were like the false prophets Jesus spoke about in Matthew 7:15:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
The people who don’t imitate Paul – who don’t desire to become like Jesus – aren’t going to survive. Their end is destruction. They worship themselves. You could say they are “confident in the flesh.” They do not worship God and they may not even acknowledge there is a God outside of their own desires and passions. That is in complete opposition to what Paul said earlier in verse 3 of this chapter.
“We worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”
Philippians 3:3 (ESV)
Not only did the enemies of the cross carry out wicked plans, but they boasted about them, “they glory in their shame.” It’s not hard to find people outside the church that are doing this all the time. (Hollywood seems to be a good place to learn this valuable skill.) But Paul is actually talking about people interacting with and attending the church gatherings. Maybe this boasting is seen through gossip – knowing everybody’s business and then being able to be the bearer of this new info to others. For others, this boasting about shameful things is often seen in guy/girl relationships. Those are a couple of more obvious examples, but maybe you can think of an example from your life where you know what is right, yet choose to do the opposite instead. And then to cover guilt, or because of pride, we tout our actions as some great accomplishment.
The boastful crowd had their minds set on earthly things. The earthly focus gave evidence that these individuals weren’t really committed to the salvation they claimed. Enemies of the cross are to be avoided, never imitated.
Focus on Hope (v.20-21)
The underlying motivation for imitating Paul and becoming like Jesus is the location of our citizenship. It is not this world whom we owe tribute to, but our citizenship is in heaven. We are recognized by God as citizens of His kingdom and owe all our allegiance to the King of Heaven. How great is that!? And with this citizenship comes the sure hope of Christ’s return. Christ’s death canceled out our certificate of debt consisting of decrees against our sin, having nailed it to the cross. It is a glimpse of God filling out the necessary paperwork for our entrance into His Kingdom through the substitutionary atonement paid through the blood of His Son. Citizens of heaven look away from the sinful pleasures of this world and eagerly long for the return of their crucified and risen Savior. In a sense, the entire creation is eagerly looking forward to this great event, when it will be delivered from its present corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Romans 8:22)
Stand Firm in the Lord (4:1)
The world and its attractions, entertainment and its distractions, or politics and its reactions are not to be what define us. They are vying for our time, talents and treasures – yet all of these belong to the the Lord. Paul called the Philippians to “stand firm in the Lord.” Don’t let the world lull you into imitation of their shameful acts. Be unmovable! Stand firm. The apostle said the same thing when writing to the church in Ephesus.
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm”
Ephesians 6:13 (NASB)
The call goes out to you and me, as citizens of heaven we are included as the brothers and sisters Paul addressed so many years ago. Stand firm. Imitate the faithful believers that have gone before. Follow their example and stand out as citizens of heaven in a world full of “enemies of the cross.”
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 (NASB)
Pastor Marc Boeker