The Book of Philippians- Part 3

Paul continues expressing the reality of his deep affections for the Lord Jesus. His confidence is in realization of what the work of Christ has accomplished both positionally and experientially for the believer.

Philippians 3:17- Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. Philippians 3:18- For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, Philippians 3:19- whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Note: On the onset, it may come across as Paul boasting in his leadership as somehow being more mature than others – but that isn’t the case. You may recall, Paul in Philippians 2 provided a list by which individuals should follow, and in that list, he begins with Christ as the ultimate example in who we are to pattern our lives after. (Philippians 2:5-11) Furthermore, it was in verse 16 that Paul used the military term for “keep living”, stoicheo, which means to “fall in line”. When you put together what Paul is saying, his “MO” is not to follow him because he thinks he’s reached full maturity. Rather, Paul is encouraging the Philippians and us to fall in line, get into rank as we, together, follow Christ! As a matter of fact, the phrase “join in following my example” is one word in the Greek. It is the word symmimetes (sym-mim-etes) which means fellow imitator or joint imitator; the idea here is that of: As I walk, you walk. As I obey, you obey.

Please understand that listening to the teachings provided on Facebook Live are one thing. However, it’s a whole other thing to put into practice the truths that expository teaching and preaching provide. Gospel transformation does not happen by osmosis, it happens through putting in the sweat equity through the enabling work of the Spirit.

There are many people that think simply being under sound expository teaching is enough to help them grow in maturity. Sound teaching is a huge component, but it must be accompanied with accountability to apply what you have learned. This is how you can have well-knowledgeable and learned people yet lacking the ability to walk out their sanctification well. Wisdom, at its core, is applied knowledge. Therefore, Paul’s encouragement becomes similar to what he shares with the Corinthian church in 1st Corinthians 11:1.

1st Corinthians 11:1- Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Christ is the goal! To look more like Christ in our lives, actions, responses, and in our love, and the way in which this is worked out in our lives, along with the fellowship of the Spirit, is the discipleship of godly men and women.

Note: This encouragement in which Paul gives also becomes a warning of sorts because depending on who you lend your ear to gives way to the direction in which your life goes. There will either be a molding in your life that is being shaped into Christlikeness, or looking and sounding more like the world. Notice how Paul transitions to verses 18 and 19. He moves from the positive modeling to negative modeling. He desires that the believers in Philippi not give in to the way of negative modeling. He begins by saying “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.

Paul’s affections and love for the Philippian church become demonstrated in a very real way, even to the point of tears. His desire is that the Philippian church not be tricked by the deceptive teaching and lives of others who claim to believe the truth. Paul’s address now seems to be targeting another group of individuals who potentially seem to be outside of the church yet are managing to have influence. This group that Paul calls “enemies of the cross of Christ,” were none other than a group known as Gnostics.

Gnostics were of the belief that their group alone possessed “additional” secret knowledge regarding matters of salvation. Therefore, this group’s antinomastic disposition led them to do what seemed right in their own eyes. Ultimately, this led to the rejecting of the truth of scripture thereby granting license to sin. Clearly, these individuals that Paul had in mind here were not within the church of Philippi but were misleading Christians elsewhere, and potentially the threat was getting closer. In any case, it is certain that Paul was moved deeply to the point of tears in how believers were being misled by these false teachers, and what this shows us is that the Philippian church was held closely to Paul’s heart. He wanted to guard them from this spiritual confusion and chaos creeping in and around the church.

Final Note: The phrase “enemies of the cross of Christ” simply means individuals or groups alienated in the sense of hostility towards the cross. Meaning, that where the cross of Christ meant dying to self, they saw this as a hinderance and an opportunity to indulge in their own personal delights. That where grace was an opportunity of growth in the power of the Spirit, they would abuse the understanding of God’s grace as a license to sin. So, what we find in verse 19, is Paul spelling out three characteristics of these particular people. Notice, Paul begins by mentioning what the result of these individuals were – their end was destruction.

The use of this term within the New Testament would suggest that destruction in this context is regarding eternal destruction for the unbeliever. This seems fitting because as Paul mentioned earlier, if this “were a believer” engaging in this abhorrent lifestyle of sin, they would be convicted. (End of verse 15), and the reason for this is because all believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit, therefore because we belong to God, He will deal accordingly with us, (Conviction, discipline etc.) However, if there comes a point in the believer’s life where they have gone so far into sin where there is no return, there is what is called “sin unto death.” This is where the believer’s sin has transpired to the “point of no return” (habitual sinning) resulting in pre-mature physical death as discipline, (Read 1^st John 5:16).