When I was in junior high school, my dad was discouraged in his preaching and had quit for a few months, maybe a year. We lived in north Georgia at the time; we worshipped at one congregation on Sunday morning and another congregation on Wednesday evening.
In the Bible class room in our Wednesday night Bible class, there was this poster on the wall that read: “I know I’m somebody ‘cause God don’t make no junk!” It was an important reminder to young teenagers that we are all important in the eyes of God. A similar aphorism that you have seen over the years says: “Be patient. God’s not finished with me yet.”
You and I cannot give up on ourselves when we fall into sin and temptation. When we do not perform as Christians as well as we know we could and should. Paul did not want the Philippian Christians to give up before they reached spiritual maturity. He challenged them to keep walking, keep growing, keep climbing until they reached their potential in Christ Jesus. There are four things in our text that are needed if we are to keep maturing in our Christianity.
Let’s feed on God’s word together…
ENCOURAGEMENT – 3:15-16:
Some translations translate “perfect” as “mature.” In verse 12, Paul used a verb form in the perfect tense, which denotes absolute spiritual maturity; you might even say “sinless perfection.” In this verse (ver. 15), it refers to spiritual maturity. It’s the type of “completeness” in maturity level that we see contrasted between an adult and a baby.
The gospel got us to this point of maturity. The gospel is what brought us from unbeliever to believer, from being in sin to being in Christ. We cannot and should not allow other teachings or other principles or other people to change the way we approach the Christian life and Christian maturity.
EXAMPLES – 3:17:
Literally, Paul says, “be fellow-imitators of me.” The Greek word gives us the English word mimic. As Paul mimicked Christ, he says Christians should mimic him.
Notice also at the end of the verse, Paul writes Christians should observe those “who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” First, as to the “pattern…” The word refers to a piece of metal imprinting its image into something else, like coins. Paul followed Christ as closely as possible and, in doing so, he gave a pattern for other people to follow as well. In 1 Timothy 1:16, Paul wrote to Timothy: “Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
It is not possible to overemphasize how important a godly example is to each one of us. I need to hear how you are living your Christian faith at work. That’s why fellowship is so important for us. Your example, your pattern of faithfulness inspires and encourages me. I need that.
I don’t remember a whole lot from my world history class in the 8th grade in Hiawassee, GA, but I certainly remember the impact Mr. Flanagan had on me.
ENEMIES AWAY – 3:18-19:
Paul had already written in Philippians, in 3:2, about avoiding “dogs and evil workers.” These were wolves in sheep’s clothing. They were those who “perverted the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:7). They look like friends and sound like friends but in actuality, they are not teaching the gospel of Christ correctly, so they are enemies of the cross. Paul mourned as he talked about them.
Let us observe their description:
The goal: “Their end is destruction.”
Their god: “their god is their appetite.” “Appetite” is literally “belly.” They pander to themselves, like those in 2 Timothy 4:3, whom Paul described as wanting to have their “ears tickled.” To that purpose, they sought out religious teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear.
Their glory: “is in their shame.”
Their perspective: “they set their mind on earthly things.”
To become spiritually mature, we need to avoid godless enemies around us.
EXPECTATIONS – 3:20-21:
The apostle Paul had set his past behind him and was determined to leave it in the past. He had a clear view of his future and he kept it in front of him. Stephen Covey wrote in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People that effective people stay focused by keeping the end, the purpose, in mind.
Paul’s “hope” was confident expectation! But it wasn’t only for the coming of Christ but also for the redemption of his body! Notice that Paul writes that when Jesus returns, He will “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (ver. 21). My fleshly body is what causes me often to sin. But one day, this body with its passions is going to be changed and my spirit will no longer follow the desires of the flesh! What about that!?
To enjoy spiritual maturity family, we need: great encouragement within us, godly examples around us, godless enemies away from us, and grand expectations before us. With this information in front of us, what are we to do?
“Stand firm in the Lord, beloved!” (Phil. 4:1). This is how you will reach spiritual maturity.