Bob Josey- Transformation - Philippians 3:15-21 - July 16, 2023

SLIDES

Transformation

Philippians 3:15-21.

Introduction

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What would you be willing to do for $10,000,000? Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following:

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·      Would abandon their entire family (25%)

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·      Would abandon their church (25%)

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·      Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)

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·      Would give up their American citizenships (16%)

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·      Would leave their spouses (16%)

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·      Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)

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·      Would kill a stranger (7%)

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·      Would put their children up for adoption (3%)

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James Patterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told the Truth, 1991

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One of things that should separate believers from unbelievers is Christian standards that we sometimes call Christian principles. One thing that confuses and bewilders unbelievers is when a believer’s standards of conduct are not much different than theirs. Many would either say that these confessing Christians are not really Christians but they certainly are a bunch of hypocrites. Our lifestyle and conduct should mirror who we say we are and who we follow and represent. Living up to or not living up to the Christian principles that we are exhorted in Scripture to follow begins with one’s attitude. Everything flows from one’s attitude or mindset. From our lesson in Philippians 3:15-21 we will see the importance of one’s attitude.

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A. Believers are Exhorted to Have a Biblical Mindset that leads to Biblical living and a positive example for others to follow. (15-17)

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15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 However, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. (17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

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Paul in verses 15-17 bring his discussion of pressing on to maturity to a conclusion. The result of what he said in the previous verses about pressing on to maturity should be that the those who were mature in Christ should have the same mindset or attitude he had about maturing in Christ. They should have the attitude of moving forward instead of just treading water. If there were any in the church at Philippi who did not have the attitude of moving forward by maturing in Christ, through the Holy Spirit they would be enlightened about that.

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All the mature believes in this class should adopt the attitude of spiritually growing in Christ, if you do not have this attitude. If anyone in this class, mature or not, does not have the attitude that Paul had about growing in Christ, God will enlighten you about this. Through last week’s lesson and today's lesson, everyone who attended and heard either one or both of these lessons should be enlightened about the importance of growing in Christ. The question now is what will your mindset or attitude be about spiritual maturity. Will it be to press on toward maturity or will it be just treading water and remain immature?

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In verse 16 Paul wanted to emphasize that as one moves ahead to to spiritual maturity, one important thing that one must continue to do is to maintain the same standard i.e., to maintain the same doctrinal stance at every stage of maturity. Believing correct biblical doctrine is very important. In his commentary on Philippians, Dr. Dwight Pentecost wrote, “False doctrine always begets false practice."(P. 145)

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Three examples of believers growing in Christ while maintaining correct doctrine which leads to biblical living are Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. Paul exhorts the Philippians believers to pay careful attention to i.e. observe himself and others like him to include Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of believers who walk the talk. They live what they believe which stems from correct doctrine. We have studied each of these men in Philippians and found them to be men of integrity and honor, and worthy to be examples to others.

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We can certainly can consider of Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus today as examples of believers worthy to follow. There are many others in the Bible that are good biblical examples to follow. If one is to do character studies of men and women who are worthy to follow their example, the best place to start to find them is in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11with men and women such as Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Ruth, Jephthah, David, Samuel, etc. Now you can add New Testament believers such as Matthew, Peter, John, Barnabas, the Bereans, Lydia, etc. There are several of the character studies of men and women in the Bible that one could use as a guide. However, doing you own study with a concordance and Bible dictionary would probably be more fruitful.

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There are some men and women in this church and in this class would be good examples to follow and to learn from. Two believes who come to mind that I will name are Bryant Wright and Harry Hammond. They are men of integrity and honor who walk the talk. Yes, even thought that is true, they are not to be put on a pedestal because they are mortal men who are sinners. As we discussed in Philippians 2, Jesus is the supreme example of one to follow and to learn from.

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Let me now give you an interesting illustrationa of power of being an example.

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Someone has written that “To have unquestioned reliance upon a pastor or other spiritual leader can lead to embarrassment and even bitter disillusionment.”

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I was reminded of this recently when I came across an interesting item about President Coolidge. Once he invited some friends from Vermont to dine at the White House. They were worried about their table manners, so they decided to do everything their host did. All went well until coffee was served. Coolidge poured his into the saucer. The guests did the same. The President added sugar and cream. So did the visitors. Then Coolidge leaned over and placed his saucer on the floor for the cat.”

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That’s the easy part. Learning from and following the example of those who have been mentioned. How about you? Do you think you are a mature Christian who one could learn from and follow your example? If we are not, why aren't we? It’s probably something we need to think about.

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B. Believers Should Be Cautious of Those Who Masquerade as Christians (18-19)

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Philippians 3:18-19 - 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,

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in

their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

The individuals Paul described here are false teachers. He wrote about these individuals in chapter Philippians 1:28.

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‌28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

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Paul calls them opponents in verse 28. They were adversaries to the church at Philippi. They were false teachers who were not part of the church at Philippi but trying to influence the people there with false doctrine. Some could have been apostates who were part of the church at one time. An apostate is one who public denied previously held biblical beliefs but end up distancing themselves from the church. They then work from outside the church spewing their false teaching. Depending who they were and where they were, many times they are involved in rebellion, betrayal, treachery, or faithlessness. Paul flatly let them know these individual’s lifestyle proved that they were enemies of the cross of Christ.

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What does the cross of Christ mean in this verse. It does not mean the tree on which He was crucified. It’s a figure of speech called a Metonymy. The cross of Christ represents here the death of i.e. the substitutionary death of Christ for the sins of man that can result in the forgiveness of sins. These apostates were enemies of that fact that the substitutionary death of Jesus can being forgiveness of sin and eternal life to those who trust in Christ and Christ alone,

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As matter of fact, Paul told them more than one and also wept over the situation. The word weep can mean either crying or wailing, but in this case it’s probably somewhere in between. The word weep can also include the emotions of sadness and anxiety. He certainly shed tears over the situation. He was anxious because they were forcing themselves on the Philippian believers teaching false doctrine and a false gospel and sad because their end would be their destruction. Weeks ago, we discussed that destruction does not mean annihilation, but that they would be separated from God for eternity in the Lake of Fire.

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In the remainder of verse 19 Paul gives three characteristics that identify the enemies of the cross of Christ for which he was referring. First, the satisfaction of their sensual appetites had free reign. Their appetite was their God. This is what they sought after and longed for. Romans 16:18 tells the story of their not restraining their sinful nature.

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18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

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These men, being smooth talkers, were influencing some in the Philippians congregation.

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Second, the things they were finding satisfaction in and taking pride in were things that caused them shame. This could be anything from adultery, fornication, gluttony, etc.

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Third, one of their goals was enjoyment of this present life on earth. They involved themselves almost totally in earthly things. Earthly things, or course, would be things that are physical and material but certainly not spiritual.

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C. The Future for Believers (20-21)

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20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

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Paul in verse 20 contrasts the demise and destruction of the unbelievers teaching false doctrine to the future of true believers. Instead of our citizenship being in the Lake of Fire, it is in heaven. What a profound contrast.

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It is from the place of our citizenship that we eagerly wait for our Deliverer to come and transform us and take us to heaven for seven years while the events on the earth rage. At the end of the Tribulation period, we will then return with Jesus to the earth at the Second Coming to rule and reign with Him for 1000 years.

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Are you eagerly waiting His return? Do you think much dying and going to heaven? Are you longing to go to heaven? Even though it should be a natural thing for all believers, for some it is not. If it is not, maybe we should rethink that. We see that many Old Testament believers longed for heaven.

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​Hebrews 11 …and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

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Hebrews 11:9 - By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

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We see this with New Testament believers as well.

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One of the church fathers of the 3rd century, Cyprian, wrote, “Anyone who has been to a foreign land long to return to his own land … We regard it as our native land.” (Mortality P.26)

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Johnathan Edwards, the great Puritan preacher said, “It becomes us to spend this life only a journey toward heaven… to which we should subordinate all-other concerns of life. Why should we labor for or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end and true happiness.”

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In his early twenties, Edwards composed a set of life resolutions. His first resolution reads, “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can.”

Colossians 3:2 - Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

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R.C Ryle, a nineteenth century pastor and writer, wrote, “The man who is about to sail for Australia or New Zealand as a settler, is naturally anxious to know something about his future home, its climate, its employments, its inhabitants, its ways, its customs. All these are subjects of deep interest to him. You are leaving the land of your nativity; you are going to spend the rest of your life in a new hemisphere. It would be strange indeed if you did not desire information about your new abode. Now surely, if we hope to dwell forever in that “better country, even a heavenly one,” we ought to seek all the knowledge we can get about it. Before we go to our eternal home, we should try to become acquainted with it.

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When Jesus does return for His’ church, He will transform the earthly body of all believers, whether alive or dead, in conformity with His resurrected, glorious body. Our body alive or dead will be joined and transformed into a new resurrected body like Jesus resurrected body. We see this in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18.

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14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

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Jesus will transform us into our new and eternal resurrected body by the same power with which He created the heavens and the earth, calmed the seas, cast out demons, resurrected from the dead the boy from Nain, the centurion's son, and Lazarus. It’s the power that He will use to renovate the heavens and the earth. The Greek word from which the word power is dunamis. It’s the same word from which we get the English word dynamite. It’s the same power that resurrected Him and the same resurrection power that Paul wanted to experience as we saw in verse 10.

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Application

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Today we discussed three important Scriptural principles.

·  Believers are Exhorted to Have a Biblical Mindset that leads to Biblical living and a positive example to follow.

·  Believers are exhorted to be Cautious of Those Who Masquerade as Christians.

To be obedient to these exhortations, we must depend on the Holy Spirit for wisdom and dynamite power. We cannot do any of these in our own strength and wisdom. The same dynamite power of Jesus is the same dynamite power that we have available to us to grow in Christ and resist temptation. The same dynamite power of Jesus is the same power dynamite that we have available to us to grow in Christ and resist temptation.

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Galatians 5:16-17

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for

these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you

please.

To walk mean to live life. Believers are exhorted to live life by means of the Holy Spirit. If a believer does that, they will not follow through to sin when tempted.

The third principal we discussed today is that believers should be prepared when Jesus returns at the Rapture.  When Jesus returns for His’ church, will you be among those who will receive a transformed body like Jesus’? To put it another way, are you 100% sure that when you die that you soul/spirit will go to heaven? Just remember that receiving forgiveness of sin and eternal life can only be received by trusting in Christ and Christ alone. It is not believing in Christ plus good works; it is not Christ plus baptism. It’s salvation in trusting in Jesus alone.

SELAH!

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