Exposition of PhilippiansExposition of Philippians

The Call to the Philippians to Stand The Call to the Philippians to Stand FirmFirm

Phil 3:15 – 4:1Phil 3:15 – 4:1

Outline of PhilippiansOutline of Philippians Prologue (1:1-11) Prologue (1:1-11) – greeting and prayer.– greeting and prayer. Paul’s Exhortation to the Philippians as Paul’s Exhortation to the Philippians as

His Partners in the Gospel (1:12 – 4:20)His Partners in the Gospel (1:12 – 4:20) Paul's Personal Circumstances in Advancing Paul's Personal Circumstances in Advancing

the Gospel (1:12-26)the Gospel (1:12-26) Paul's Exhortation to the Philippians to Walk Paul's Exhortation to the Philippians to Walk

Worthy of the Gospel (1:27 – 4:1)Worthy of the Gospel (1:27 – 4:1) The Need to Contend as One (1:27-30)The Need to Contend as One (1:27-30) The Call to Unity (2:1-30)The Call to Unity (2:1-30) The Call to Steadfastness (3:1 – 4:1)The Call to Steadfastness (3:1 – 4:1)

The Warning: Beware of Evil Workers (3:1-3)The Warning: Beware of Evil Workers (3:1-3) The Testimony of Paul's Experiences (3:4-14)The Testimony of Paul's Experiences (3:4-14) The Call to the Philippians to Stand Firm (3:15 – 4:1) The Call to the Philippians to Stand Firm (3:15 – 4:1)

Keep Living by the Same Keep Living by the Same StandardStandard

(Phil 3:15-16)(Phil 3:15-16) In v. 15, Paul is resuming his thought from vv. 1-3 In v. 15, Paul is resuming his thought from vv. 1-3

and drawing upon his statements in vv. 12-14.and drawing upon his statements in vv. 12-14. ““forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what

lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (vv. 13-14). upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (vv. 13-14).

This is yet another call for a humility of mind that This is yet another call for a humility of mind that leads to proper behavior and promotes unity within leads to proper behavior and promotes unity within the body.the body.

““As many as are mature” implies that some were not As many as are mature” implies that some were not there yet. there yet. Each man is to examine himself and see if this is his Each man is to examine himself and see if this is his

attitude.attitude. Paul is confident that those who think differently will Paul is confident that those who think differently will

eventually be shown by God of their need to conform to this eventually be shown by God of their need to conform to this way of thinking.way of thinking.

Paul wants to make his main point clear: “Only let us Paul wants to make his main point clear: “Only let us keep living by the same keep living by the same standardstandard to which we have to which we have attained” (v. 16). attained” (v. 16).

Follow Good Examples...Follow Good Examples...(Phil 3:17)(Phil 3:17)

““Brethren, join in following my example, Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (3:17).the pattern you have in us” (3:17).

These examples include Paul himself, but These examples include Paul himself, but also others like Timothy and Epaphroditus.also others like Timothy and Epaphroditus.

Paul’s concern is that the Philippians will Paul’s concern is that the Philippians will take special notice of such people and take special notice of such people and follow those who continuously behave in follow those who continuously behave in such a way that their daily conduct such a way that their daily conduct embodies the essence of the Christian faith. embodies the essence of the Christian faith.

...Not the Example of Enemies ...Not the Example of Enemies of the Cross (Phil 3:18-19)of the Cross (Phil 3:18-19)

Paul describes these false professors in this Paul describes these false professors in this way:way: ““whose end is destruction” – describing their eternal whose end is destruction” – describing their eternal

destiny.destiny. ““whose god is the belly” – describing their surrender whose god is the belly” – describing their surrender

to their physical appetites, resulting in gluttony and to their physical appetites, resulting in gluttony and licentiousness.licentiousness.

““whose glory is in their shame” – they actually whose glory is in their shame” – they actually boasted in conduct of which they should have been boasted in conduct of which they should have been ashamed.ashamed.

““who set their mind on earthly things” – their who set their mind on earthly things” – their thinking is set on the world and its values, not on thinking is set on the world and its values, not on Christ.Christ.

Our Citizenship and Our Citizenship and ExpectationExpectation

as Motivationas Motivation(Phil 3:20 – 4:1)(Phil 3:20 – 4:1) In contrast to those who set their minds on In contrast to those who set their minds on

earthly things, Paul reminds the believers that earthly things, Paul reminds the believers that “our citizenship is in heaven” (3:20)...our “our citizenship is in heaven” (3:20)...our behavior should be in accord with our citizenship.behavior should be in accord with our citizenship. Heaven is where Christ is, and we wait for him to come Heaven is where Christ is, and we wait for him to come

the second time and deliver us from the coming wrath the second time and deliver us from the coming wrath (cf. 1 Thess 1:10).(cf. 1 Thess 1:10).

When He comes, Christ will exert the power He When He comes, Christ will exert the power He possesses to transform our bodies of humiliation possesses to transform our bodies of humiliation into bodies that share His glory.into bodies that share His glory.

““Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved” (4:1). my beloved” (4:1).

Our Citizenship and Our Citizenship and ExpectationExpectation

as Motivationas Motivation(Phil 3:20 – 4:1)(Phil 3:20 – 4:1)

““In light of their commonwealth being In light of their commonwealth being in heaven (in stark contrast to those in heaven (in stark contrast to those whose orientation is earthly and bound whose orientation is earthly and bound up in values that are going to pass up in values that are going to pass away) and their eager expectation of away) and their eager expectation of the Lord Jesus to come as Saviour and the Lord Jesus to come as Saviour and transform them so as to be like him, transform them so as to be like him, they must ‘therefore’ persevere” they must ‘therefore’ persevere” (O’Brien, (O’Brien, NIGCT: PhilippiansNIGCT: Philippians, p. 474). , p. 474).

Implications from our StudyImplications from our Study

Like Paul, we must forget what lies behind Like Paul, we must forget what lies behind and press forward toward the prize of the and press forward toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.upward call of God in Christ.

We must be imitators of those who are We must be imitators of those who are faithfully following Christ, and not those faithfully following Christ, and not those who claim Christ but walk according to the who claim Christ but walk according to the ways of the world.ways of the world.

We must be mindful of the commonwealth We must be mindful of the commonwealth to which we belong as believers and live to which we belong as believers and live accordingly, in expectation of Christ’s accordingly, in expectation of Christ’s return.return.

Next Time: Next Time: Paul's Paul's Exhortations to the Exhortations to the

Philippians in their Various Philippians in their Various CircumstancesCircumstances

Phil 4:2-9Phil 4:2-9