Impressions from Philippians 3:17-4:1

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Lesson Focus: Live like you know you’ve won!

join in imitating me – This could be a troublesome verse if taken out of context.

• Should we ever imitate a man, even if it’s Paul?

• For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3)

• As we “keep our eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (v. 17) we are challenged to live in the Spirit.

• Paul followed up with a stark comparison and heartache he felt for those who do not live in the Spirit. He wasn’t focusing the Philippians on any specific destructive behaviors, but with minds set on heavenly things.

• Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)

• For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8) 

Glorification (vv.20,21) The Christian’s Future: 

our citizenship is in heaven – Paul was so good at using words that were particularly meaningful to his audience. Citizenship was a unique concept to the Philippians. They were in Macedonia but they were an official Roman colony.

• The people in Philippi were governed not by Macedonian laws, but by Roman laws; likewise, the church lives by heaven’s laws. Philippi was a colony of Rome in Macedonia, and Christians make up a colony of heaven on earth. Many times the laws of heaven conflict with the laws of earth, but our responsibility is to obey God, not men. (Weirsbe)

transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body – Paul reminded the Philippians of the ultimate reward of a life lived in the Spirit.

• For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

• I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
  “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
  “O death, where is your victory?
  O death, where is your sting?”
  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

Impression: The promise of being in the presence of Christ in a glorified body made it possible for Paul to persevere the challenges of persecution.