September Passage: Philippians 3:12-4:1
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
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 their 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. (ESV)
Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text. Today we will discuss...
Where is Your Citizenship?
There is hardly anything more heart-wrenching and discouraging in the life of a Christian than when a one-time professing Christian falls away from the faith that they used to say they had.
Some drift away quietly and slowly from the fellowship, always avoiding contact or questions about their absence, and they are soon found in worse sin than before they were “converted.” Others are drawn away by the cares and the passions of this world and they make bold declarations about their new “more enlightened” worldview that conflicts with God’s Word, yet allows for the particular sins they want to pursue.
Though these are heart-wrenching, The Bible is very clear that this will be the way it goes. Jesus said there would be days like this. So did The Apostles John, Peter, Paul and the writer of Hebrews.
We should never be surprised when it happens, but we should not try to act like we are not bothered. It is grievous and we are right to grieve. That’s what we see in this small slice of an otherwise triumphant and joyous letter to the Philippians.
Paul writes:
“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 their minds set on earthly things.”
Paul’s reaction to all unbelief is grief. He grieves those who haven’t ever believed the Gospel (Romans 9:1-3) and here we see he grieves for those who have fallen away.
Why did they fall away?
1) Their god is their belly: This doesn’t imply that they are simply gluttons. Though, gluttony is sinful, this comment speaks to fallen humanity’s worship of self. Whatever feels good, that’s what is pursued. Food, drink, sex, rest, shelter, clothing, etc… If it feels good, it is worshiped as a treasure and sought after as though it is THE source of security or fulfillment.
Many of the things that God gave us as good gifts, have been turned into objects of an adoration that only God deserves. As Paul says in another letter, we worship crated things rather than the Creator. Those who fall away, and those who will never trust Christ are motivated by idolatry.
2) They glory in their shame: With every passing year, more and more sinful behavior that goes against God’s design is no longer frowned upon or fled from, instead it is touted as good and right and normal. Not only are sins not considered sinful or evil, those who hold to Jesus’ design are often labeled as backwards bigots who are on “the wrong side of history.”
But we must not fall for the lie that this is a new issue. In one way or another this has been true for millennia.
The prophets spoke of this attitude of glorying in shame, in people who were supposedly God’s people, when they wrote:
“Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush…” (Jeremiah 8:12a)
and in Zephaniah 3:5, he writes:
“…the unjust knows no shame.”
It is with tears that we see some turn away and walk as enemies of the cross of Christ all the while glorying in their shame.
3) Their minds are set on earthly things: Jesus said we cannot serve both God and Money. Many who turn away begin their fall by focusing intently on earthly things - usually financial. They think, I need to make more money (for more security or for more stuff - or both), so I need to draw back away from time spent with God and His people. And as that drift begins, the foothold of more and more temptations creep in and we begin to denounce God in our words and our actions.
Other times, this drift begins, not with money, but with relationships. While we are called to pursue the not-yet-believers, we are also strongly warned against becoming "unequally yoked" with them. How many pastors have seen men and women, from teens to senior citizens, walk away because romantic or social relationships could not be disrupted with “church.”
It is not “Us and Them”
Some people might read this passage and think of people they have known that have fallen away for these reasons and feel bad for them or feel superior to them. Watch out, lest you fall as well! The drift is gradual and hard to spot sometimes until it is too late.
When Jesus told the parable of the sower, He made it clear that many people who fall away have a time of what looks like strong faith before they are snuffed out by the cares and the passions of this world. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus warns that some who have even been active in ministry are not actually saved, nor a part of His Kingdom.
Do not let down your guard over your heart, or you may be one who eventually walks as an enemy of the cross of Christ.
How do we avoid falling away?
After talking about why some fall away, Paul gives us help for staying faithful:
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.
1) Remember, your citizenship is in Heaven: We are just travelers passing through. You happen to live at this time and in this place, but if you are a Christian, you are a resident alien. Your citizenship is in Heaven.
You should want to see your community prosper and it is not wrong to partake of some of the local customs and flavors. But, be careful not to commit treason against your King while you are in this foreign kingdom.
As a citizen of Heaven, living in the United States (or any other earthly nation), remember that you are here as a missionary, an ambassador.
We can avoid falling away by remembering where we are from and where we are returning to, but also by remembering and living out our purpose. You are not a sojourner in America by accident, you are here on official business - proclaim the good news until you are called back home, or until our King comes and fully establishes His rule here.
2) Remember Jesus: Without faith in Jesus to save you and keep you, you cannot make it through this life without falling away. Jesus is coming back. Jesus will give you a resurrection body. Jesus will give you eternal life. Jesus will wipe away every tear. Jesus has lived obediently in your place, so you don’t have to give up when you struggle. Jesus is your King and He is calling you OUT of sin and into freedom. Jesus is bigger than your enemies. Jesus is more worthy of worship than food, drink, sex, rest, money, or worldly acquaintances.
We can avoid falling away by remembering Jesus is greater than ANYTHING this world has to offer. Do you believe that? Do you live like you believe it? Would your kids, siblings, neighbors, and everyone else know that Jesus is #1 in your affections by the way you live?
Remember Jesus.
3) Remember to gather with the Saints: There is hardly anything as easy, yet neglected in our lives to help keep us from falling than Life Together. The church family is crucial in keeping step with the Spirit.
“…my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
Paul finishes this month’s passage by reminding us that we are beloved members of the family. That family helps us Stand Firm.
Don’t neglect the gathering of the Saints. I (Pastor Ken) have NEVER seen someone fall away into sin while regularly gathering with the church. The writer of Hebrews says it this way:
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12-13)
It doesn’t mean that you should be scolded for missing a Sunday morning here or there, or that you need to be at the church building every time the doors are open. But, it is a warning against neglecting to prioritize meeting with other Christians for encouragement, training and building up one another.
Is spending time with Christians, reminding each other about the Gospel, confessing sin, helping one another battle sin and living on mission to the lost together a priority? Would anyone know that it’s a priority by looking at your life or hearing you speak?
Guard your heart as you wait for the King. It is a serious battle out there. None of us can do this on our own, but there’s nothing we cannot overcome together.
