Introduction
To know Jesus Christ and be like Him. We live in an overloaded overwhelming Christian culture. Information overload. Sometimes we cloud the fundamentals. It can be a distraction to the Christian race.
The Christian life is a life of pursuing the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that we can be like Him and close to Him. That is our life and purpose.
Lest your minds be lead astray by the simplicity of Christ 2 Corinth . When Jesus came He said follow me. Real religion is the matter of following Christ to know Him and to be like Him more and more.
1 Corin 4:14-17. Romans 8:28-29 – conformed to the image of His Son. To know Christ . Phil 3:13 – we must keep the singular focus of the goal. He says he hasn’t apprehended it. We don’t ever reach it in this life.
1 Following godly examples:
V17 – Paul is identifying with them. “Brethren” – He is our brother. Join in following my example. Mimic my actions. Follow His example.
V14 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Meditate on Paul’s teaching. Try to see how he responded to situations. And imitate that. Paul a sinner like us. V17 – follow my example and note (observe carefully) – those who walk as I walk.
We need to be examples to other Christians – if a spiritual leader falls others fall. There are so few today that follow Paul’s example. Let’s determine to be godly examples to others. Where do we find the Paul’s and the Timothy’s today? Where are the powerful and strong? Where are the models of virtue? Where are those who walk that lonely sacred path?
Philippians 3:1-21 (NKJV) 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you [is] not tedious, but for you [it is] safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.