Introduction
Stretching and reaching for the goal of Christ. To live and walk and believe and obey like He did. To suffer, serve like He did.
We are not striving to be justified. Positionally we are perfect but practically we are not perfect. We are not sinless and perfect. We have not been glorified. So we strive to be like Christ. This is the Christian life. We will never attain that in this life. When we go to glory we will be transformed into the image of His Son.
Jesus said follow me. To follow Christ means we need to know Him. “The surpassing knowledge” – we have to believe the gospel. We get to know Him in His Word. V17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. Living breathing men and women who like Paul were focused on Christ we need to follow them. Note, watch carefully, follow. Also be those examples ourselves.
The negative v18-19 – People to avoid.
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.
There are many enemies. They are professing Christians in this context. They don’t deny Christ by their words but by their deed. In verse 2 Paul warns them about false Christians. Acts 20:29-31; they bring spiritual destruction everywhere they go. When false teachers come along they dishonor Christ .
This is the only time in the NT where Paul is presently weeping.
1 – The outcome of their race(life) V19
19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. – destruction here is the same word for Judas..
The outcome of our race is Christ. Their outcome of their race is destruction. To those who deny Jesus Christ as savior your end will be destruction.
Jesus said whoever does not bear His cross cannot be His disciple. Our sacrifice and suffering is not atoning sacrifice.
Do not make your treasure here.
Don’t believe the lie that we can have Christ and also have the world. We must run as Paul ran.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
I John 2:15-17 NKJV
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.