Lesson for January 27, 2013: Standing Firm in Christ (Philippians 3:12–4:1)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.

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By Sam E. Stone

In his personal letter to the church family at Philippi, the apostle Paul emphasized the importance of doing everything for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:7). In addition to warning against false teachers, he spoke candidly about spiritual maturity, encouraging every Christian to remain faithful. Today’s text provides guidance for believers living in a hostile world.

Don’t Dwell on the Past
Philippians 3:12, 13
It is not wise to think that one has “arrived,” having done everything he needs to do. A good athlete can tell you the danger of complacency and the need to stay focused on the challenge of the moment.

Paul was realistic. He knew the disappointment of unfulfilled hope, unkept promises, and unanswered prayer. Still he determined to keep on. Richard B. Gaffin Jr. notes, “Paul’s goal is Christ’s goal for him, and Christ supplies the resources for him to ‘press on toward the goal.’” He was not losing all memory of his sinful past, but he left it behind as done with and settled.

After speaking about his upbringing, his experience, and his work, Paul affirmed his complete confidence in Christ (3:1-11). He wanted to be sure, however, that the Philippians did not misunderstand. This did not mean he had arrived at the goal of moral and spiritual perfection in Christ. Instead he kept pressing on.

Keep the Goal in Sight
Philippians 3:14-16
All of us can learn from the past, but we must not live in the past. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 the apostle also uses the illustration of a race to make his point. Not the past but the future must consume our interest (2 Peter 2:20). Picture the scene Paul describes. The runner is bent forward, his body leaning even beyond his feet, as he reaches out for the goal ahead. He knows what awaits him—”the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:8). Mature Christians share in this effort, seeking to live up to what (they) have already attained. Keep traveling down the road you are on.

Follow the Right Examples
Philippians 3:17-4:1
The way to avoid both wrong teaching and wrong living is to obey the apostle’s command. Join together in following my example. This theme comes up often in Paul’s writings (1 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 5:1). Pat Harrell notes, “This might appear as naked egotism were it not for the fact that elsewhere Paul qualifies similar statements by his own imitation of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6).”

A person’s choice is revealed by the way he lives. Some (both Jews and Gentiles) are enemies of the cross of Christ. They are marked by four characteristics: their destiny is destruction; their god is their stomach (appetites of the flesh; see Romans 7:18; 16:18); their glory is in their shame (oblivious to destructive results of their behavior; see Romans 8:5, 6); and they have their mind set on earthly things.

The ultimate end of all who live in sinful abandon will be shame and separation from God (Luke 14:9; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Hebrews 12:2). What they count as glory is really disgrace.

In contrast to these people, Paul considers himself and the other faithful Christians as part of a sec ond group. “Our citizenship is in Heaven.” Philippi was a Roman colony (Acts 16:12) and Roman citizenship was an important thing for the people who lived there. The Christian’s commonwealth is not found on earth, but rather in Heaven. It is both present and future (Romans 8:19, 23, 25). The Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is coming from there. Jesus is going to return and take us to be with him in Heaven forever. This world is not our home.

This truth is also found in Hebrews 12:1: “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” How do you do this? Fix your eyes on Jesus! He has everything under his control. This even includes the transformation of our bodies. A. T. Robertson explains, “The body of our state of humiliation will be made suitable to associate with the body of Christ’s glory” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). In light of all of this, the apostle concludes: Stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Lesson for January 13, 2013: Imitating Christ (Philippians 2)

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
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By Sam E. Stone
Paul’s epistle to the Philippians reads more like a personal letter than a theological treatise. Today’s text (chapter 2), however, ranks as one of the most significant passages in all the New Testament regarding the coming of God’s Son to earth. It is filled with practical lessons for us as well.

Humility Required
Philippians 2:1-4
When the apostle says, “If you have . . . these qualities,” he is not questioning whether or not the Philippian Christians possess comfort, sharing in the Spirit, and compassion. A better translation would be, “Since you have these characteristics,” then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Earlier Paul indicated that the Philippians were a source of joy to him (1:3-18). Now he urges them to make that joy complete as they imitate Christ.

 

Humility Recognized
Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. In humility, as in everything else, Jesus provides the perfect example for his followers. His self-sacrificing spirit of love for others is a model (John 13:12-17). Whenever church members have a rift, whether in Philippi (Philippians 4:2) or your hometown, maintaining the attitude of Christ will solve it.
In verse 6 a moving description of Jesus’ example begins. Many Bible students consider the next verses to be part of an early Christian hymn written by (or adapted by) Paul. Whether or not these beautiful lines constitute a poem, they provide a dramatic picture of our Savior’s incarnation and exaltation. Even before the foundation of the world, Christ was God. He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. Jesus emptied himself of the glory he had with the Father before the world was created (John 17:5). Jesus was both truly God and truly man (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Each phrase adds to the description of Christ’s descent (Hebrews 5:7-10). He came down from Heaven to earth, lived as man, then died as a man by the worst possible kind of death (Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 12:2). Both Jews and Greeks were troubled by this (1 Corinthians 1:23).

Christ’s descent to the depths of the world is then countered with his being raised to the heights of Heaven. God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. While the previous verses point out what Jesus did, these verses show God’s response. The Father took the initiative. Jesus “was divine in Heaven, no less divine on earth, and no more divine following the ascension,” explains Pat Edwin Harrell. Now, however, he is uniquely honored and recognized by the name “Lord” (Philippians 2:11).

This will be the scene when at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. Even those who have opposed him will one day confess him (Isaiah 45:23, 24; Romans 10:9, 10). Note how Philippians 2:5-11 are directly tied to what precedes them and to what follows them—Paul’s admonition to humility and unity (vv. 1-4) and his subsequent appeal for obedience and faithfulness (vv. 12-16). We learn from Christ’s example how we should live.

 

Philippians 2

King James Version (KJV)

2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
¹² Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
¹⁶ Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
¹⁷ Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
¹⁸ For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
¹⁹ But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
²⁰ For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
²¹ For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
²² But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
²³ Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
²⁴ But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
²⁵ Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
²⁶ For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
²⁷ For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
²⁸ I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
³⁰ Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.