Lesson for April 5, 2020
The Book of Philippians
Chapter 3:17-21
“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”
Paul’s desire for these believers in Philippi was for them to continue their advance in spiritual maturity and reach ultra-super-grace. Paul had reached super-grace status and well on his way to ultra-super-grace. It was not an arrogant statement to say follow my example because Paul was referring to his advance in spiritual maturity not his entire life. Followers is the Greek word “summimetes,” which means imitators. So, Paul was simple saying, “To the extent that I advance in spiritual maturity by the consistent study and application of Bible doctrine, you do the same.”
The Greek word for observe is “skopeo,” which means to look at, to watch or to contemplate. This encouragement was to follow not only Paul’s example but the example of others like Epaphroditus and Timothy. And he was saying not to follow on the basis of personality, lifestyle, or any other human factor involved. The advance must be from what a believer has in his soul from Bible doctrine. This was the way Paul and his team advanced and the way the believers in Philippi had advanced. So, Paul was encouraging them to stay on track.
The Greek word for walk in this passage is “peripateo,” which means the entire lifestyle of the believer. Paul was the pattern of reversion recovery, the pattern of advance to super-grace after reaching spiritual maturity, and the example of going from super-grace to ultra-super-grace. The example to follow was Paul and his team’s spiritual advance and this pattern could be found in others who followed the same pattern. So, they were to look to those advancing believers in the congregation in Philippi and follow their example.
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. Now we have a warning from Paul that there are those in Philippi and the region who are enemies of the Cross of Christ because of their lifestyle. The ones who Paul refers to are believers who were in reversionism. The reversionistic believer is often the greatest enemy of Christianity, not the unbeliever.
The Greek word for walk is the same word, “peripateo,” used for the walk of the believer, but here it in a negative sense. This walking has to do with the way of life of the reversionistic believer. I often told you describes how frequently and faithfully Paul warned believers everywhere about false doctrine, false motives and reversionistic believers who had fallen for these false doctrines. The Judaizers were perhaps the best known for preaching the false doctrine of keeping the Law of Moses for salvation and spirituality.
They are enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul was thinking of all those people he had known in the past and how he enjoyed them, and yet at the very moment that he writes some of these people have not only turned against Paul, but they have turned against the Cross. They had become antichrists. Antichrist is defined as anyone who assumes the identity of Christ or opposes Christ. The spirit of antichrist is, therefore, anyone who lines up in opposition to Christ. (Galatians 1:6-9; II Peter 2:1-22; Jude 1-25; I Timothy 4:1-16; II Timothy 2:24-26; 3:1-7; 4:1-4; I John 2:18-22; II Thessalonians 2:1-12; Acts 19:1-7)
Whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. The followers of the apostate teachers fail to take responsibility for their own decisions and actions, entering into the arrogance of self-justification, self-deception and self-absorption. Because of their instability from lack of accurate Bible doctrine in the soul, they are easily lured away into apostasy themselves. Like a fisherman catching a fish, these false teachers entice the weak believer, not only into taking the bait, but paying for it.
The followers of the apostate teachers are those who allow themselves to be seduced. They are those who reject truth and believe the fabricated lies of the false teachers. Peter tells us that many will follow their evil ways. The pivot (remnant according to grace) has always been a small elite group of believers that refuse to compromise accurate Bible teaching. The others that follow these false teachers have become enemies of the Cross of Christ and partakers in satanic activity. They have been enticed by words of flattery which feed their emotions (appetite), promise wealth and physical healing from a “fairy god mother” type of god. The thing they glory in are things that are to their shame because they were acquired as a substitute for the real wealth – God and His Word. (II Timothy 3:6, 4:3-4; II Peter 2:2,3,14,18; Jude 12,16)
Who set their minds on earthly things. As a result of being seduced by thinking human viewpoint, they become slaves to the idea that God is going to bless them with houses, cars, money, the perfect job, family harmony and healing of the body. Failure to seek truth from the Word of God leaves them with only Human Viewpoint Thinking and its resultant misery and bewilderment. They cannot understand how God can allow them to suffer so much and why He doesn’t wave His “magic wand” and fix all their problems (after all they prayed about it!).
These same duped believers send their hard-earned money to these deceivers in hope that they will receive blessing in return. They become the “shopping mall” for the false teacher, as he calls in any needed revenue for his personal desires. It is often called “seed money,” but only the false teacher gets to harvest the crop. Year after year these poor, ignorant believers send their rent money, car payment money, even their food money for a chance at the “Christian lottery.” It is a sad state of affairs, but no one has an excuse before God for being seduced by false doctrine. If a person wants to know truth, God will provide it for them.
For our citizenship is in heaven from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself introduces the final destination of all members of the Royal Family of God. Paul used the Greek word “politeuma” for citizenship when he wrote to the Philippians because it was an excellent analogy to the members of the Royal Family of God who live in the devil’s world. “Politeuma” is a Greek word from which we get politics meaning a whole body of people constituting a nation or a state. It also refers to a body of people united by a common interest. Paul was using “politeuma” as an illustration to these people for the Royal Family of God living in the devil’s world, but it’s real home, its real citizenship is in Heaven not earth.
Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God for now, but one day He will descend from Heaven at the Rapture where all Church Age believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air and will be with Him for all eternity. Paul had a personal sense of destiny and anticipated with joy the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. These verses refer to ultimate sanctification. The Greek word for transform is “metaschematizo,” which means to change a form. At the Rapture we will be changed from the form of our present body to a permanent body that will last forever. The Rapture of the Church will be the moment when all believers of the Church Age receive exactly the same type of resurrection body, minus the sin nature and human good. The Greek word for conformity is “summorphos, which means we will receive a resurrection body fashioned like the resurrection body of Christ.
By the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself means Christ has the ability from His deity to do all these things. The Greek word for exertion is “energeia,” meaning operating power. The Greek word for power is “dunamai,” which means to be able. The Greek word for subject is “hupotasso,” which means to rank under or authority. All things refer to the fact that all creatures will be under God’s authority. All believers, regardless of how they have failed or succeeded, and all elect angels, will be totally under the authority of God.
The power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is the same power that resurrects each of us at the Rapture of the Church. Christ’s resurrection at the end of the Hypostatic Union was the first resurrection in history. The Rapture of the Church is the resurrection when all Church Age believers receive their glorified bodies. Between the first two resurrections in history is the unique Church Age, the time when maximum divine power is available to every believer. I Corinthians 6:14, “Now God has not only resurrected our Lord, but He will raise us up through His power.” The omnipotence of God the Father reunited Christ’s human spirit in Heaven to His body in the grave and thereby became an agent in the resurrection of the humanity of Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:24; Romans 6:4; I Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 1:20; Col 2:12; I Thessalonians 1:10; I Peter 1:21) The omnipotence of the Holy Spirit restored Christ’s human soul in Hades to His body in the grave and thereby became an agent in the resurrection of the humanity of Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:4, 8:11; I Peter 3:18)
The power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is now available to every Church Age believer. After His physical death, Christ’s human spirit went to Heaven into the presence of God the Father. His human soul went to Hades. His body went into the grave. Three days later, the omnipotence of God the Father reunited Christ’s human spirit to His body, the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit restored His soul to His body, and He received His resurrection body. So, the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is not only the same power that will raise us from the dead, but in addition, it is the power made available to us today. The omnipotence of God the Father is available to your through your very own Portfolio of Invisible Assets. The omnipotence of Jesus Christ is available to you, for He daily preserves and perpetuates human history. The omnipotence of the Holy Spirit is available to you inside the Divine Dynasphere. Chronology of the Rapture and beyond:
- The Rapture takes place (I Corinthians 15:51-58; I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
- The Royal Family of God kneels before their King, Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9-11)
- The Judgment Seat of Christ takes place (II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 5:10)
- The manifestation of the Bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9, 21:9-11)
- The bride of Christ returns with Him at the Second Coming (I Thessalonians 3:13)
- The enemies of Christ are defeated (I Corinthians 15:20-28)
- The Coronation of Christ (Revelation 19:5-6)
- The Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9)