Transcript Slide 1

Presentation 09
The Structure of the Book
Opening and introduction 1:1-2
Paul and the Philippian Church 1:3-26
Exhortation and Examples 1:27-2:30
Warnings 3:1-4:1
The Danger of Ritual 3:1-6
A Better Alternative 3:7-11
The Danger of Perfectionists and Lawbreakers 3.12-4:1
Encouragement Gratitude and Final Greetings 4: 2-23
Presentation 09
Introduction
Paul uses a number of metaphors to describe his relationship to the
churches he writes to. E.g. he describes himself as a mother in relation
to her children [1Thes.2.7] ...a father who encourages and comforts
[1Thes.2.11] . It is impossible to read Paul’s epistles without seeing his
parental concern for the safety and well-being of his spiritual children.
Children do not always appreciate the depths of concern that lies
behind their parents warnings:
"Be careful when you cross the road;
Don't wait until its dark to come home;
Don't get into a car with a stranger!"
The wise parent knows that repeated warnings are necessary. Earlier in
the chapter Paul warned against a group known as Judaisers, who
placed emphasis on human performance and empty ritual. In v12-21
Paul warns his readers of two further dangers.
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Perfectionism
There a hint in v12ff that the church was being troubled by a group
teaching perfectionist doctrine i.e. that perfection is something which
we can achieve now. Some continue to make such claims today they
claim that from a certain date they have lived a sinless life.
Paul having previously mentioned the resurrection
of the dead now enters the disclaimer, in v12 "Not
that I have already....been made perfect."
In thinking about salvation it is important to
understand that although we speak about it in the
present tense - 'I am saved', we cannot separate it
from the future tense, 'I will be saved'.
The Christian looks forward to a great and final day
of deliverance from indwelling sin. Hence in Rom.
8.24. Paul speaks about being 'saved in hope'.
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Perfectionism
Freedom from sin, in scripture does not mean sinlessness, it means no
longer under the tyranny of sin. The war is not over. Fighting still goes
on. No matter how many victories we win, we live life with this
limitation: ‘we are still sinners’. This is the thrust of Paul's words in v12
'Not that I have already obtained...". This of course should not prevent
us from pursuing perfection. Someone has said, ‘perfection is an
impossible standard but the only one worth striving after.’ Paul rejected
perfectionist claims but he did not reject the need to strive for perfection
hence 12b...
‘grasping even more firmly that purpose for which
Christ has grasped me.’[ Phillips translation.] That
purpose is the restoration of the image of GOD in
our lives. Think of rare archaeological finds that
have been painstakingly restored after many years.
How much more satisfying to see the image of God
restored in lives that have been vandalised by sin.
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Perfectionism
This striving is teased out in the language of v13-14. Here is a man
straining forward reaching for the finishing tape.
Do you see how Paul distances himself from
the influence of perfectionist teaching and
any claim to have arrived spiritually?
Perfectionist teaching tends to cut through
the nerve of moral endeavour, it destroys
any incentive to "press towards the mark".
It cultivates a spirit of complacency and
creates a superficial view of righteousness.
If you think you have won the race you don't
keep on running!
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Distraction
Paul speaks of 'forgetting what lies behind.' The athlete can't afford to
look back, it slows him down. What might the Christian look back upon?
1. His religious achievements and past successes!
During his second missionary journey Paul
moved from the his fruitful ministry in
Thessalonica to the city of Corinth. It would
have been understandable if he had gone there
with great confidence, thinking, ' God has used
me mightily in the recent past he will certainly
do so again in this new situation.'
But we read in 1Cor.2.3, 'I was with you in
weakness and in fear and in much trembling'.
His heart was gripped by a sense of his own
nothingness, knowing that if God chose not to
bless his work would be in vain.
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Distraction
2. Looking back at past failures and being
distracted by them.
John Bunyan in “Pilgrim's Progress”
describes a man with a rake in his hand
who constantly rakes up the past resulting
in his discouragement. His vision is so
focused upon past failure that he fails to
see the angel hovering overhead with a
crown in his hand. The memory and
influence of the past can cripple our
spiritual lives. Christians often drag their
past around with them like a ball and chain.
They are harder on themselves than God
is. They refuse to forgive themselves.
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Distraction
Others, who have had a particularly
unhappy family background or
childhood make that an excuse for their
lack of growth as Christians. They say,
'I behave as I do because I was badly
scarred as a child'.
We must not underestimate the
profound psychological impact, which
and unhappy childhood can have. But
we must not loose sight of God's ability
to heal. He can deal with the marks
which our past life has left upon us.
We can forget the things that are left
behind and find healing and wholeness
in the grace of the gospel.
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Antinomians
In v17ff Paul turns his attention to another group troubling the church,
described in v18 as 'enemies of the cross of Christ'. They are generally
called 'Antinomians'. People who taught that the grace of God gave
them licence to behave as they liked.
Paul begins with the exhortation to be ‘followers of him’ v17.
Elsewhere he says, 'be followers of me as I am of Christ.' 1 Cor 11.1.
The Christian is to be a transmitter of heaven's lifestyle.
We all tend to pattern our lives on other
people. Paul sought to pattern his life on
Jesus. That is a safe example to follow and to
use to judge the lives of others not least those
whom Paul describes as ‘enemies of the cross
of Christ’.
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Antinomians
The antinomians engaged in a self-indulgent lifestyle. They argued
that we should ‘go on sinning so that grace may increase’ Rom 6.1.
The self-indulgent character of their lives is seen in the expression,
‘their God is their stomach’, a general reference to unbridled
appetites and lusts. The words 'whose glory is their shame' are
thought to refer to immoral practices.
They make no progress in spiritual maturity
because holiness of life is not on their
agenda. They see the gospel as providing
them with a ticket for heaven - that is as far
as it goes. Their behaviour disgraces the
grace of God. When self-indulgence is the
rule of life, instead of self-denial and self
discipline then their end is ‘destruction’.
Presentation 09
Antinomians
The one effective antidote to antinomianism is
presented in the closing verses of the chapter. i.e.
to recognise that we are ‘citizens’ of another
kingdom v20. At present we are no more than
resident aliens in this world. Do you know what it
is to feel that you really do not belong here?
Our true citizenship is elsewhere.
Many Iranian friends have fled their homeland but
their heart is still in the country of their birth. They
look forward to the day when they will be free to
return. They say that the land that they are living
in now does not feel like home.
Paul wants Christians to be able to say
something like that - to point to heaven and say,
'that is where I belong!'
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Antinomians
On that day our salvation will be gloriously
consummated. These bodies of ours which
are sin-infected will be utterly transformed.
When Jesus returns he will deal with all the
lawless things in our nature which prevent his
image from shining perfectly in our lives. This
sinful residue is not merely to be subdued but
completely removed.
We shall possess a glorified humanity and
not live as ethereal spirits. We shall have
new bodies fit to house our ransomed souls.
Our earthly bodies will be changed we will
possess a reconstituted humanity. Bodies
that are free from the frailties, twists and
perversities that mark our earthly existence.
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Conclusion
The pledge and the guarantee that this will
be so, is the presence now in heaven of the
glorified manhood of the Son of God.
We know that when he shall appear- it will
not be as a spirit but as a man and - we shall
be like him.
That will be glory indeed!
The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back and
Paul longs for his return. The return of Jesus
motivates his passion to grow in spiritual
maturity. And so Paul encourages his readers
also to stand firm and to share in his
excitement concerning the return of the Lord
Jesus.
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