Stand Firm in Christ
Philippians 3:17–4:1
Introduction
Fuel for Your Faith has been our theme now for several weeks. Focus on the Finish Line. Advance through the Challenges. To Live is Christ. The Manual for the Mindset . Shine Like Stars. Press toward the Prize!
In every challenge that Christians face, we must have the determination to stand firm in the Lord. The Christian life is a battle zone. We face challenges from the Enemy, the world, our friends, even from ourselves. We need the Lord’s help so we don’t crumble under pressure!
1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
Ephesians 6:11,13 NIV Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…. so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Tom Holladay says that the Christian life is like going up the down escalator. You have to keep moving up so you don’t get taken down! Everything in our world is pulling us down, but we are to go up to a stronger life of faith.
Philippians 3:16 NLT "But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”
How do we stand firm when we are being pulled down by the world around us?
1. Follow Godly Examples (3:17)?
Philippians 3:17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
Paul offers up his example as an encouragement for standing firm in Christ. Holladay offers three thoughts here:
-You will follow examples, whether they are good or bad. Jesus said that everyone is eventually going to become like his teacher. This is the way human beings are wired.
-You must choose to imitate the good qualities to imitate and not the bad! It’s easier to imitate bad qualities in someone’s life than the good ones! Be intentional about imitating the good.
-Human examples will fail you because they’re not Jesus. Don’t expect the examples you follow to be perfect.
Swindoll: “So choose your spiritual heroes carefully, study their lives, and follow only those who truly sought or are seeking to be like Christ.”
2. Know Your Enemy (3:18-19)?
Philippians 3:18-19 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
The Example that should not be followed. Characteristics:
-Their destiny is destruction.
-Their god is their stomach - they serve their lustful appetites (Merida) They are not controlled by the Holy Spirit, but by the appetites of the flesh.
-Their glory is in their shame . “They enjoy and celebrate what offends God and should be avoided.” (Merida) Jeremiah 6:15a NLT “Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions? Not at all—they don’t even know how to blush!”
These do not seem to be just people in the world - but people in the church who have adopted the world’s ways and can lead others down dangerous paths while still claiming to be Christian. We need to beware of them as enemies.
“Notice Paul doesn’t despise these enemies of the cross. He sheds ‘tears’ over them…. Should lead us to tears in prayer for them.” (Merida)
3. Worship Your King (3:20-21) You are a Citizen of His Kingdom!
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
-Your Allegiance is to Jesus Above All! Philippi is a Roman colony and the idea of citizenship resonates deeply with the people there. “It means giving allegiance to Jesus, rather than to Caesar, as the true Lord. … to trust that Jesus would in due time bring the life and rule of heaven to bear on the whole world, themselves included.” (Wright)
-You Serve as His Ambassadors here. This world is not our final home. Christ will take us home, and we will be with him forever (1 Thess 4:17). We take joy in believing that our home in glory will remove us from the tears of this life (see Rev 21:4). Swindoll: “Our homeland isn’t here; our place of residence is in another realm entirely. That makes us expatriates - ‘a colony of foreigners.’ … ambassadors, emissaries, and representatives of the next world as we live in the present one.”
-You are going to be transformed to be like Him (3:21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.) Christ will make our current bodies like his glorious body. What a remarkable promise for our future! The limitations of our fragile, earthly bodies will be set aside. Reminding ourselves of this daily helps keep our focus off of “earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).? Christ will bring everything under his control.
4. Support One Another (4:1-3)
Philippians 4:1-3 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
-Stand Firm! “In your marriage, with your finances, in your parenting, in your struggle against temptation, in gospel mission, in prayer - never give up the Christian walk!” (Merida)
-Get Along With One Another! “Can you imagine these two ladies sitting in the congregation, listening attentively to the letter being read to the church corporately, when all of a sudden - ‘I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord.’ Talk about an awkward moment!” (Merida). They need to stand firm in their faith as it relates to themselves and each other. This affects the entire church.
-Help Resolve issues when they arise! Paul assigns “true companion” (NIV) to help them out. This could be a designation or a name. The Greek word is Syzygys. “It is possible that someone took the name Syzygys at baptism, a Christian name to replace his pagan one and to symbolize his new birth.” (LifeChange)
-When you stand firm in your faith it blesses you and all around you - “coworkers who’s names are in the book of life” (3). Malachi 3:16 NRSV … a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name. Hebrews 12:23a NLT You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven…
Conclusion
How are you doing at standing firm in your faith?
Are you following the examples that will lead us closer to Christ?
Are you keeping the hope of heaven alive in our hearts each day?
Are you standing firm as we worship the King?
Are you supporting l and support one another?
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
______________________
Video of this message will be available on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ForsytheChurchofChrist
_____________________
Discussion Questions for Philippians 3:17-4:3
1. Paul calls on the Philippians to follow his example (See also Philippians 3:17). What qualifier did he place on following his example in 1 Corinthians 11:1? Why do you think he qualified his instruction? Who is someone who left you an example of faith that you have attempted to follow in your life?
2. How do we define an enemy of the cross? Notice Paul does not identify enemies of the cross as those who have a religious difference. In what ways can enemies of the cross exert influence over us?
3. In what ways is the local church a little colony of the kingdom of heaven?
4. What does 1 John 3:2 reveal to us about our transformed bodies?
5. Paul pleads with Euodia and Syntyche to “agree with each other in the Lord.” How do you suppose they felt when they heard their names being read in the assembly? What effect do you think their broken relationship was having on the rest of the church? What might a ‘true companion’ do to help these women (4:3)?
6. Suppose you were the ‘true companion’ (4:3) called upon to help the arguing women. What would be the first thing you would do to help them?
7. What is the ‘book of life’ (4:3)? How do you think one has his/her name written in the book?
8. What else did you want to talk about from this text?
_______________________
Resources
Baker, Donald. Philippians: Jesus Our Joy (LifeGuide Bible Studies). InterVarsity Press.
Fee, Gordon D. Philippians: The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Holloday, Tom. Philippians: The Eight PLaces Joy is Won or Lost. Pastors.com, 2015.
LifeChange: A Navpress Bible Study Series. Philippians. NavPress, 2013.
Merida, Tony and Francis Chan. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Philippians. B&H, 2016.
Craddock, Fred B. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, Philippians. John Knox Press, 1985.
Lockhart, Jay and David L. Roper. Truth for Today Commentary: Ephesians and Philippians. Resource Publications, 2009.
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, Volume 9. Tyndale, 2017.
Wright, Tom. Paul For Everyone: The Prison Letters. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004.
