1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,440 Yeah, so good morning everyone. My name's Scott. I studied with Michael back at 2 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:14,640 Trinity. It was a great time. We had lots of fun. But yeah, a few things about myself first. 3 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:23,220 Just so you get to know who I am. At the moment I'm a full-time dad. I'm a member of Vic Park 4 00:00:23,220 --> 00:00:28,800 Presbyterian Church. But yeah, full-time dad I was in ministry, but my wife who's here today 5 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:33,640 with two of our gorgeous children. I has chronic fatigue so I've had to step back from ministry. 6 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:39,960 So now my main role in my life at the moment is to look after gorgeous children every day, 7 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:47,600 which is a great joy. But today my great joy is to bring God's Word to you. Yeah, 8 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,480 we're gonna be looking at Philippians 3 today. It'd be great if you had that in front of you. 9 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:57,400 Yeah, I'm gonna look at God's Word. Today in particular we're gonna be looking out, 10 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:02,920 getting a better understanding of the Christian life. Paul has been using some super helpful 11 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:08,440 illustrations in Philippians so far to help kind of describe what that's like. He's described 12 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:15,040 what Christians should be doing in this life as pressing on towards the goal. Michael has taken 13 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:21,200 you through like last two weeks, the first part of chapter 3. And there yeah, pressing on towards 14 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:30,080 the goal. That brings to mind kind of a race, a journey, maybe a really long hike. Yeah, 15 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:34,400 it's all very practical. That's what this Philippians is. It's the end part. It's very, 16 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:39,880 very practical. You've been in Philippians now for a few months, but you're in the back half 17 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,880 the letter. And if you know much about Paul's letters, there's always the first half, which are 18 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:50,720 phenomenal. They're just super rich in what Jesus has done, what Paul wants you to know. And then 19 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:58,520 the back half is all about what to do now. In light of what Jesus has done, what should we do? 20 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:04,640 So that's where Paul is gonna take us today. And he wants to help you think through what does 21 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:12,000 that mean? Because of what Jesus has done, how do you live that out? We're gonna do a quick 22 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:19,840 recap just of chapter 3 as a whole also. So Paul, as we've kind of also had read, Paul has outlined 23 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:26,920 that his righteousness, the start of chapter 3, he's standing before God is not because of anything 24 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:33,040 that he's done, no, nothing that he was born into or worked out by his own strength. No, 25 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:38,280 rather, it's been really clear so far throughout the whole Bible that it's because of what Jesus 26 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:44,160 has done, done and completed for him. That's verses 1 through to 9. You might remember that from two 27 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:50,960 weeks ago. But then Paul shifts and states that this doesn't mean that he does nothing. It's really 28 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,840 clear what Paul has said, what he wants to do. What Christ has done for him means now that his 29 00:02:55,840 --> 00:03:03,720 desires have changed and he wants to know Christ more. He wants to live for the one who died for 30 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:12,120 him. And Paul is striving for perfection at that end. Paul has made clear that he knows that he's 31 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:18,560 received God's righteousness, God's perfection, what Jesus has accomplished. And Paul wants to live 32 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:26,800 that out. He's striving to seek towards that. We have received the perfection of Jesus. That's 33 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:32,240 really, really clear. But Paul has also put that in context that though God has made him perfect in 34 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:37,840 his sight, that's in regards to their relationship. Paul has made it really clear that his actions 35 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:45,360 don't match that. He hasn't yet reached perfection. That's what he's striving towards. In his own 36 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:52,720 life, he seeks to live that out, confessing, ever striving to deal with sin, deal with the parts of 37 00:03:52,720 --> 00:04:00,160 his life that aren't right and that are sinful. Chapter 3 is about striving in his thoughts, 38 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:07,800 words and deeds to be more like Christ, moving in that direction towards perfection. The righteousness 39 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:14,400 that God has given him. As we come to kind of our section, it's verses 15 through the end of the 40 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:21,400 chapter, we're going to look at in four points today. Because Paul calls us to four things. Firstly, 41 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:28,320 Paul calls us to be mature. Secondly, to follow godly examples. Thirdly, Paul calls you to not 42 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:34,320 follow the world. And then fourthly, Paul calls and reminds you to live out your citizenship. So 43 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:38,840 four points, they're not equal points, some of them are larger than others, don't freak out. 44 00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:48,840 At first point, Paul calls us to be mature. Come see that with me, verse 15. All of us then who are 45 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:54,680 mature should take such a view of things. And if in some point you think differently, that too, 46 00:04:54,680 --> 00:05:02,160 God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already obtained. Now Paul, 47 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:08,800 who isn't saying all that much different from what he said previously. But here Paul calls you to 48 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:16,400 join him. Before he was all Paul explaining, where his hope lies and what he's striving towards. But 49 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:22,800 here Paul calls all Christians to join him to do the same. All Christians, note that with me in 50 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:29,160 the wording, look, all of us then who are mature should take a view of these things. And it's 51 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:33,760 those who are mature who are going to act on that. But I shouldn't say that Paul isn't here 52 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:38,240 taking a quick jab at those who aren't mature. Come on guys, the mature are going to do these 53 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:45,360 things. That's not Paul's attitude here. But this is Paul rather as a gentle father, encouraging 54 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:51,800 his children to be mature, to show them what does maturity look like and where should we be going. 55 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:59,800 And of what's the fundamental growth of a Christian. That's all great. But what's Paul 56 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:06,480 actually calling us to? What is this view of things that Paul is talking about? Well again, 57 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:13,440 we've read it in context. Paul hasn't changed angle. It's still the same thing. Continuing the 58 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:19,560 train of thought from before, it's both knowing that you're not perfect, that you still have seen 59 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:26,120 your life, but that God has saved you and calls you to live that saved life, to strive towards 60 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:34,760 that righteous life towards being more like Jesus. That's what Christian maturity is about. It isn't 61 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:40,560 that you can quote large parts of the Bible or that you have all the best books. Those are good 62 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:47,800 things and they can help. But fundamentally, Christian maturity is in receiving the gospel, 63 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:54,240 accepting that you're a sinner and need of God's help and then living that out every day. 64 00:06:54,240 --> 00:07:00,760 Have you understood and taken the view that the Christian life is one where we strive to follow 65 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:08,240 Christ, where we work hard to do so? Not because of we're earning salvation. Paul's made that really 66 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:15,280 clear in the earlier sections, but because it's what we have been saved for. Now whether you've 67 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:21,880 been a Christian this week, praise the Lord, or you've been so for 100 years, there are two things 68 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:28,880 this sentence calls us to. One of which to know that in the Christian life, maturity is expected. 69 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:35,200 It's the goal. If you haven't reached it, it's the goal that you start out and that you're going 70 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:42,520 to live your whole life moving towards. It's sad enough when you come across adults and maybe in 71 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:50,040 your working life or just around who are just immature. Their focus in this life is all wrong. 72 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:58,280 That doesn't match their age, all the more so in the Christian life. But then there's a comfort 73 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,160 and a warning and we'll put these two together. There's the comfort and warning when you deal 74 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:07,560 with sin, when you actually strive against it, when you bring it out into the light, 75 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:14,960 when you confess and seek forgiveness and there's repentance, that can be really painful because 76 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:21,040 you have to admit that actually you've stuffed up, that there's a problem and it's you and it's me. 77 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:28,320 There's the comfort there that even when we deal with sin, that actually that's a good sign because 78 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:33,800 that's the sign of Christ growing in us. That's us maturing, growing to become more like Christ. 79 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:41,320 It's for our good and that's beautiful. As much as I desire my children to deal with their 80 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:47,480 childishness when they're adults, so God desires His children to deal with their immaturity and 81 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:54,600 our sin, to constantly bring it out, confess and seek forgiveness. The other part of that though 82 00:08:54,600 --> 00:09:00,160 is the warning and we'll deal with this a little bit more in detail later on. It's not just that 83 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:06,080 if you're immature, but if you're fostering sin, if you're feeding it and holding it tight. 84 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:12,640 This passage even here, but even more so, wants that that isn't a Christian attitude. 85 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:20,280 And all of us Christians who are mature, who are changed by Christ should think this way and 86 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:25,200 see if you don't, if you think of yourself not mature then know that this is how you should be 87 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:32,520 thinking. Christians know that we are sinful. Every day I wake up and my words and deeds, 88 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:40,280 I fail our Lord and Savior. I fail God and His law and standard. But I know that in this life 89 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:47,400 I need to keep pressing on, keep confessing my sins and move towards the goal, to become more 90 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:57,640 like Christ. Is that what you want? Is that your desire? Maybe you've become complacent. Maybe 91 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:03,080 you think there's a different way, but see what Paula responds with. And if on some point you 92 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:09,000 think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Before wrestling with this passage, 93 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:14,360 I've kind of like skipped this verse in my head, not really understanding what it's referring to. 94 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:20,120 Maybe I consider that maybe it's God saying that eventually He will guide us into all understanding 95 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:25,040 or know all things. But no, clearly in context that's not what it's saying. If you've been using 96 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:31,000 it that way, I'm sorry, it's actually better than that. In light of what it says here, Paul says that 97 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:37,840 the Christian, the one who's been saved by faith and understands all that God has for them, we 98 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:45,160 can't be complacent with our sin. You can't take that attitude with sin. Because that's the very 99 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:52,160 opposite thing that Jesus has worked in us. Christians understand that we need to deal with 100 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:58,400 sin is kind of the very core things to our lives, because it's what Jesus has come to deal with. 101 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:07,320 And so God won't let you live with it. His word everywhere speaks about sin and that it's 102 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:14,680 rebellion against God. He's given us even physical pictures that you can hold and go through in 103 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:21,000 baptism and the Lord's Supper. That point to the washing by Christ's blood and through Jesus' 104 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:29,200 death we have redemption and grace. God will, even if we keep ignoring Him, will bring the 105 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:37,600 consequences of our sin to us to bring us back to Him. If you think differently, that too, God 106 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:43,240 will make clear to you. Because God wants us to live life, so they actually reflect what we have 107 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:50,520 obtained in Jesus. We've obtained Christ's own righteousness. That is who we are and that is 108 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:57,240 what we should be striving to live out. Again, not to obtain righteousness because that's what we 109 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:03,960 already have. Another illustration is when our leaders, those in government or in other roles, 110 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:09,320 when they don't live out that position that they've been given, when they don't do the job that we 111 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:14,600 expect them to, or when they don't live the life that should go with that position, it's saddening. 112 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:21,320 You're disappointed. They've been given the role and it's expected that they live that out and so 113 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:28,320 too with Christians. We can't do it perfectly but we are expected to live it out. Again, just to 114 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:33,400 make it clear, we've been given salvation, we've been given Christ's righteousness. Let us live 115 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:39,120 out what we have already obtained. So that's our first point. Again, remember they're not all equal. 116 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:49,640 Paul calls us to be mature, become more like Christ. But we don't have to do this alone 117 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:55,160 because Paul instructs us, even commands us here in our passage. We're saying that can help us on 118 00:12:55,160 --> 00:13:01,880 this journey because we need examples to follow. That's our second point. Paul calls us to follow 119 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:10,320 godly examples. Come see that with me, verse 17. Join together in following my examples, 120 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:16,040 brothers and sisters. And we'll just stop there. It's worth saying that as an Australian, that just 121 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:22,640 really grates against me. It pushes against my culture that Paul seems to set himself up as an 122 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:30,320 example that I should follow. It puts himself above me. The Australian tall poppy syndrome kicks in 123 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:38,440 and I just want Paul to get a grip and to come down just with the rest of us. But that's my 124 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:47,480 sinful response. But also see because Paul calls us not just to follow him because we can't see or 125 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:54,040 follow Paul anymore because he's very much dead. But he calls us to follow those who also live as 126 00:13:54,040 --> 00:14:00,160 Paul does. Again, it's worth saying that Paul hasn't changed gears yet. This is still very much about 127 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:06,960 being mature and dealing with sin, kind of following the upward call of Christ in our lives. But this 128 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:12,320 is also a big picture about living the Christian life. In our life, Paul has given us example. 129 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:19,280 Jesus has given us, God has given us examples to follow. Again, it's worth saying that actually 130 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:26,960 here, Paul doesn't say to you guys, don't worry, just you and your Bible, you've got it. No, no, 131 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:36,600 Paul says to all Christians to follow Christ like role models. And that makes sense. The Christian life, 132 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:43,080 Paul says, is a striving. It's a race, kind of like a mountain climb at times. And Paul here tells 133 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:51,200 you clearly, don't go on that hike by yourself. Or don't even go on that hike with just a group of 134 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:56,520 your friends who have all never gone on that hike before, kind of a make it up as you go kind of 135 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:03,360 adventure. Now that's a disaster waiting to happen. Paul instructs you that you need to follow those 136 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:11,320 who have gone on that path before you. Those that you can see have done the yards, fought the 137 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:19,360 battles against sin, and are still following Jesus. Keep your eyes on them and see how they live and 138 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:27,760 how they follow Jesus and do the same. Because you're not expected to do this by yourself. Follow 139 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:34,360 those that you've seen showing maturity in areas of your life. Ask them, get mentored, bring them 140 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:42,600 into your life or go into theirs. Because if you don't, you may not survive. But maybe at this point 141 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:49,000 you want to respond, no, Scott, you've got it wrong. God has me and so I can figure it out. God 142 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:56,760 will protect me and help me get back on the right path. And I want to say yes, you know, but God so 143 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:04,360 often works through means, through His people, through the church, through the church's elders as 144 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:12,640 they shepherd God's flock and show us and teach us and feed us. God has got you, but He's got you 145 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:19,440 through the church. He's given you people that you can follow. Paul tells you to follow them and to 146 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:28,560 keep your eyes on them. Don't do it by yourself. It's worth saying that people are better at some 147 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:33,000 things more than others. This is just kind of like the let's get down to logistics kind of thing. It's 148 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:39,160 okay to find multiple Christian mentors, not just like choose one person and stick with them. I feel 149 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:44,160 like I'm much better about thinking about how do I help my children to think about Jesus than I am 150 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:51,760 about evangelism. Even the mature, the mentors need help and examples to follow in this life as we 151 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:59,880 strive together to living towards being more like Christ. There are difficulties in your life that I 152 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:06,960 probably haven't faced that Michael probably hasn't faced. And while I may be able to point you to 153 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:14,200 Jesus and go, there's the answer. There are those that, sorry, I'm going to look at the right line. 154 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:19,120 There are those who can also do that with their own personal experience and say, I've gone through 155 00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:27,320 that. I can point you to Jesus and this is where we see Him clearly. This verse then calls you as you 156 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:34,440 walk the Christian life to be humble enough to admit that God and Paul know what you need to follow 157 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:43,080 others and to seek and find those who you can learn from and follow. What do you think this church 158 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:51,920 would look like if everyone here took the need to follow godly examples seriously? Would it not build a 159 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:58,160 strong community? Would there not be no need to hide sin from each other because we all know that 160 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:04,960 everyone is wrestling together and we're all striving to be more like Jesus? Would that not build 161 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:09,480 just a really tight community where everyone that has insights, people that have gone through 162 00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:17,720 struggles and succeeded could share that with each other? Whether church would be humble and eager 163 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:26,240 to grow and learn, to love Jesus more through even those hard times? Would that not transform your 164 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:38,640 marriage? Would that not transform your families? That would grow Christians and this church and it 165 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:54,880 would be seen and known to be a place where Jesus is seen. But you do need to be careful. This is 166 00:18:54,880 --> 00:19:01,440 our third point because Paul follows us to not follow the world. There are many who are eager to 167 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:24,720 lead. Come look at me verse 18. I often told you before and now I tell you again with tears, 168 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:38,000 many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction. Their goddess, 169 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:45,120 their stomach and their glories and their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 170 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:59,040 Paul here mentions his tears. Why? Because these people are claiming to be Christians. 171 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:11,000 Paul describes them as enemies of the cross of Christ. But why? It's because when Christians 172 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:19,280 continue to live in sin, when you don't deal with it, and the thing that what Christ is achieved by 173 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:26,400 is death resurrection, it means that you can do whatever you want. It's making light of the cross 174 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:37,360 of Christ. Because the cross was Christ coming in our place, taking the penalty for our sins, 175 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:48,360 took it all so that we don't have to. He dies in faith, it's Christ rough for us because we can't. 176 00:20:48,360 --> 00:21:03,720 To then go and bask and delight in it. To delight in what caused him to die. To enjoy that. The 177 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:11,440 very thing that he saved us from and to never turn from it. That's living as an enemy of the cross, 178 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:18,800 an enemy of God, an enemy of salvation. Elsewhere in Hebrews it's described as 179 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:28,520 Christifying Jesus again. Now they're not Christian. See the descriptions of me. They go to the 180 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:34,600 destruction. They have God as their stomach and they have their glory and it's in their shame. 181 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:41,400 They don't set their eyes on living the Christian life on following God examples. No, they have 182 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:47,480 their mindset on earthly things, the things of here and now, and they're getting their fill. 183 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:57,440 Maybe that's you now. Maybe you're not a Christian. Maybe you've just walked in wondering what on 184 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:04,120 earth this is all about. But our passage is clear that if you don't turn from following your own 185 00:22:04,120 --> 00:22:12,760 desires, you don't turn from your sin. You don't turn to God who is so eager to forgive. Then you 186 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:18,560 make yourself an enemy of the cross because Jesus has come and he's already paid the price for your 187 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:28,480 sin. Come and be washed instead of all your sin and shame. Turn to the God who is so ready to 188 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:38,560 forgive you and delights to welcome you in. Don't continue down that path. Maybe you're a Christian 189 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:43,600 or you say that you are. You've been in church long enough that you kind of know all the right 190 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:50,040 answers to say you're good at answering Christian questions with Christian answers, but sin rules 191 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:57,240 your life. You've got it all hidden kind of out of sight, but if you were honest, you love them 192 00:22:57,240 --> 00:23:06,760 more than you love Jesus. Jesus feels so far away, but the temptation of sin is so loud and clear. 193 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:15,520 Our passage calls to you then to see where that takes you. An enemy of the cross, a 194 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:23,360 descend for destruction and shame is in your glory. Your glory is in your shame. We need to hear 195 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:33,400 the call of the gospel to deal with sin. Kill it. I pray that the Spirit will convict you. Draw you 196 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:40,280 in because as much as sin promises you in the end, it's all going to taste like ashing your mouth. 197 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:51,080 It provides no lasting comfort, but maybe you are a Christian. Mature, still learning. You hear 198 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:58,440 these warnings and you know the temptation of this world is just so strong. You know you should 199 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:03,960 follow Christian examples in your life, but the examples of the world are so often in your face, 200 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:13,360 so loud and the world tends to promise money, quick fixes to all your problems and in all the 201 00:24:13,360 --> 00:24:22,640 advertising they all just look so happy and it's all so easy because it's easy to do nothing. So 202 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:32,480 easy to fall into sin and to stop striving. But to bring in what we've seen before, don't walk 203 00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:41,320 that alone. Together we follow Paul's examples. He follows Christ. We follow together as we 204 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:48,640 spur each other on to fight sin. Together we confess our sins to one another and point each other 205 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:58,000 to Christ. Our world calls us and seeks us to follow it, but we must resist together because 206 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:05,120 it's hard. It's a long journey. Paul's described as striving, running the race because it is hard. 207 00:25:05,120 --> 00:25:12,320 Hard not just because the world is around us all the time, but also because I know that my heart 208 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:21,800 isn't perfect. There's still sin in it. It has a new love in Christ, but yet there is corruption 209 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:30,160 and the pull of the world is real and will be to the end. And that brings us to our last point. 210 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:37,880 Paul reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven. So this is verses 22, 21. I'm just going to read 211 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:44,360 those for us. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord 212 00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:50,840 Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control will transform 213 00:25:50,840 --> 00:26:00,640 our lowly bodies. So they will be like his glorious body. Your citizenship is in heaven. We live in 214 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:05,360 a world that's always calling you to do anything but strive towards godliness, to just stop. And 215 00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:11,960 then Paul contrasts that with the word but. He contrasts the world following its examples, its 216 00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:17,800 pattern against the fact that your citizenship is in heaven. And the image of citizenship is about 217 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:24,560 you behaving and living as you represent your country. As a citizenship of heaven, though now 218 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:32,000 here on this earth, our action should give away who we are. When someone gets off the plane off 219 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:36,960 an overseas flight, if you kind of got to stalk them, like follow them closely, listen to them 220 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:43,480 on their conversations, watch their actions, you quickly narrow down where they're from. All the more 221 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:49,040 so I would say at the hotel buffet, what foods they choose, what are they avoiding, helps you 222 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:56,680 know who they are. Because even though they're not in their home country, who they are shines through. 223 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:03,800 Their heart is still home. And they so they so often reflect in their actions and what who they 224 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:11,440 are really the citizenship of their passport. And so Paul likewise says here, in contrast to those 225 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:17,720 who have their mindset on earthly things, in contrast to the world, act like citizens of heaven. 226 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:25,680 As Christians, this world isn't our home. The things of this world should not be our delight 227 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:32,760 or our focus. Our love and our desire should be to live following the one who loved us so much 228 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:40,560 and has saved us. Again, like Paul's large images striving towards the goal, the upward call of Christ, 229 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:52,440 the call of home. And see that it is answered. In the end of 20 through 21, and we eagerly await a 230 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:58,800 savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under 231 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:06,240 his control will transform our lowly bodies. So they will be like his glorious body. There the 232 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:11,880 image is that though we live away from home, we still feel because of the corruption, because of 233 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:18,880 the sin that still is in us, we know that we need a savior. Yes, Jesus has saved me, he has taken away 234 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:26,880 my sin, but I still fail, I still fall, I still feel the weight and taint of sin, and I need saving 235 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:34,600 from that. The world needs saving from that, needs to be put right, and it comes from Jesus our savior. 236 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:41,560 Paul here is describing when Jesus comes, when he returns in one being action, Jesus comes in with 237 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:47,400 the same power that enables him to put everything back right, everything back under his control as 238 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:54,880 it should be, in right order again under him, that same power will transform our bodies to be like 239 00:28:54,880 --> 00:29:03,560 his. He deals with sin in the world and he deals with sin in us perfectly. Where I won't just be 240 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:10,520 right spiritually with God, but completely, where the world is fixed and all the corruption and 241 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:22,320 evil is finally gone, both in me and all creation. Paul points us to final victory here. All that's 242 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:32,080 left is the joy of spending time with our God and enjoying him forever. Why does Paul take us here? 243 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:38,160 Well Paul wants to show you that the salvation of Jesus isn't just the starting point. The gospel 244 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:43,440 isn't just the good news for you when you first become a Christian, but rather it's for the whole 245 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:52,520 Christian life, the good news from beginning through to end. And too often I forget that. I forget the 246 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:57,000 troubles and the temptations of this life. Sorry, I don't forget the troubles and temptations of this 247 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:02,360 life. I forget that the troubles and the temptations of this life, even the sin that weighs me down 248 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:11,440 and burdens me, that they are just temporary. They end. But in the moment, temptations seem so 249 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:19,320 endless. I lose sight of how good it will be when Jesus returns. Because I lose sight of that, 250 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:25,400 that affects how I wrestle with sin. It affects how I think about Jesus, the gospel salvation, 251 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:34,240 because so often my view of it is just so small. Paul here points out and reminds us that my 252 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:40,560 wrestling with sin, me following others as we follow Jesus, becoming more like him. And every 253 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:47,800 time we resist or push back against the temptation of the world, that has eternal value in us. It's 254 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:57,160 drawing us home. It reflects where we're going. Every time you wrestle with sin, even when it gets 255 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:04,440 the upper hand and you fail, us striving against it is a reflection that our home isn't here, 256 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:14,480 but rather we have a heavenly home and a heavenly savior who will end it all, will fix it all. And 257 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:20,360 so when that temptation feels overwhelming and that pull of that world feels endless, know that 258 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:29,840 it isn't eternal. It ends. Paul puts all of this here to encourage us to follow him, to take that 259 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:36,360 mature attitude, to continue to strive following him together doing that, following other godly 260 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:45,480 examples, constantly fight sin and doing so knowing that it isn't a hopeless or endless battle. But 261 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:52,840 then in the end we do reach that goal. Christ comes and saves us and we are made like him. 262 00:31:52,840 --> 00:32:05,640 All the sin and hurt of this world is finally undone. We enjoy God forever. So Christian keeps 263 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:17,160 driving. Don't stop. And so we ever look forward to that day. The Bible ends in revelation with 264 00:32:17,160 --> 00:32:36,440 the whole church throughout all the centuries saying, come Lord Jesus. Amen.