Dwell in the Word Philippians 3:17-4:1

Consider these questions while you dwell in Philippians 3:17-4:1:

1. Paul expresses deep concern for those who teach falsely, emphasizing that their end is destruction. How can believers discern and respond to false teachings in today's world, and what role does the pursuit of genuine biblical understanding play in guarding against such deceptions?

2. The passage underscores the danger of making worldly desires and earthly pursuits the center of one's life. In contrast, Paul encourages believers to focus on their citizenship in heaven and the transformation that awaits them. How can individuals practically redirect their priorities and desires towards eternal things rather than temporary pleasures?

3. Paul encourages the church in Philippi to "stand firm in the Lord" despite the allure of fleshly desires. How can believers actively stand firm in their faith and resist the pressures of a culture that promotes self-indulgence and immediate gratification? What practices or attitudes can help cultivate a steadfast commitment to Christ?

Transcript:

So, we have a bit of a humbling passage here because we see Paul's compassion for those who are teaching falsely. He is concerned not only for them, but for what might happen to those who follow them. And so, we see, what is Paul saying the solution is here to these problems? Well, he says, Join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. In other words, look at those who are behaving in the way we are, but also those who are teaching the way that we are teaching. And because he sees there are so many who are teaching things that are false to the gospel, it says here that he's telling them with tears. Paul is so concerned about those who are enemies of the cross of Christ. And why shouldn't he be so concerned? Why shouldn't he be shedding tears? Because it is leading people astray. He's not worried that the work of Christ will be undone. He's not worried that somehow that this is going to make the gospel ineffective. But he is worried that people would teach falsely that people would lead people astray from the truth of the cross of Christ.

And look at what he says about these people who are teaching this way, says that their end is destruction. Their God is their belly. What is he saying here? That their end is going to be destruction. They will be punished by God, but who is their God? They'll be punished by the true God, but who is their God? Well, it's their belly. The idea here is not that this is related to food. It is that that they are going after their desires. They're looking to be glutinous in all kinds of sins, I guess you could say. The idea is that they're going after the lust of the flesh that that is their desire, not seeking out what God would have for them, but what their flesh desires. And notice what it says, this is maybe the saddest part, that they glory in their shame with mindset on earthly things. They glory in it. They think this is a good thing. They think they have arrived because they're getting the things that they want. They're filling their belly. They're getting those desires that they want. They see that as the end goal. Well, and if you seek out pleasures, if you seek out those things, if that is going to be your God, you'll get them.

But ultimately, as Paul says, their end is destruction. So how do we counter this? What are we to have our minds on as we try to navigate this? Because we're all tempted. Every one of us is tempted to have our God be our belly. We want the things that we want. There are lustful things that we desire. There are fleshly things that we desire. So, what is the key here? Well, we remember that our citizenship is in heaven, that even though we can find the things of the earth to be enticing, the things of the flesh to be even enjoyable, ultimately, our citizenship is in heaven, and we're waiting for our savior, the Lord Jesus. And even though we can seek out all these things in this body, ultimately, we read here in verse 21 that Jesus will transform our lowly body to be like a glorious body. So, these things of the flesh that we desire and the things we find pleasure in, that really doesn't matter compared to what we will receive in Christ, that even though we don't have those things in this life, we will have that transformed body. We're seeking the better thing because our citizenship is in heaven.

We're not looking for the temporary. We're not seeking the desire of the flesh that will fade. We're seeking the city that is to come, because that is where our citizenship really is. And so, what do we do? We seek out Christ. We seek out that citizenship, not the things of the flesh. And so, what does Paul tell the church in Philippe to do? Stand firm thus in the Lord. He's saying, It's worth it. It's worth it. You're not getting these fleshly things. You're not having these desires filled. Yes, and that's hard. That's hard. But ultimately, if you stand firm, if you stand firm, you're seeking out the things that truly matter. As we think about this, is there anything maybe that applies to us more than this passage now? Because we have so many things in front of our faces, so many things that are temporary that this God that is our belly desires after. But we have to listen to the word of the Lord. We have to desire the things of the city to come, of that place where our citizenship is, that place that is heaven. So may we do this, and we can't do it on our own.

We have to hear the word, believe the word. We have to trust in the power of the spirit to transform our ungodly desires, those things that are belly desires. We have to trust that the spirit will change our desires to seek the things that matter, to seek the things that last, those things that revolve around our citizenship that is in heaven. May we do that today? May we seek out God's word? May we be seeking out the things of God that we might remember that more important citizenship that we have and seek out the God of heaven and earth, the one that we are to stand firm in. And may we stand firm today.