Who Will We Imitate

Ky Martin • August 3, 2022


In our text this week, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Paul gives (1) a command to imitate himself and other like-minded leaders (v.17); (2) a warning for those who imitate enemies of the cross (v.18-19); (3) a teaching that our citizenship is not of this world (v. 20); and (4) a promise that Jesus will bring us to our true home (v.21).


Paul rewords his original command in the verse that follows: stand firm (4:1).



Command: Imitate me and others (v. 17)


The people we spend time with and the people we follow are often those we imitate. They can lead us down a good path or a bad one. This is especially important in the context of church leadership. It matters who our church leaders are. 


We must be able to look at our pastors (and others in church leadership) and be confident that we can follow them as they follow Christ. 


To imitate someone, you must be around them. Draw near and close to people who are following after the Lord.



Warning: If you, instead, imitate those who are enemies of the cross, your end will be destruction. (v. 18-19)


Who are these “enemies of the cross?” 


They are those who set their minds on earthly things. Their god is their belly. These people are not Pharisees, but those who seek their ultimate satisfaction in pleasure and indulgence. They see the world as a carnival and want to touch and taste it all, experiencing every novelty and gratification they can find. Many of the things they enjoy should bring shame, but instead, they boast – convincing themselves that they’re just living life to the fullest.


Worldly wisdom says that if you are not happy in your marriage, you should divorce your spouse so that you can be free and explore. Worldly wisdom tells you to pursue your own self gratification – simply indulge in whatever it is you desire.


Godly wisdom on the other hand calls us to set our own desires for gratification aside for the sake of others. God calls us to a life of self-sacrifice to love and serve others. We see this in Jesus, who laid His life down so that we might live in a like manner.


“We don’t have to grab all the gusto, drink all the beer, experience all the pleasures, or visit all the exotic vacation spots. Those diversions are ever so brief, and never as satisfying as we hoped they would be. Sooner or later our “lowly bodies,” already in a slow but steady process of decay, won’t be able to enjoy them anyway.” – Dennis Johnson



Teaching: Your citizenship is not here (v. 20)


We are Christians before we are anything else. First and foremost, our main allegiance is with Jesus.


Your citizenship holds your deepest sense of identity: your home, your language, your culture, your allegiance. It affects your language, your accent, your values, and your priorities.


As Christians, we ought to identify ourselves as citizens and subjects of King Jesus before and above any other citizenship we can claim. 


Paul claimed his citizenship as a Jew and a Roman. But, if at any point he had to choose between being loyal to King Jesus or to Roman rules or Jewish traditions, that was an easy decision for him.


Before you are an American, you are a Christian. Before you’re a Texan, you’re a Christian. Before you’re a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, pro- or anti-vaccine mandage, pro or anti-gun… before you’re any of that – you’re a Christian.



Promise: Jesus will bring us to our true home 

“..who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (v. 21)


This is a contrast to the end of those who pursue worldly things (eternal destruction). Paul reiterates the point about citizenship by reminding them that this world is not their home. There’s a contract of those who have set their minds, hopes, and aspirations on the physical indulgences that this world offers, and one for those whose minds are set on things above.


It’s not bad no want things or to have goals. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul says “everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”


But, being in love with the things of this world is dangerous. The more closely our hopes and aspirations are tied up in those things, the less our hope and aspirations will be in Christ.


“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” - 2 Timothy 4:8



Command reworded: Stand firm.


Jesus became a citizen of earth to make us citizens of heaven.


If we go backward and ask, “how do we stand firm?” Paul gives us the answer –  Imitate the godly men and women around you; look at what they value and how they live. And if you start to glance around at those who are living it up and “living their best life”; remember that they are actually slaves to their own canal desires and their path will ultimately not lead to anywhere you want to go. As you look at these two paths and decide who to imitate, remember this world is not even your true home. So follow in our steps, knowing that once you have finished the race, Jesus will give you a glorious body to match your perfect home.

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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