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.

Everything We Need

July 29, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:3-4 We have everything we need for a godly life. Sentence has: 68 words 9 prepositional phrases 5 dependent clauses God called us. “By His divine power” The word here is summon Like Lazarus, come forth. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 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. By revealing Christ to us. “Through the knowledge of Him” Side note, ambiguity: The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We need to note that this comes to us by grace, but also that we have a part to play here. Effort is not a 4 letter word. You have no excuse for: Pornography- You have everything you need. Substance Abuse- You have everything you need. Pride- You have everything you need Laziness- You have everything you need Anger- You have everything you need. Prayer and Scripture Reading- You have everything you need. Evangelism- You have everything you need. He’ll go on to mention supplementing He has given us what we need for godliness now, and He promises us even greater things to come. We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature 2 Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature Unusual word… The “divine nature” (Theos) appears only here and in Acts where Paul addresses the Areopagus an odd work choice and would have appealed to his pagan readers. Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. Redefining what it means to become like God. Christ shared in our nature that we might share in His. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. In 1:3, it’s through the knowledge of Christ that we are called to Him. Here, we see that a fuller revelation of Christ will conform us even more fully into His likeness. How so? Purity Immortality Restoration to Eden Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, We have everything we need for a godly life. English readers are apt to understand calling in terms of an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. Peter has something deeper in mind. Christ’s call is effective, awakening and creating faith. -Thomas R. Schreiner 1 Peter 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. The ambiguity in the text indicates that Peter does not clearly distinguish between God and Christ, which indicates that God and Christ were venerated equally. - Thomas R. Schreiner Excuses are Eliminated We will share in Christ’s Divine Nature Acts 17:29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. Purity Immortality Christians also share in God’s immortality. They are not trapped in this world. Though ‘perishable’ now, Christians will be raised ‘imperishable.’ -Paul Gardner Glory John 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. Discipleship Questions: 2 Peter 1:3 says we’ve been given everything we need for life and godliness… Do you find that verse encouraging, challenging or both? Are there any areas of your walk where you struggle to believe that you already have everything you need for success? Do you ever make excuses to yourself or others for a lack of godliness? If yes, explain. How much work does it take to live as a Christian? What does it mean that we will be “partakers in the divine nature”?

The Genuine Gospel

July 21, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Sermon text: 2 Peter 1:1-2  Peter is warning us about counterfeit teaching and false teachers The genuine gospel came from Jesus through His apostles —servant (humility and honor) —apostle (called, unique, sent) The genuine gospel is just as precious to us today —received and believed “How does someone become a Christian? One person might say, ‘Because I believe,’ and another, ‘Because God chose me.’ According to Peter, both ways of stating it are correct. On the one hand, we believe. It is a fundamental definition of a Christian that he or she is a ‘believe-er’; that he or she ‘has faith’ But Peter also knows that it is not our feeble faith that holds us close to God. It is God who does all the holding, and that is the reality behind the word received.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel is centered on the person and work of Jesus —God —Savior —Christ —Lord “This fourfold description of Jesus is important because it puts him at the focal point of human history. As God, he guarantees that his words and his works cannot be replaced or revoked; as Christ, he fulfills all the Old Testament promises; as Savior, he died on the cross for our salvation in the past, present and future; and as Lord he claims the right to our individual love and obedience—notice how Peter calls him our Lord.” —R. C. Lucas and Christopher Green, The Message of 2 Peter & Jude The genuine gospel transforms us as we grow in knowledge of Jesus —grace and peace multiplied Discipleship Questions: Why is false teaching so dangerous? How does remembering and focusing on the true gospel help us stand against false teaching? In what ways is the gospel just as precious to us as it was to the apostles? How do you relate to Jesus as God, Savior, Christ, and Lord? What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him?

The God of All Grace

July 16, 2025
Notes from Zach Snow's sermon on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:8-14 Why is the lion roaring? Wouldn’t it be a better strategy to be quiet…subtle…sneaky, in an attempt to “devour” Christians? I think that Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, was very intentional with his description here of the devil being a roaring lion. Went into a rabbit hole on a lion's roar…there are some spiritual applications to these: Can reach up to 114 decibels…almost as loud as a jet engine taking off They roar for social reasons (territory, create bonds, locate other members of their pride) as well as for purposes of intimidation. One of the primary purposes of the lion's roar is to strike fear in the heart of their prey. The lion will always start with a psychological advantage Fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred - these things can absolutely paralyse you spiritually The lion is not necessarily trying to kill you, but to destroy your faith Prayer: Be sober-minded - Have a clear and self disciplined mind - Titus 2 Exercise self control in thoughts, words, and action this is the 3rd time Peter has said this to us in 1 Peter - 1:13, 4:7 - it’s a call to remain alert and focused Being sober-minded means waging war against the things that are detrimental to the mind: fear, hatred, anxiety, depression, anger I believe these are specific things the enemy uses to derail our mental health and cause us to take our guard down Be watchful - this is the same word that Jesus used in the garden before he was arrested and crucified - this is a call to pray Prayers for others - Eph. 6:18 - Ephesians 6:18 - [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Prayers for yourself - James 1:5 - 5 j If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. So here’s the question… Do you believe in prayer? How much do you trust that God can do the things that you are not able to do? Do you trust God with the big stuff AND the small stuff? Discipleship Questions: 1.) In your personal life, what does being sober minded and watchful look like to you? 2.) Who are the people who help you stand firm in your faith the most? 3.) As a CG look at each of the points of the Theology of Suffering and find Scripture to support each one of those statements: God is ALWAYS good God is ALWAYS enough God will ALWAYS love you 4.) Discuss ways that the God of all grace has restored, confirmed, strengthened, and established you.
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