Philippians 3:17
Ps Paul Cheng
“…This whole matter of the Christian life is about following Christ…”
~5 min read
Dear Brethren,
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample (Philippians 3:17).
What is the goal of the Christian life? The Christian’s ultimate goal is to become more and more like Jesus Christ and this is a very simple and basic truth (c.f. Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 3:10). Today, there are many Christian books, seminars and conferences that discuss about the Christian growth, trying to shed different view points and ideas on how a person ought to grow spiritually, but instead of enlightening, these methods have confused the people.
Throughout the gospels, Jesus repeatedly called unto His disciples to follow me, and that particular command cannot be replaced or improved upon. This whole matter of the Christian life is about following Christ. Some people may argue, “What about evangelism, discipleship and pursuing Christian virtues like compassion and loving others, aren’t all these things glorifying unto God, and isn’t the preoccupation of God’s glory the most vital aspect of Christianity?” Indeed, “man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever (WSC Q1).” But the more one seeks to glorify God in his life, the more he will evangelise to the lost like his Master who came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). He would be like Jesus who had compassion on the great multitude that came unto Him (Matthew 15:32), and he would also emulate his Saviour who said, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Thus it is still all about following Christ.
The Apostle John said, He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked (1 John 2:6). To the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul said, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). And to the Romans, Paul said, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). As we seek to follow Christ, there are some important elements and principles involved.
I. The Word Of God
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16a). If we are going to become like Christ, we have to know what Christ is like, and we need to learn of Him from the Bible. The Old Testament talks about Christ, and the need for Him to come. The New Testament tells us the Saviour has come. The books of Acts and the Epistles talk about the impact of His coming, and the significance of His life, ministry and teaching, and Revelation talks about Christ coming again to judge the world. The Bible is all about Christ who is the central focus of the Holy Scriptures.
Studying the Bible that we might learn of Him and be like Him is the basic truth in Christian living, but sadly often people are ignorant; they study the Bible simply to enhance their knowledge in theology, for the purpose of answering questions or even for the sake of engaging in theological arguments. If we study the Bible for anything less than understanding more about Christ so that we can become more and more like Him, we have missed the point.
II. The Holy Spirit
Conforming to the image of Christ is not physical but spiritual. It is not our body that resembles God but our spirit as John Calvin said, “Nothing can bear the image of God but spirit. Since God is a Spirit (John 4:24).” Therefore our resemblance of Him must necessarily be a spiritual likeness in “knowledge, righteousness and true holiness.” However, due to sin, this image of God in man is corrupted. It can only be restored by being in Christ. Only a born-again Christian can be said to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29) because only Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (quoted from Theology for Every Christian).
Becoming like Jesus is a spiritual work, and it is through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling the believer that makes him more and more like Christ as the days go by. As we read and meditate on the Bible every day, the word of Christ dwells in us richly, and it is that which the Spirit of God moulds us into the image of Jesus Christ.
III. Following After Godly Examples
Bethel BP Church has different helpful avenues like the DHW ministry, Bible study programmes and fellowship groups whereby we can study the Word of God and grow spiritually. We also have a good number of people enrolling for the Far Eastern Bible College Online Bible Course which is yet another beneficial tool to help the process of our sanctification.
It is an undeniable fact that people are of different levels of spirituality; some have been Christians for many years, others have just come to know the Lord, some have read the entire Bible several times, others have not even finished reading the entire Bible once. But no one can ever say he has perfectly obtained the goal of Christian life, not even the Apostle Paul (c.f. Philippians 3:12-13). Every day of our lives, we reach forward and press toward the goal of becoming more and more like Christ, and we need godly examples to show us how we may pursue this goal.
Brethren, be followers together of me — Here the Apostle Paul is not saying, “I am perfect, so follow me but rather I am imperfect (so are we) but follow the way I move toward that perfection.” In fact, he once declared, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (1 Timothy 1:15).
If we study the life of the Apostle Paul, we can see how he struggled with the flesh, and yet he was an example in many aspects. He was an example in worship and devotion to God, in patience, endurance and perseverance, in handling relationships in the church and in his untiring service for God, etc. In so many ways, he shows us how a fallen man, by the grace and wonder working of the Holy Spirit, can be an example of victory and temptation.
Mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample — The word them could be referring to Timothy, Epaphroditus or the other godly examples known to the Philippians whose lives can be observed and patterned after. Sadly today, this is a serious problem both in the church and in the home. The standards of pastors, ministers and spiritual leaders have been compromised and members are confused. Parents are no longer an example for their children, they project themselves as godly only in the church but their behaviours at home are totally contrary to their professions of faith. The children grew up watching their parents and no wonder they do not want to follow them to church.
Rather we ought to be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). The word example can mean pattern, image or model. When you set yourself as an example, you are giving the people a pattern to follow which is what every Christian’s life ought to be. Your life is your most powerful message and the best way to edify the brethren is through your life. Someone once said, “You are like writing a gospel, a chapter each day, by the deeds that you do and by the words that you say. Men read what you write, whether faithless or true, and say what the gospel is according to you.”
Are you an example of the believers? Is there anyone in the church whom we can observe, whose lives we can follow? As leaders of the church, can we say to the members, “Follow me because I follow Christ?” As parents, can we say to our children, “Follow me and do as I do?”
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul
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