Sunday, July 4, 2010
DIVINE DIRECTION AND OUR CONSISTENCY
Phil. 3:15-16
We have been looking at Philippians 3, where Paul freely draws on his own experience to teach the Philippian believers and us. Early in the chapter, he reminds them and us of what he had been before he met Christ. He was a zealous Jew who had reached the pinnacle of the religious ladder. Yes, he was a “Hebrew of the Hebrews” and could say that concerning the law of God, he was blameless. No one could find anything in him to accuse. But that isn’t the end of the story. When Jesus Christ laid hold of Paul, he counted all his religious achievements in Judiasm as loss. Everything in the gain column, he moved it into the loss column. But why? So that he might gain Christ, who became his great treasure.
What a wonderful story it is, but that isn’t the end of it. No, that was only the beginning. By the time he wrote this letter, Paul had been walking with Jesus for over 25 years. He rejoiced that Jesus had gone to the cross and died in his place so that he might not have to suffer the punishment from God that he deserved. Yes, the very Jesus he had been persecuting was the One who had become sin for him, that he might be made the righteousness of God. Nevertheless, in verse 10 Paul shares the great continual longing of his heart -- “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death.” Brothers and sisters, this is the normal life of the disciple of Jesus Christ. If you or I do not long to know Him, something is desperately wrong.
Most recently we have been considering verses 12-16, where we are looking at four principles that will help us know Christ more intimately. First, we must humbly acknowledge our need, even as Paul did. In verses 11-13, the great apostle freely admits that he hasn’t yet arrived. He said that he had not attained, that he was not yet perfect. He did not consider that he had yet laid hold of the purpose for which Christ laid hold of him. Paul longed to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, but he immediately admits that he isn’t yet there.
So maybe the problem was that Paul wasn’t serious about knowing Christ. Maybe after initially coming to know Jesus, he had slacked off and was just coasting through life. If you have read Paul at all, you know that is a joke. Right here in verses 12-14, the very place where he confesses that he has not yet arrived, he stresses how he is continually pursuing the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. Ultimately, that prize is eternal glory, to which the Lord is continually calling him. So the second principle that must grip us is this idea of single-minded pursuit. We must keep on pursuing the mark for the prize, which is the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.
By the way, let’s pause for just a moment. I don’t think I gave proper emphasis to that phrase in verse 14, “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Don’t miss those words “in Christ Jesus.” God doesn’t call anyone heavenward apart from the Lord Jesus. I want to remind you seekers that the key is Jesus. Remember that Paul was a man who knew all about God. He studied and taught the Word of God. He was zealous to keep all the law of God. But there was something missing. What was it? It was Jesus. Paul would have claimed to love God with all his heart, but he did not. Jesus Himself had said, “He who hates me hates my Father also” (John 15:23). Paul was opposing the very Son of God, the Messiah who came from the Father. Understand that it will never be enough to believe in God and to try to keep God’s law. Paul did that to the max. You must come through Jesus and what He did at the cross. That’s why Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). God devised one plan for your redemption, and that plan is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
This morning to come to verses 15-16. Immediately we would have to say that these verses are not well known like verses 13-14. Nevertheless, they are important and provide our food for thought this morning. Let’s go ahead and read Phil. 3:15-16…
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
In these verses we find two more principles that will help us in knowing Christ more fully. Let’s look at them.
III. We Must Have Divine Direction
1. Looking Carefully at “Perfection”
“Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” You will notice that in verses 4-14 Paul gives his own personal testimony. He uses the word “I” over a dozen times in those verses, and it is implied a number of other times. Paul has emphasized how he himself has not arrived, but how he is continuing to pursue. But now in verse 15, he turns again to direct instruction, as in verse 2, where he said, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.” Not it’s “Let us…”
We ask the question: “Let us what?” Paul says, “Let us be thus minded.” But to whom is he speaking? “As many as be perfect.” Wait a minute. That raises some major questions. Did he not say in verse 12 that he was not yet perfect. Now he speaks to as many as are perfect, and he includes himself in that number. So does Paul consider himself perfect, or doesn’t he?
It is necessary that we take a brief look at this concept of perfection. Perhaps the best place to start is with the word’s first occurrence in the New Testament. Matt. 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Jesus commands His followers to be perfect. In this one verse we are confronted with the tension in the meaning of this word. We have enough difficulty with the command “be perfect,” but then it is further complicated by the words, “even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” We must acknowledge that this word has a relative sense and an absolute sense. Without question, we are commanded to be perfect, but how can we attain to the perfection of our Father? Before you come to the conclusion that we can be as perfect as the Father, consider His perfections. He has never once done anything wrong, nor will He ever. He is perfect righteousness and holiness. May I remind you that not one of us is there. Whatever Jesus means, He cannot mean that a human being in this life can attain the same perfections as God the Father. We find the same tension here in Phil. 3, where Paul says on the one hand that he has not attained perfection, but then turns right around and includes himself among those who are perfect.
The Father is absolutely perfect. You will never find any imperfection in Him. Nevertheless, the Christian is to be perfect. In what sense? There are two things concerning perfection that are to be true of the Christian. First of all, he is to striving for perfection. I realize that there are some who will argue this point, but I must insist upon its truth. Our Lord expects us to strive for perfection. That’s what Paul was doing. When Paul confesses that he is not yet perfect, that does not mean that he isn’t trying to be. Because there were people who might have thought that Paul had attained perfection, he assured them that he had not. Nevertheless, he continued to pursue knowing the perfect One with all that was in him.
An even clearer reference to this seeking perfection is found in 1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" As we can see, John is speaking about sin in the life of the believer. At the end of chapter1 he has made it crystal clear that no man can truthfully say that he has no sin. 1 John 1:8,10… "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." Many stop there and develop the attitude that says, “Well, there you have it. It is wrong to claim that we are sinless. Therefore, there is no use trying to overcome sin in our lives, because it is inevitable that we are going to sin.” No, that isn’t the scriptural view. I can know that I will not attain absolute perfection in this life and still strive for that perfection every day. “But Ron, if you do that, you will be defeated.” No, I won’t. You see, I also know that the day is coming soon when I will attain absolute perfection. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). Until the day arrives, I want to live as close to that ultimate perfection as I can. And as I progress day by day, I am encouraged. I will not see much progress, if I don’t strive for that perfection.
So there is the sense in that the Christian is perfect in that he is striving for that absolute perfection that will one day be his. However, there is another very important sense of perfection in the Christian life. Paul certainly seems to speak of himself and others as being perfect in this life. Let me pause. There are those who teach that Christians can attain that absolute perfection in this life, that it is possible for the Christian to live without sin. It is interesting to note that people sometimes make that claim for themselves, but I don’t recall hearing anyone making that claim for another human being. I might somehow deceive myself until I claimed to be perfect and sinless, but I doubt seriously that you would ever hear Rhonda or anyone else who knows me well make that claim.
So in what sense can the Christian be perfect? Is it only in the striving for perfection? No, Paul speaks of more in this passage and others. Let’s read I Cor. 2:4-7…
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory…
Paul taught a spiritual wisdom among those who were perfect. It seems clear that these had attained a perfection which was observable. Let’s read again that rich passage in Eph. 4:11-16…
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
This word translated “perfect” is translated in a number of ways even in the King James Version -- “perfect,” “of full age,” “performance.” The root, which is the verb telew, is translated “accomplish,” “fill up,” “finish,” “fulfill,” “make an end,” and “perform.” The word speaks of completion, of bringing to an end. Other translations often translate it as “complete” or “mature.” For example, there in Eph. 413, both the NASV and the NIV use the word “mature” rather than “perfect.” The NASV renders the word “complete” in Col. 1:28, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every may and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” This same word that can refer to the absolute perfection of God Himself is also used to speak of maturity and completeness in the Christian on earth.
We see this idea of Christian maturity in a number of passages. In the Eph. 4 passage, the mature Christian is contrasted with children. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Eph. 4:13-15). Perhaps this idea of Christian maturity is nowhere expressed better than in Heb. 5:12-14…
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The phrase “of full age” is the translation of our word telew, translated “mature” in NASV, NIV, and ESV. In other words, the strong meat of the Word is for mature Christians. Notice that these are contrasted with babes, who are only able to digest milk. Then the author goes on to say in the next verse, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God" (6:1). Let us go on to maturity. Let us press toward absolute perfection, and in so doing we will come to a real maturity in Christ.
Notice also that this passage in Hebrews 5 clearly teaches that all Christians are expected to reach such maturity in this present life. He bluntly tells them that enough time has elapsed that they should be teachers (5:12). Though we don’t all have the “gift” of teaching, we are all to mature to the point that we are able to teach others. That doesn’t mean we should all stand before large groups and teach, but we are to be teaching in the context of our individual lives. No, that doesn’t just mean teaching by example. While it is extremely important that we teach by example, every Christian is to mature in his understanding of biblical truth and in his godly character until he can effectively teach biblical truth to others.
Is it not obvious that Paul is using this one word in reference to these two kinds of perfection? On the one hand, he has not reached absolute perfection. He is striving for it, but it will not be his until he finally reaches the mark and is awarded the prize, which consists of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus. Though that call began at conversion, it will not have its final installment until Paul dies and sees His Lord face to face. On the other hand, Paul is perfect, in the sense that he has come to maturity in Christ. He doesn’t confine that attainment of maturity to himself. “Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect…” In I Cor. 2:6 he speaks wisdom to those who are perfect (mature).
Someone is bound to ask, “So how do we know when a Christian is mature?” While that is a tricky question to answer, we must not shy away from the fact that Paul spoke of an observable Christian maturity (perfection). Obviously, Christians are at different levels of maturity. Michelle has been a believer for a few months. We don’t expect her to be mature. But we who have been Christians for years should be mature by now.
There is a great danger here, and it is at this point: Are we not in danger of dividing Christians into two classes, the mature and the immature? Much of it is in our attitude. Michelle, I am going to pick on you (I have not given her prior notice, by the way). Does it offend you that I said you are not yet mature in Christ? It shouldn’t, no more than to say that _______ is not a mature adult. The mature Christian is the one who has attained a great deal of knowledge in the truth and who consistently demonstrate Christian character. On top of that, and even more important, he is continuing to grow in Christ and longing to know Him more and more. No matter what a believer has attained, if he no longer desires to know more of Christ, I would not call him a mature Christian.
While it is true that some Christians are mature and others are not, our focus isn’t on putting labels on people. Our focus must be similar to that of Paul, when he said in Col. 1:28-29 (ESV), “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” The healthy member of the body of Christ is eager not only to see himself mature, but to see his brothers and sisters come to maturity as well.
2. So What Was Paul Saying in Verse 15?
Now let’s come back to verse 15, “Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded; and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” “Be thus minded” is literally “think this.” This word translated “think” is used 20 times in the New Testament, and seven of those are in Philippians. Go back to chapter 2 for a moment. Follow as I read Phil. 2:2-5. I am going to read very literally the phrases that contain this word. "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye think the same thing, having the same love, being of one accord, thinking the one thing. 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5. Think this in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus." Listen to 3:19, “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think on earthly things.” 4:2, “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they think the same thing in the Lord.” Philippians is full of these exhortations to think the same thing. Remember that this is not accomplished by me trying to think like you trying to think like me. Rather, it happens as you and I think more and more like Jesus.
So now Paul literally says, “Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, think this.” Think what? Think along the lines of what Paul has just said in verses 4-14, especially what he has just laid out in verse 12-14. Paul indicates that the mature Christian must acknowledge that what he is saying is right, when he speaks of admitting we haven’t arrived but continuing to pursue the goal wholeheardedly. It is very possible that he is combating ideas of perfectionism. There were certain philosophies of that day that promoted a perfectionism that came through great knowledge and enlightenment. As a zealous Jew, though Paul might not have seen himself as perfect, he certainly thought of himself as way above others. Now he says, “If you are truly perfect, mature, then think in the way I have just outlined. Admit that you haven’t yet arrived and acknowledge that your great need is to pursue Christ in all His fullness.”
Paul doesn’t stop there. Now he says, “And if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.” Literally, “And if anything you think other…” Paul urges the mature to think the same thing he is thinking (for he is following Christ), but there is the possibility that some of them may think otherwise. If so, Paul will rely on the Lord to reveal even this to them. This raises a question. The apostle Paul was not shy about speaking his mind. His general attitude was not, “I’ll just believe what I believe and let others believe what they believe.” He wrote entire letters to try to persuade people to the right way of thinking. So what is this simple trusting of the Lord to reveal things to his brothers and sisters in Philippi?
First of all, we must recognize that Paul has just shared his Spirit-inspired convictions forcefully in the preceding verses. He certainly hasn’t demonstrated an attitude of just letting his brothers and sisters believe whatever they want to believe. On the other hand, even the apostle Paul doesn’t try to steamroll these brothers and sisters whom he loved so dearly. He recognized the need for divine direction. None of us can live effectively on the beliefs of others; we must get direction from the Lord Himself. Paul did not demand that they all see things his way immediately. Rather, he trusted the Lord to direct them. Many believe that Paul wasn’t talking about the major issues here, but rather minor points of disagreement. That may be the case.
IV. We Must Be Consistent in Our Walk with the Lord
Now we come to verse 16, “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Your translations of this verse will vary a great deal because there is a difference in the Greek texts. Let me read the KJV again: “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same…” Now the rest of what I am going to read is the translation of words that are not contained in some of the Greek texts -- “rule, and mind the same thing.” As far as the text, there are arguments on both sides, and we are not going to concern ourselves with much of that this morning. If the KJV reflects the correct text, then Paul is repeating his call to mind the same thing.
Let’s concern ourselves primarily with the first part of the verse, which is found in all translations. “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same.” Again, even in that part of the verse, translations will vary quite a bit. That is mainly because Paul uses few words (just seven words in the Greek) to express his thought at this point. NIV, “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” NASV, “However, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” ESV, “Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Paul seems to be reminding his readers that regardless of what disagreement they might have, especially in the fine points, they must keep on living consistently to what they know to be true.
Here we see the principle of consistency. This is a small verse, but it carries a large truth. This matter of consistency is vital. We have talked many times about the tendency to start well and finish poorly. We touched on this when we were reminded that Paul is fond of using metaphors of the Greek games, particularly running the race. If we as Christians are going to finish well, then we must be consistent in the lives we live. Perhaps the race between the tortoise and the hare is in order here. It isn’t enough to attain to a certain point; we must maintain that ground we have gained. We find this illustrated in many experiences of life. An army isn’t content to defeat an enemy in a certain stronghold. Now they must maintain that ground they have take. How many people go on diets, loose a lot of weight, and are delighted, only to have those pounds gain their way back on in a few weeks or months?
If we are not careful, we can fall into the roller coaster scenario. Maybe we attend a certain Christian event and get all excited about it. It seems that we have just grown a ton. It is so wonderful that we are able to live on that spiritual high. It seems that we don’t need much feeding on the Word or prayer or fellowship at this time; we’re still running off the spiritual adrenaline of that experience. But then some crisis comes up. We suddenly find that we have no reserves. We have been trusting that past experience and haven’t been seeking the Lord in a fresh way each day. So now we are in the depths. But then a special speaker comes and fires us up again. That lifestyle will not produce much spiritual growth because it lacks consistency. Remember how the scripture illustrates growth. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall propser” (Ps. 1:1-3).
Conclusion
Pastor Steven Cole gives a short but helpful summary of these two verses…
In 3:12 Paul says that he is not perfect, but in 3:15 he implies that he and some of his readers are perfect. He isn’t contradicting himself within four verses. In 3:12, he means that absolute perfection is not attainable in this life. In 3:15, he uses the word in relative terms to mean “mature.” We can become mature, and the mature Christian will share Paul’s view that he is setting forth here, that we haven’t arrived, but that we can and must keep growing. But Paul recognizes that some will not share his attitude because they are not mature. To those who disagree with him, Paul says, “Stay teachable and God will show you where you need to grow” (see 3:15). He adds verse 16 so that no one will mistake him to mean that you can just kick back and not work at growing. He means that wherever you’re at, you need to keep living in obedience to the light God has shown you and keep seeking Him for more. If God has dealt with some sin in your life, don’t slip back into it again. If He has cleaned out a dirty closet of your life, don’t start throwing junk in there again.
If you want to grow in the Lord, it’s essential that you maintain a teachable heart. A teachable heart is humble, because it admits, “I may be wrong or lacking in understanding; I may need to repent and change.” A teachable heart is submissive, ready to respond to new light God gives from His Word. A person with a teachable heart is not a know-it-all, refusing to learn from other Christians. With that kind of teachable heart, keep moving in the present.
For several weeks we emphasized the importance of seeking to know Christ more and more, of single-minded pursuit of the goal, which is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We emphasize these truths because they are stressed in God’s Word, both here and throughout the Bible. But may we never forget that we need God’s direction in that pursuit. If we don’t have that divine direction, we will get off track. Paul recognized that fact. Though a godly man, he realized that he ultimately could not convince others of the truth. But praise God that He can indeed reveal more to us, as we seek Him. We know the general direction God has for us. It is all wrapped up in longing to know Christ. The specific details He will continue to reveal to us, as we seek Him. Don’t despair because you don’t have all the answers.
Let’s conclude by acknowledging our need to be consistent. Our great difficulty is not a lack of knowledge, but a failure to live up to what we already know and have already experienced. Let’s suppose one of us gets up and testifies about how God did a miracle a couple of years ago in delivering him from fear. Praise God, but the question now is: “Am I trusting the Lord to deliver me from fear today? Am I relying this day on the truth of His Word which I know so well? “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the light of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Ps. 27:1).
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