"Follow Those Who Follow Christ"
      by Francis Frangipane
      Web: http://www.frangipane.org/  
      Email: comments@...  


"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ." Philippians 3:17-18

Paul faced a major problem in the first century: many deceivers had crept into the Christian church. The apostle said these false leaders were enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul warned the Philippians to recognize the differences between a true man of God and a false teacher or prophet. Without any sense of false humility, Paul declared that both his vision and his attitude toward attaining it were examples for us to follow.

The context in which Paul wrote describes both his self-righteousness before he found Christ and his utter abandonment of fleshly confidence afterward. We will study these verses carefully. For in an age of increasing deception and distractions, we find a standard that will keep us aimed at the fullness of Christ's Presence.

"Beware of the Dogs"

Paul started this third chapter of Philippians with a caution. He said, "Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision" (Phil. 3:2).

There were three types of false teachers Paul warned about. The first group he referred to as "the dogs." The phrase, "beware of the dog(s)" is still used today. It means there is a vicious animal here. Additionally, most of the dogs of Paul's day were scavengers. In the first century, one could find dozens of dogs eating off the rubbish heaps outside cities; their faces would be bent downward as their muzzles turned up garbage.

Today's church has similar people: "fault-finders" - people without real faith or love who continually feed upon the garbage and failures of the human condition. Paul's warning holds true today: Beware of those who whisper sarcasms to you, who are continually discovering what is wrong with others! If you listen to them, you will become like them: their words will rob you of vision, leave you without joy, and drain you of your energy.

There are others in this category who cannot accept God's promises of a glorified church at the end of the age. The idea of unity among Christians angers them. In spite of their criticisms, the expectation of a special time of glory at the end of the age was the apostolic viewpoint (2 Cor 3:18; Rev 19:7-8; Isaiah 60:1-3). Yet, lest we miss the great day of the Lord, let us also heed Paul's warning to "beware of the dogs."

"Beware of the Evil Workers"

Paul also warned against the evil workers. These are harder to discern than the "dogs," but he describes them briefly in the first chapter. They proclaim Christ from "envy...strife...selfish ambition" rather than out of love (Phil. 1:15-17). "Beware," Paul said, "of those who preach Christ to build their own kingdoms, whose ministries are motivated by ambition." James adds, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing" (James 3:16). In our nation, this has been a serious problem in the church. May God help us all to preach Christ purely from a heart of love!

"Beware of the False Circumcision"

The third warning was aimed against the "false circumcision" (Phil. 3:2). These were the Jewish Christians who, when they were saved, tried to make Christianity an extension of Judaism. This last teaching was the most dangerous because it seemed the most plausible. The essence of this error was that Christ's atonement was not enough for salvation; you also had to keep the whole system of Mosaic Laws. Paul wrote the next fourteen verses to refute these legalists, as well as to give the church a clear example of what it means to be an authentic Christian. He began his correction stating, "For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3). 

Paul explains that, when it came to the righteousness in the Law, he had been blameless. After presenting all the things of which his flesh could boast - born of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, and a persecutor of the church - Paul then states, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (Phil. 3:7).

In the apostolic definition of Christianity, truth is found in knowing Jesus. We do not keep the Law - we keep Jesus. Without violating the spirit of the Law, if we truly keep Jesus, we will go far beyond the righteousness of the Law.

Gain Christ and the Power of His Resurrection

Paul said he counted "all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (v. 8). Everything Paul may have been in his flesh he considered as religious rubbish in order that he might gain Christ.

Christ was more than the Law-giver. He was the Faith-giver, Love-giver, Life-giver, Power-giver, and Health-giver as well.

Paul went on, "that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection" (v. 10) If we say we know Him but do not know the power that raised Jesus from the grave, we really do not know Him as He is. In Acts, Peter proclaimed that it was impossible for death to hold Jesus (Acts 2:31). Hebrews tells us that Christ was raised as a priest by virtue of an "indestructible life" (Heb. 7:16). To be intimately acquainted with Christ's resurrection life as a source of our life is to know one side of Christ's nature.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Him

Paul also embraced "the fellowship of [Christ's] sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Phil. 3:10). The knowledge of Christ's power is accessible only through conformity to His death; resurrection is attained through crucifixion. No one will enter the fullness of Christ's Presence without carrying the cross to get there. It is self which occupies the heart, denying Christ's entrance into our lives. Without the cross, self becomes an idol in the temple of God. 

Participation in Christ's sufferings is part of knowing Christ. Paul did not embrace death in a morbid surrender to destruction; He embraced Christ's death, the death to self. It is this surrender to God's will which manifests the Presence of Christ within us. It forgives those who have "crucified" us - a sacrifice of love, not merely self-denial.

In knowing Christ, Paul hungered to know both aspects of Christ: His sufferings and His resurrection. Hunger to know Jesus is the core reality of what it means to be a true Christian.

"Forget What Lies Behind - Press On Toward the Goal for the Prize"

Paul continued, "Not that I have already...become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12). Keep this thought in mind: This was an apostle who was pressing on! This was a mature Christian who was reaching forward. 

Paul said, "One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:13-14). What did Paul choose to "forget"? He put aside the wounds, the offenses, and the pains of yesterday that he might be fully given toward the upward call of God in Christ. 

As long as we are continually remembering the past, we cannot leave it. We disqualify ourselves from embracing the future God has for us!

The prize in true Christianity is to attain the glory of God. To obtain that prize is worth letting go of everything else. Those who would have you passively sit back with a false security are blind to the goal, the prize, the upward call of God into which Paul himself was pressing.

In Pursuit of Christ

Many teachers will come and go throughout your life. As you seek guidance, remember Paul's warnings: never follow anyone who is not himself pressing toward the prize of Christ Jesus! You can pray for them, stand with them, and encourage them. But if they are not going where you are going, do not follow them!

Paul went on, "As many as are perfect, have this attitude" (Phil. 3:15). It was in this context that Paul said, "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us" (v. 17). Of course, the first and final pattern for our lives is Jesus Christ. Yet, Paul was the pattern of one in pursuit of the Perfect Pattern. 

In this world of illusions, deceptions, and seductions, let us beware of those who are like dogs, always focused upon the refuse of life. Let us flee from the evil workers who are full of envy and ambition. Let us not yield to the legalists who put a standard of righteousness before us other than Christ. 

Paul tells us that these all are "enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction" (v. 18-19). Let us, instead, run toward Christ-likeness. Like Paul, let us press toward the glorious prize: laying hold of Christ Jesus our Lord. For it is here that the Presence of Christ manifests within us.

God bless you!

Francis Frangipane
http://www.frangipane.org/  
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