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Those Who Are Mature Think This Way
Philippians 3:12-15
Introduction: In Phil. 3:1, Paul said, “Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” In 4:4-7, Paul concluded this text with, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” The text in between explains how and why we can rejoice in the Lord. Paul’s primary answer has been, we rejoice in the Lord because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ.
In fact, it is this extraordinary privilege of gaining Christ that causes us to rejoice in him and to happily suffer the loss of all things and count them as trash.
And we rejoice even more in knowing Christ because we obtain the righteous that comes from God and not of ourselves. Seeing that Isaiah said that “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment,” this truly is a special privilege that deserves our pursuit that “considers everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things” (vs. 8).
But it is the way we are to know him that often surprises us and in which we struggle. We see the phrase in verse 10: “that I may know him…and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” I like to read over that statement, quickly! That is not the life we have desired. Look at it – becoming like him in his death. And the words, share in his sufferings. That is counter to every part of our flesh.
Part of the reason this is so difficult for us is because in America we have been spoiled. We have been trained to live without suffering. Our political leaders remind us that we shouldn’t have to suffer and that they are there to relieve and protect us from suffering.
Therefore, to purposely choose to have fellowship in Christ’s sufferings is shocking. I hear the words clearly in my head when I became a Christian – “I’m just wanting to be forgiven.” I wasn’t thinking that this would involve suffering.
Why Share in Christ’s Sufferings?
Therefore, we must ask the question, “Knowing that we have been forgiven of our sins, why should we share in his sufferings and become like him in his death?” In fact, as Paul states in verse 13-14, why “strain for what lies ahead” and “press toward the goal?” There are, in fact, many answers to that question.
If we do not share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, we are not following Christ. The essence of discipleship is “denying ourselves, taking up the cross, and following him. As Hebrews 2:10, Jesus brings many sons to glory when he was perfected through suffering in order to lead us to glory through our own suffering. It is as Paul said to the Galatian churches, “it is through many tribulations that we enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
Second, there is absolutely no other way to glorify God. The only way we make the life of Christ visible in our earthly bodies is by carrying in our body the death of Jesus (2 Cor. 4:10). Jesus is simply not seen or glorified any other way. Bringing people to Christ is not done by offering a self-centered life instead of a sacrificial, Christ-honoring life. Satan loves the gospel of health and wealth!
Third, and most importantly in regard to this text, it is the only path to “rejoicing in the Lord.” How can I rejoice in the Lord and yet refuse to suffer with him, refuse to carry his cross, refuse to display his death in my life? It is either self or Christ. This whole text contrasts “gaining Christ” with what we “gain” in the flesh.
Those Who Are Mature, Think This Way
We will talk about the details of 12-15 in the next lesson, but for our purposes here, notice the phrase in verse 15, “those who are mature, think this way.” Therefore, if we will be mature, we must think the way Paul is describing, not only in the previous verses, but in the whole letter. How we think, the kind of mind we are to have, is the major theme.
Thus, since Paul admits that he has not already attained the goal or been made perfect, he strains forward, and that is the way mature people think. Put another way, that is the way we rejoice in the Lord; it is our response of not being found in him with a righteousness of our own, but a righteousness from God.
Therefore, in the last part of our lesson, let’s examine how this statement is a conclusion to the whole letter. Paul has been pointing to Jesus, pointing to Timothy, pointing to Epaphroditus, and pointing to himself to illustrate the way mature people think.
First, as has been implied, pressing toward maturity is not an option. It is not reserved for a few. If you are young, you cannot “coast,” you must press to maturity. No matter what stage of life you are in, you press. Further, maturity is not simply knowing the Bible well or living morally, nor can we conclude that we are mature because we are old or have been a Christian for a long period of time. When we survey the first part of the letter, we see this.
In chapter one, Paul described his attitude toward being in prison unjustly for four years. Paul was able to look at whatever circumstances the Lord placed him in to see benefits to the Lord’s cause. Paul recognized that his boldness to speak the word without fear (1:14), has caused many others to do the same. How could he rejoice in such circumstances? “Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (1:18). We all hate much of what is going on in our country even beyond the virus, but even in our distancing we can see a renewed love for each other and for our neighbors. People have been reached via the internet that never would have been reached otherwise. And there are countless other blessings that only God knows.
In 2:5-9, Paul gives a picture of Jesus, the God of the universe, who did not retain his rights as God in order to save mankind, he came to earth, not with pomp and ceremony, not born to a king and queen in a palace, but as a servant, obedient even to a death on the cross. Paul is explaining the path to glory and begins the section with, “have the mind among yourselves…”
Later in chapter two, Paul spoke of the possibility of being poured out as a drink offering on their behalf. His response? “I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (2:18). How easy would it be for us to be glad and rejoice over one of our own who was about to die for the cause? You see how this is a different way of thinking.
In 2:19-24, Paul gives another picture of how the mature think in the example of Timothy. Timothy was so unique that Paul said there was no one like him who genuinely was concerned for their welfare and would not seek his own interests but those of Jesus Christ. That is the mind of a mature person. That is how maturity thinks.
Then in 2:25-30, there is the example of Epaphroditus. Here we are today thinking that we are serving the Lord with a certain risk. But look especially at Paul’s words in verse 30: “he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” The word translated “risking” is a gambler’s term in the Greek. In other words, he literally gambled his life in order to take care of Paul, to bring the money and supplies necessary to sustain him in prison. Therefore, when Paul says in 3:15 that those who are mature think this way, this is the kind of thinking we are to have. Just to reemphasize, in 3:17 Paul says, “Brothers, join in imitating me…”
Conclusion: 1 Cor. 4:8-16. That’s what Paul meant in 3:10-11.
Berry Kercheville