15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:15-21
In Philippians 3:1-14, the Apostle Paul emphasizes knowing Christ and his willingness to consider everything as garbage for the sake of knowing Christ. This is the pursuit of the human heart as God designed it. But, we are born with a different default mode for self. And, when we have trusted in the cross of Christ to bridge us back to God, our paradigm has shifted.
In Philippians 3:15-16, the Apostle Paul provides definition to Christian maturity, which emanates out of the priority of seeking to be intimate with and defined by the Lord Jesus. The expression of this is seen in Paul's willingness to abandon his privileges as an elite Jew for the sake of knowing, personally and experientially, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word translated “mature” in v.15 means “perfect.” Paul has previously said that he has not been made perfect. Yet now he says that all of those who are perfect, or mature, should "take such a view of things." Mind you, no one is perfected in this life. The “perfect” or “mature” approach to life is pressing on toward full knowledge of Christ, knowing our pursuit and our discoveries will not be perfect.
The mark of those who are mature recognize that they are not mature, and that there is more to gain. “Mature” people will never be satisfied. The mature want more of Christ. It is about the pursuit of the heart, and the mature in the faith recognize that it is only God who recognizes any of us as having arrived.
In v.16 the Apostle says "we must live up to what we have attained." As mentioned before, the mature will never attain anything fully this side of heaven. The mature will not always understand everything that is taught. The mature lives up to what we already know of the truth that we understand.
In v.17-18, Paul zeroes in on the mature pursuit that he encourages us to follow. The common denominator for those who are mature is the cross of the Lord Jesus. That tool of torture embodies the rescue of all of our hopes. Its design could not be more simple. One beam horizontal, the other vertical. One reaches out like God’s love. The other reaches down as does God’s holiness. It is at this intersection that life best comes into view because the cross makes sense of everything, even our sin and pain.
In v.19, we read, “their God is their stomach.” This is a reference to those who are defined by this world. They live for the things of this world. Their minds are thus set on the fragile and temporary. When one is defined by such, one will reflect its lack of substance.
In v.20, we read, "But our citizenship is in heaven." In contrast to those whose minds are on earthly things, the thinking of believers is defined by God, framed up by God's way of thinking and living. And, when we are focused on Him, we will be transformed, not only in our thinking, but in our bodies.
According to v.21, when Christ returns, He "will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. ” We will then be perfect, as He is perfect. And, the transformation of our bodies will take place by the “power” that enables Christ to “bring everything under his control.”
In Hebrews 2:10, we read, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
The joy stealer in Philippians 3 is our pedigree and/or our possessions. In order to access the joy of the Lord, we must not be defined by earthly things but we must be defined by the Lord and His way of thinking. The difference is seen in a comparison of Egypt and the Promised Land.
In Hebrews 11:24-28, we read, "24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel."
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