Real faith always includes life-Real faith always includes life-changing powerchanging power

If I don’t admit the truth about If I don’t admit the truth about myself, I’m not open to the grace myself, I’m not open to the grace of Godof God

““By the grace of God, I am what I By the grace of God, I am what I am”am”

Only let us live up to what we Only let us live up to what we have already attained- vs. 16 have already attained- vs. 16

What have we already attained? What have we already attained? Why do we need to “live up to” Why do we need to “live up to” it?it?

Join with others in following my Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take example, brothers, and take note of those who live according note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you- vs. to the pattern we gave you- vs. 1717

  

FFollowollow an example, b an example, becomeecome an an exampleexample

The Imitation PrincipleThe Imitation Principle- We - We become like those we spend the become like those we spend the most and deepest tmost and deepest timeime with with

What was Paul’s example?What was Paul’s example?

For, as I have often told you For, as I have often told you before and now say again even before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things- vs. 18-19on earthly things- vs. 18-19

Legalism is never overcome by Legalism is never overcome by llicenseicense

Enemies of the CrossEnemies of the Cross::

   Led by apLed by appetitespetites (their god is their (their god is their

stomach)stomach)

Glory in things they ought to be Glory in things they ought to be ashamed ofashamed of

Live as though their actions don’t Live as though their actions don’t matter because righteousness is by matter because righteousness is by grace through faithgrace through faith

Enemies of the CrossEnemies of the Cross::

   Destiny is destructionDestiny is destruction

Mind is set on earthly thingsMind is set on earthly things

Church-goers. Should I follow Church-goers. Should I follow that kind of example?that kind of example?

But our citizenship is in heaven. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body…be like his glorious body…

……Therefore, my brothers, you Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!- 3:20-4:1dear friends!- 3:20-4:1

How does living in light of Christ’s How does living in light of Christ’s Kingdom influence our actions?Kingdom influence our actions?

- - our citizenship is in heavenour citizenship is in heaven

Why does Paul mention the Why does Paul mention the transformation of their bodies?transformation of their bodies?

How to How to stand firm in the Lordstand firm in the Lord::

   Righteousness in Christ aRighteousness in Christ alonelone

Leave the past behind and live in Leave the past behind and live in light of eternitylight of eternity

How to How to stand firm in the Lordstand firm in the Lord::

   Follow good eFollow good examplesxamples

Set the mind on spiritual things Set the mind on spiritual things and remember the temporary and remember the temporary nature of this lifenature of this life

I plead with Euodia and I plead I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at women who have contended at my side in the cause of the my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of whose names are in the book of life- 4:2-3life- 4:2-3

What to do when there is division What to do when there is division in the churchin the church::

   Our part: urge humility, unity and Our part: urge humility, unity and

forgiveness. Help lead towards forgiveness. Help lead towards restoration of the relationshiprestoration of the relationship

See to it that no one misses the See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and root grows up to cause trouble and defile many- Hebrews 12:15defile many- Hebrews 12:15

What to do when there is division What to do when there is division in the churchin the church::

   Should we listen to what each Should we listen to what each

says about the other? Take says about the other? Take sides?sides?

What to do when there is division What to do when there is division in the churchin the church::

   ““When those who are called to When those who are called to

fish, don’t fish; they fight”- Max fish, don’t fish; they fight”- Max LucadoLucado

What to do when there is division What to do when there is division in the churchin the church::

   We can't be in disunity about major We can't be in disunity about major

issues and both be rightissues and both be right

Great question: What does God Great question: What does God want in this?want in this?

TakeawaysTakeaways

- Am I intentionally growing the Lord Am I intentionally growing the Lord (being sanctified)? What steps am (being sanctified)? What steps am I taking?I taking?

- Who are my models? Are they Who are my models? Are they leading me closer to Jesus?leading me closer to Jesus?

- For whom am I a model? What is For whom am I a model? What is my example building in others’ my example building in others’ lives? lives?

TakeawaysTakeaways

- What is my role in division What is my role in division (family, work, friends, (family, work, friends, marriage)? marriage)?

- Am I seeking restoration Am I seeking restoration relationships? relationships?

- Taking sides? Taking sides?

- Causing the division?Causing the division?

- What does Jesus want?What does Jesus want?