Apostle Paul begins this chapter warning the Christians in Philippi about those false teachers who taught salvation by works. It was type of ‘hybrid Gospel” where Jesus’ life and sacrifice, His atonement for sins once for all was not sufficient, so works were added, an adherence to the Law was required in order for salvation to be complete.
Paul wants nothing to do with such people and their teaching…
He follows that with a list of his achievements as a Jew and a Pharisee. Compared with knowing Christ and His righteousness, all his achievements were nothing more than rubbish.
Christ and His work gives to every believer an Eternal Assurance. This assurance gave him and to us now the confidence and courage to forget what is behind and to strive towards the goal, to press on towards the prize of our heavenly calling (Philippians 3:12-14).
Then Paul turns his attention to those who are mature in the faith and says: “Let those of us who are mature (perfect, gk. teleios) think this way” (v.15).
Without sounding too obvious God wants all of us to grow. Growing in sanctification is one of God’s main purposes in our lives. In fact, the writer of Hebrews tells us “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity” (6:1).
Moreover, Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:29 that God in His eternal plan for His people will not only call us to Himself, justify us, glorify us but He also ordained that we are to “be conformed to the image of His Son”.
So, what does it mean to be mature? How does it look to be further down on the “spiritual road”?
Does it have to do with how old you are or how knowledgeable you are…?
The Word is the standard, the measuring stick, the benchmark … for all of us! Nothing else is more accurate and more revealing that the living Word of God. So, what does the Word tells us about being mature/perfect?
Well, let’s explore that together this morning!