Joy Has A Name / 02. Joy Has A Name // 10 Christ The Goal - Tobi Ford-Western // Philippians 3:12-4:1

02. Joy Has A Name // 10 Christ The Goal - Tobi Ford-Western // Philippians 3:12-4:1

Recap

As a city we pride ourselves in our originality and ability to be ‘different’. We tend to value elevation and improvement over imitation of others who have gone before us. However, sometimes cultural progress can lead to moral regress.
In this passage, Paul equates copying and imitating others to christian maturity. This does not mean to be inauthentic or fake but to learn from those around us. He encourages the Philippians to be like him and emulate his behaviour. In saying this, he is not being arrogant or prideful. In fact, we have seen through history, pride tends to protect its success, preserving its uniqueness and legacy from others. Paul shows genuine humility here. He is using himself as an example to others.
Paul is not uncomfortable telling people to imitate him, even though he is not without sin and he knows it. He knows that seeing the example of other godly men and women can help us to understand what it means to follow Jesus - it does not require perfection! Therefore, we should not be uncomfortable with imitating others or with being imitated. It is not anything that has originated in ourselves, it is only Christ’s character at work in us that is worthy of imitation and so, we are not putting ourselves on a pedestal but lifting Him up.
Paul is not really talking here about following the example of well known global pastors or big names in christianity. He wants us to emulate normal people in our church, people that we can get alongside, spend time with and ask questions of. We should watch their godliness and giftings and take note of them. We should remain humble and teachable, receive critique and believe encouragement so that we can grow and become more Christ- like.
Specifically, Paul wants all christians to grow in our understanding and application of grace. We are often taught that grace means that our sins are forgiven and we don’t have to work for our salvation. But, Paul says ‘I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’ He is showing us that perseverance does not mean working FOR our salvation, it means working OUT our salvation. There is power at work in you, propelling you forward to complete the tasks that God has set before you. Grace is not just our motivation but our means, it is not just forgiveness but power. It does not take away the difficulties of life but it gives us the strength to press on.
Finally, Paul wants us to see how much further Jesus went for us, not just imitating us but becoming one of us and entering into the human experience in order that He could take on the curse of sin in our place. He became like you and got what you deserve so that through faith in Him you can receive what He deserved.

Applications
Humble yourself and stop striving towards progress and achievements in order to lift yourself up, but instead honour and lift up the name of Jesus.
Find 3 people around you who you can imitate to become more Christ-like.
Imitate Paul’s application of grace in working out your salvation and pressing on.

More Episodes

  • 17.Joy Has A Name // 11 Rejoicing in Christ - Joel Virgo // Philippians 4:2-9, 21-23

    Recap
    We see in this passage, Paul is openly emotional. Often emotions can feel like the enemy and so we try to detach ourselves from them, but the bible does not do this. Emotions can be...

    Show episode   38:01

  • 16.Joy Has A Name // 10 Christ The Goal - Tobi Ford-Western // Philippians 3:12-4:1

    Recap

    As a city we pride ourselves in our originality and ability to be ‘different’. We tend to value elevation and improvement over imitation of others who have gone before us. However,...

    Show episode   35:19

  • 15.Joy Has A Name // 9 Riches In Christ - Stephen Dawson // Philippians 4:10-20

    Recap
    This Sunday we skipped forward to the end of Phillipians where Paul thanks the church for their gifts and for sending him Epaphroditus. This is more meaningful and heartfelt than the...

    Show episode   34:13

  • 14.Joy Has A Name // 8 The Surpassing Worth Of Christ - Matt Carvel // Philippians 3:1-11

    Recap
    Paul’s life’s work was to go around sharing the good news of Jesus: the forgiveness of sins and the love of God. He would proclaim the gospel everywhere he went and people would become...

    Show episode   34:37

  • 13.Joy Has A Name // 7 Workers For Christ - Joel Virgo // Philippians 2:19-30

    Recap
    Previously in this letter, Paul has been explaining to the Philippians the way that God has revealed Himself through His son Jesus. In this passage however, there seems to be a change in...

    Show episode   38:47

  • 12.Joy Has A Name // 6 The Fear Of Christ - Tobi Ford-Western // Philippians 2:12-18

    Recap
    Paul tells the Philippians in this passage that they need to ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling’. On the surface, this can seem frightening and can be misunderstood to...

    Show episode   34:20

  • 11.Joy Has A Name // 6 The Fear Of Christ // Application

    Discussion on the sermon:
    https://youtu.be/MLi3ed3VJh4

    Show episode   10:34

  • 10.Joy Has A Name // 5 The Humility and Glory Of Christ // Application

    Discussion on the sermon:
    https://youtu.be/bO6szH-6HuY

    Show episode   04:37

  • 09.Joy Has A Name // 5 The Humility and Glory Of Christ - Matt Carvel // Philippians 2:5-11

    Recap
    A common question that people ask about Christianity is, why, if God is real, does He not make His existence more obvious to us. We ask this question because we want things to be simple...

    Show episode   34:44

  • 08.Joy Has A Name // 4 A Christ-shaped Mind // Application

    Discussion on the sermon:
    https://youtu.be/4EEJtwwZD_0

    Show episode   07:06

  • 07.Joy Has A Name // 4 A Christ-shaped Mind - Matt Carvel // Philippians 2:1-4

    The humility of Christ (which is about to be unpacked in the following passage) is a demonstration of the other-person focus of the Gospel. Love is selfless, not selfish.

    Perhaps the...

    Show episode   30:40

  • 06.Joy Has A Name // 3 A Christ-Shaped Walk // Application

    Discussion on the sermon:
    https://youtu.be/LF9XE4QeOr8

    Show episode   06:56

  • 05.Joy Has A Name // 3 A Christ-shaped Walk - Matt Carvel // Philippians 1:1-27-30

    ‘Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel’ can be a confusing command. Isn’t the point of the Gospel that we’re not worthy of it?

    Paul’s command then (like all other NT commands)...

    Show episode   33:25

  • 04.Joy Has A Name // 2 A Christ-shaped Life // Application

    Show episode   09:47

  • 03.Joy Has A Name // 2 A Christ-shaped Life - Neville Jones // Philippians 1:1-12-26

    The sovereignty of God and the supremacy of Christ.

    Again, Paul demonstrates a provocatively joyful attitude. In the face of his unjust imprisonment and even ‘gospel advocates’ trying...

    Show episode   33:18

  • 02.Joy Has A Name // 1 Joy in Christ - Joel Virgo // Philippians 1:1-11

    Joel looks at the union and unity that Christ brings us into.

    Paul is overjoyed at the thought of the Philippians. These ‘partners’ are not just loosely associated with Paul but fellow...

    Show episode   39:30

  • 01.Joy Has A Name // Introduction to the series

    This autumn we will be preaching through the New Testament letter of Philippians. We’ve called the series, ‘Joy Has a Name’ because the letter is all about how Jesus is every Christian’s source of...

    Show episode   07:29