Well now once again we'll turn
to the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians for our meditation
this evening and this evening we'll read in the third chapter
and from verse 18 to 21. So the Epistle of Paul to the
Philippians chapter 3 and reading from verse 18 to verse 21. For many walk of whom I have
told you often and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose
God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly things. For our conversation is in heaven,
for whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like
unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is
able even to subdue all things unto himself. You may remember on last Friday
we spoke on the previous three verses to this 18th verse and
verse 17 spoke these words, Brethren, be followers together of me and
mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensemble. So he's testifying of himself
and the example that he set and a very clear example as we read
through the epistles that he wrote and big and gracious instruction
but then verse 18 speaks then of not those who follow the Apostle
Paul but those who follow their own way and these are the words
for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you
even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ
So we have really the two types of people. Those who are true
followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and following the example that
Paul gives to us. And on the other hand, those
who have no desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and to
follow his great and wonderful example and also the example
that Paul sets before us. And he tells us then that there
are many that walk, of whom I have told you often, and now today
even weeping. It wasn't something that the
Apostle was pleased about, it was something the Apostle was
sad about. And we should be sad today about
those who do not follow the way of Jesus, who are more concerned
to follow their own lives and their own way. And that's why
We have this statement that they are the enemies of the cross
of Christ. Sad, isn't it, to be an enemy
of the cross of Christ? On the other hand, as we read,
it's a great blessing to be a friend of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
we don't want to be an enemy. And so the apostle tells us then,
those who are enemies, what's the result? What's the end? Whose
end is destruction. They won't be found in glory
at last. No, they will be found in that
terrible place of hell eternally. Whose end is destruction. Then he describes it a little
bit more, whose God is their belly. That means that all they're
concerned about is natural food. And the Word of God speaks about
those who are gluttons, those who are more concerned about
natural food than they are about spiritual food. Gluttons and
drunkards are spoken against of course in the word of God
and so he tells us those who are fitted or whose end is destruction
whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame
who mind earthly things well by the grace of God we trust
that we don't just mind earthly things we are of course living
on the earth, and we do have to do with earthly things, but
the importance is that earthly things are not our God. We don't
give our life over to serving earthly things, but may we give
our life over to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. And we know how
many we see today who are content to glory in their shame, in the
immodest society, the immoral society in which we live today. How true that is. People glory
in their shame. Well what a mercy it is if we
glory in the Lord and glory in what He has done and glory in
what He has said. That's our blessing and that's
our favour. And so the Apostle when he wrote to
the Romans and chapter 16 and verse 18 this is what we read
for they are such that serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but
their own belly and by good works and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple it's just a mockery it's just hypocrisy
they're not true believers. But there are today, sadly, those
who do pretend to be Christians, but in reality they are not. No, they're more concerned about
their own lives, what they're going to do, what they're going
to say, what they're going to eat, what they're going to drink, and they're
content to rely upon their own, what they esteem as good works.
But we know, of course, that good works will never get us
to heaven. It's only the blessed favor of faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. And so the Apostle goes on then
to tell us these wonderful words, for our conversation is in heaven. That means we speak about the
things of God. When we meet, we speak about
the things of God. We live in a sad day, don't we
really? Many people seem only concerned about speaking about
the things of time, the things that they're doing in the world,
the success they've had in the world. Whereas here the Apostle
is able to say, and we shouldn't think that he says it because
of pride, he says it because of what God's done for him, and
as we read earlier in this Philippians, he lists that very carefully
and very clearly as to what he was and now what he is. by the
grace of God for our conversation is in heaven. From whence also
we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, what
a mercy and what a blessing it is if today we find ourselves
looking to Jesus, looking unto Jesus, looking to Him as our
great and glorious Saviour, that One who has wonderfully come
into this sinful world died that sin atoning death that we might
live and so what a favor to be found a companion with the Apostle
Paul and be able to say for our conversation is in heaven from
whence also we look for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ we should
take notice of such a expressions and recognize the relevance and
the importance of them, because they are important for us today. And then he goes and speaks about
the Savior, the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. This is what he
says in verse 21, who shall change our vile body. The Apostle never
had any high estimation of himself. As we know in earlier chapters,
he's spoken about as the chief of sinners, the worst sinner
and less than least of all saints. He never had a high opinion of
himself and therefore he's going to be able to tell us about his
vile body. Who shall change our vile body? And it is a blessing when God
shows us we're not quite as good as we might think we are. We
are in many ways in the same position of have a vile body. And yet the day will come when
the Saviour will change our vile body, that it may be fashioned
like unto His glorious body. That of course means the risen
body, the resurrected body. It's a wonderful thought. It's
an amazing prospect, isn't it, for the Church of God, which
will change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto
his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is
able even to subdue all things unto himself. What a blessing
it is when our sins are subdued and we seek truly that fellowship
and communion and union with the Lord Jesus Christ, because
these things don't speak of the things of time, they speak of
the things of eternity and again when the apostle wrote to the
Hebrews he said for as much then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same
that through death he might destroy him they had the power of death
that is the devil and how wonderful it is to know the devil has no
power beyond that which is permitted by the Saviour. Because the Lord
Jesus has conquered. He conquered Satan when he died
upon that cross at Calvary. We read together those verses
really in the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians under
chapter 15. It's a long chapter as you probably
know. We didn't read it all. But just
read a couple of earlier verses which we didn't read, and that's
verse 26, it says, The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,
for he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all
things are put under him, it is manifest that he is accepted,
which did put all things under him and when all things shall
be subdued under him then shall the Son also himself be subject
unto him that put all things under him that God may be all
and in all. And then coming on to the verses
that we actually read together we see that he speaks here about
The first man, Adam, who as we know was the person that brought
that original sin into the world, he and his wife through partaking
of that forbidden fruit. And yet we're thankful the Lord
Jesus Christ came and was made a quickening spirit, that means
one who made, who gives spiritual life and what a wonderful blessing
that is. And then as we read on, read
about the situation which will occur at the end of time. He
says, Behold, I show you a mystery which we shall not all see, but
we shall all be changed. Those who have died previously
will be raised from the dead, those true believers, incorruptible. And those who are on the earth,
believers, will be caught up to be with Christ in the heavens
forever. And so we're told, in a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption. To think of that's a wonderful
thought, isn't it? That you and I in our sinful
bodies will be changed, and we will have an incorruptible body
which will never die. we shall be forever with the
Lord. This mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying, that is written,
death is followed up in victory, what a victory that will be.
O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin, The strength of sin is the law, but
thanks be to God, and this is a glorious verse, thanks be to
God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. There's our rest. There's our
hope. And what a good hope it is in
what Christ has done. And he therefore finally draws
a conclusion and says, therefore, And it really refers to the whole
of the chapter. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye, us today, steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not
in vain in the Lord. What a wonderful conclusion really
then to this third chapter where he says who shall change our
vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all
things unto himself. Amen.