introduction

Last week, in case you missed it, we began to look at Philippians together.  The two main points that I tried to make from the text were:

1.    In Philippians we see in Paul’s actions, hear in his language, and feel in his relationships an altogether unnatural or abnormal freedom.  It is a freedom that seems awfully strange to most people.

It is because of this freedom that Paul believes that his imprisonment and beatings and persecution are for His good and the good of others (1:12-14). 

It is because of this freedom that Paul considers death gain (1:21).

It is because of this freedom that Paul is afraid of no man (1:28). 

It is because of this freedom that Paul is truly humble, considering others more significant than himself and looking to their needs as well as his own (2:3-4). 

It is because of this freedom that Paul has let go of the world (all of chapter 3). 

It is because of this freedom that Paul has no reason for anxiety (4:6). 

And it is because of this freedom that Paul is content in times of plenty and poverty (4:11-12). 

2.    The source of Paul’s freedom was the gospel!

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-  ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (3:8-11).

It is because of the freedom that he found in the gospel that Paul was able to think and speak and live the way that he did.  Knowing that he was united with Christ in His death and resurrection, by grace and through faith, and that he was eternally at peace with God gave Paul a freedom that few know. 

Again, very simply, last week we looked, through the lens of Philippians, at the unmistakable fact that Paul lived his life in a freedom found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today, we were going to look at four specific and primary manifestations of that freedom in his letter to the Philippians: spiritual maturity, joy, unity, and contentment.  However, I realized yesterday as I was finishing up my sermon that there was no way that I was going to get through all of it in one sermon.  If you’re interested in the rest of the sermon I’d be happy to email it to you, but for time’s sake, we’re only going to focus on the first (and probably the most significant) aspect of gospel freedom in Philippians: spiritual maturity. 

Before we really dig in: this sermon is entitled, “Grace for Grace from Philippians”.  As we talk about the picture of spiritual maturity that’s painted for us in Philippians, some of the stuff might seem a bit hard.  You may find yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed or even helpless.  I’ll address this in a bit more depth in a few minutes.  Here, however, I want you to have in mind the simple fact that, despite the difficulty off all of this, it truly is grace from God.  Please don’t miss this.  Again, I’ll explain why in a bit.   

Freedom in the Gospel for Spiritual Maturity

We’re going to start by looking at the spiritual maturity of Paul and that to which he calls the Philippians. 

So what is spiritual maturity?

Paul gives us a good definition of spiritual maturity right at the beginning of his letter.  He informs the Philippians that he is “sure that he [God] who began a good work in [them] will bring it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6).  Spiritual maturity, then, is best understood as a work of God.  Specifically, it is a work of God to complete the good work that He begins in all believers at their conversion.  Or, more simply, spiritual maturity is what happens in believers when God works in them to make them more like Jesus. 

A little later in the letter we learn a bit more about the nature and source of spiritual maturity.  In 2:12-13 we learn that God brings about spiritual maturity in Christians by working together with them.  “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,  ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

In other words, there is a kind of partnership between God and Christians when it comes to spiritual maturity.  For our part, we must work hard, with fear and trembling (2:12).  For God’s part, He grants Christians the desire and strength to obey His commands.  We obey, but God gives us the desire and strength to do so. 

On an important side note, without pressing this too far beyond the scope of this message, I want to make a quick note about the “fear and trembling” of 2:12.  What Paul does not mean here is that the Philippians should always be afraid that they might not be saved.  He does not mean that there should be constant anxiety about whether or not they are acceptable to God.  What he does mean is that there should be a sense of holy awe and humility.  Christians are called to live confidently, not in their own power, but in Christ’s which is at work in us.  Yet, simultaneously, Christians are called to live with a kind of fear and trembling as an acknowledgement of God’s holiness and our utter unworthiness.

The bottom line here is that just like new born babies have a long way to go towards physical and emotional maturity, born again Christians have a long way to go towards spiritual maturity.  Similarly, just as we would be rightly concerned if a newborn baby fails to mature, we are right to be concerned if born again Christians fail to mature.

We’ve already seen Paul’s definition of spiritual maturity and that spiritual maturity is the fruit of freedom in the gospel.  So, what does spiritual maturity look like?  Let’s look at some of what Paul wrote to get a feel for this.

Philippians 1:9-11

He writes to them, “It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (1:9-11). 

1.    Abounding love.  We know that this is at the very center of spiritual maturity.  All of Scripture bears witness to this.  Jesus Himself could not have made this any more plain, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment.  ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).  Abounding love is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of one who is truly spiritually mature (see 1 John as well).

2.    Knowledge and discernment (for the purpose of approving what is excellent or knowing what’s right).  The context of the passage makes plain that this is not talking about being smart or intelligent.  Most of the smartest people that I know are the least spiritually mature.  Rather, it is talking about the ability to know what is right, or pleasing to God, in any given situation.  Another name for this is wisdom.  What Paul’s getting at here is that he wants the Philippians to be spiritually mature.  Therefore, he wants them to ooze love and to ooze it in ways that honor God.

3.    Being pure and blameless (or filled with the fruit of righteousness).  You can’t be spiritually mature, Paul says, if you don’t fight viciously against the sin that lives in you.  Paul wants the Philippians to fight for purity and holiness.  We must do so as well.

4.    Doing all things for the glory and praise of God.  What is the end of all of this?  Have you ever stopped to wonder what all of this is about?  Have you ever asked yourself why should I bother to pursue these things?  Have you ever felt yourself trying to follow Jesus for reasons that you know aren’t quite right; to look good, to earn God’s favor, to please people, etc?  Paul tells us that both the aim and motivation for all who are truly spiritually mature is the glory and praise of God!

Please remember that these are things that “come through Jesus Christ”, but they are also things that we are called to work at with fear and trembling.  We’re going to look at several other aspects of spiritual maturity in Philippians, but before we do, please commit yourselves to evaluating yourselves in light of the Word of God, not the person next to you or your pastor or anyone else.  Ask God, as we continue looking at these verses, to give you the will and strength to pursue and do these things.  These are not theoretical or hypothetical suggestions; they are the description of what God is doing in all who are in His Son, Jesus.

Philippians 1:21-25

Another important passage in Philippians regarding spiritual maturity is found in Philippians 1:21-25.  In this section we see Paul describing his own spiritual maturity.  “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  ²³ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.  ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith.”

1.    To live is Christ (spending his life pursuing the things of Christ; primarily the spreading of the gospel).  Consider the selflessness of Paul here.  When you walk into a room, is your first thought whether you are going to feel comfortable or appreciated or have your needs met; or is it how are you going to be able to help everyone else in the room feel comfortable and appreciated and have their needs met?  Paul’s just said that he’s willing to stay out of heaven for a bit longer in order to bless those around him!  Paul tells the Philippians that life for him is about honoring Christ; it’s about proclaiming Christ; it’s about being a means of Christ’s grace.

2.    To die is gain (being with Christ for eternity is the highest promise and reward for all Christ-followers).  This is one of the primary marks of spiritual maturity.  Be clear on this: Paul’s not talking about death as gain in order to avoid all the hardships that he’s dealing with.  He’s not primarily concerned with escaping this life at all.  For Paul, and all spiritually mature people, death is gain because it means being with Christ for ever.

Philippians 1:27-30

In another important section on spiritual maturity Paul admonishes the Philippians to press on toward maturity. 

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,  ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.  ²⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,  ³⁰ engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (1:27-30).

1.    Living lives worthy of or consistent with the gospel.  We all know what this means on many levels.  If President Obama delivered the State of the Union address in a t-shirt it would seem inconsistent with his office.  If our doctor came in to our appointment with ripped jeans and unkempt hair we’d think it unprofessional.  If a fireman showed up to put out a fire at our house and he was so out of shape that he couldn’t climb a latter we’d call this inconsistent with his position.  In the same way, Paul tells the Philippians to live in a manner that is consistent with or worthy of their belief in the gospel. 

The simple fact is, as we grow in spiritual maturity we’ll grow in our appreciation of the fact that we represent another.  We are Christ’s ambassadors.  Our lives speak to the person and work and worth of Jesus.  Paul tells the Philippians to make sure that others think well of and truthfully about Jesus because of their actions.  Paul tells the Philippians to make sure that they all that they think and feel and do is consistent with their claim to believe in an infinitely glorious God, their own sinfulness, the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, and the gift of faith that unites them to Christ.

2.    Standing firm in one spirit and with one mind.  I had intended to go much further into this one in my sermon.  Here I’ll simply say this; one of the greatest tricks/tactics of the devil is to distract the Church by causing divisions between Christians (in our marriages or homes or at church or among denominations).  When we are focused on having our preferences or getting our way or fighting over small matters, Satan wins.  When we spend our energy fighting amongst ourselves we are not living lives worthy of the gospel and God is dishonored.  Paul admonishes the Philippians to live in the freedom of the gospel and therefore to press on toward spiritual maturity and therefore to be of one mind and one spirit with one another.  We too must strive to be at peace with one another.

3.    Not afraid of God’s enemies.  We talked about this one last week.  Paul encouraged the Philippians to fear no man.  The reason for this is the same for us: because God is for us.  Armed with the knowledge that we have in the gospel we need fear no man.

4.    Suffering for Christ.  Finally, in this passage, we see that spiritual maturity means suffering and suffering well.  When we follow Christ in a manner worthy of our calling we will inevitably face persecution and hardship.  If we’re not suffering persecution and hardship, it’s probably because we’re not very spiritually mature.  Think back over the list that we’ve got so far, play it back in your head, do you really think that it would be possible to live like that and not anger or upset or offend people? 

Further, it’s not just that we will suffer, its that we must suffer well.  In our suffering we are most able to demonstrate the greatness of Jesus.  When the world would despair we trust.  When others abandon faith we worship.  A mature Christian understands that the good purposes of God are no less a part of our times of suffering than our times of joy and happiness.  Spiritual maturity means suffering and suffering well according to Paul. 

Philippians 2:14-16

Another remarkable passage in which Paul encourages the Philippians toward spiritual maturity is found in 2:14-16: “Do all things without grumbling or questioning,  ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

1.    An absence of grumbling or questioning.  Paul says to the Philippians, on the heels of his command that they work out their salvation with fear and trembling, that they are to do all things without grumbling or questioning.  Another translation renders it, “complaining or disputing”.  The point is simple: the freedom that we have in the gospel kills grumbling.  Do you find yourself focusing on what’s wrong with a plan or ministry?  Do you find yourself complaining (inwardly or outwardly) when others make (non-sinful) decisions that affect you?  Do you tend to question others motives or choices?  If so, press on toward spiritual maturity.  Fight against this in the strength of Jesus Christ. 

2.    Blamelessness and innocence. 

3.    Standing out from the world.

We’ve already touched on each of these two aspects of spiritual maturity.  As we mature we will grow in holiness and brightness.  We will be different and so we will look different. 

4.    Holding fast to the word of life.  Paul tells the Philippians that they should do all things without grumbling or questioning so that they will be blameless and innocent, stand out from the world, and hold fast to the word of life.  There is a connection here between grumbling and questioning and holding fast to the word of life.  I think he means two things: First, that if we’re grumbling and questioning we cannot hold fast to the gospel (word of life).  We simply can’t love and live by the gospel when we’re complaining.  Second, I think he means that by holding on to the gospel we will not grumble or question.  That is, there is something in a spiritually mature understanding of the gospel that kills discontentment (this is another area that I was going to spend a lot of time on, but can’t). 

The main point here is that we must cling to the gospel (word of life).  It must, as we saw last week, be the lens that we look through, the air we breathe, and the foundation that we build all of our lives on.

Philippians 3:3-17

Then, in one of the most significant statements on spiritual maturity in the NT, Paul gets a bit autobiographical. 

We are the real circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh-  ⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:  ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;  ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless.  ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ  ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-  ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  ¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.  ¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Philippians 3:3-17).

1.    Worship God (by the Spirit of God) and glory in Christ Jesus.  The idea here is contrast for Paul.  Rather than serving in their own power and boasting in themselves (as do non-believers), spiritually mature Christians serve (that’s probably a better translation than “worship”) God in the power of the Spirit and boast in Jesus.  Paul calls the Philippians to live in contrast to the unbelieving Jews and pagans by devoting themselves wholly to God in Christ Jesus. 

2.    Put no confidence in the flesh.  This point flows directly from the previous one.  Paul notes that because of the Philippians’ relationship with God (their right service to God and confidence in Christ), they must recognize that they are wholly dependant on God.  When the Philippians (and us) realize this, there is no room for trusting in their own strength or abilities.  All good things come from God.  Those who are spiritually mature know and live by this truth.

3.    All things are loss and trash compared to knowing Christ Jesus.  This is a statement of comparison.  Paul is not telling the Philippians that he hates everything from his past or that everything that he’s ever experienced has been worthless.  Instead, he’s explaining to the Philippians that Jesus alone is infinitely glorious and infinitely valuable.  Therefore, by contrast, everything else is infinitely less glorious and valuable.  Again, those who are spiritually mature grow to see the surpassing worth of Jesus and relative worthlessness of all other things.

4.    Having righteous heroes.  In the last verse of this section of Scripture Paul calls the Philippians to imitate Paul and all who live like Paul.  In other words, Paul is telling the Philippians to imitate those who are spiritually mature.  I’d like all of you to see something two things here: 1) Spiritually mature people have spiritually mature heroes.  Following Jesus can be very difficult and confusing.  If we want to avoid unnecessary pitfalls we’ll look carefully and regularly at how older and more mature Christians apply the Word of God in specific life situations; and 2) The people that we look up to saw a lot about what we think of Jesus and how seriously we take our faith. 

Philippians 4:8-9

The last verse that we’re going to look at this morning is Philippians 4:8-9. 

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (4:8-9).

Having a mind fixed on true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy things.  It can be so easy to allow our minds to be filed up with all kinds of stuff.  Paul knew this was a possibility for the Philippians 2000 years ago and it is no less a possibility today.  He warns and challenges the Philippians to take charge of the things that they allow into their minds.  Stuff gets in there, for the most part, because we let it.  Spiritually mature Christians take captive all that they allow to enter and remain in their minds.  Spiritually mature Christians focus on true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy things. 

Conclusion

I imagine that the kind of freedom that we’ve talked about over the past two weeks sounds appealing to many of you.  I also imagine that it sounds rather illusive (or unattainable) to many of you.  That is, I imagine that many of you would very much like to live in this kind of freedom on a day to day basis, but can’t imagine being strong enough to make it happen. 

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:12 that he’s found the secret to all of this.  “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”  In other words, Paul tells us here that he’s found the key to living in the kind of freedom that we’ve been talking about. 

He tells us what that secret is in the very next verse, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (4:13).  Paul tells us that this freedom (and much more) is found only by working in Christ’s strength (or the strength that Jesus provides). 

But some of you might say, “Sounds great, but how do I work in Jesus’ strength?” 

We, as Christians, find the freedom of God in the strength of Jesus through the grace of God.  And we find the grace of God primarily in the places that He’s said it will be: The teaching of the Word, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, in prayer for one another, worship, church discipline, giving, spiritual gifts, fellowship, evangelism, and in personal ministry to individuals (this list was taken from Wayne Grudem’s “Systematic Theology”).

And so, if you find yourself longing for the kind of freedom and maturity portrayed and promised in Philippians, lean not on your own understanding or might, but work hard, spend yourself, in the strength that Jesus provides according to the means that He provides.  My prayer is that this has been grace for Grace from Philippians.