Philippians 3:17-21 “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Introduction: The imitation we all need
We live in a world filled with influencers. Every day, we are each being shaped – consciously and unconsciously – by the people we follow. Whether it’s celebrities, politicians, pastors, or peers, the examples we watch inevitably shape our desires, choices, and identities. Imitation is hard-wired into human nature. Paul understood this truth long before social media ever existed. He knew that spiritual growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens through relationships. It happens through example. Throughwatching and following others who are following Christ. That’s why Paul says in Philippians 3:17: “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”
This isn’t pride or arrogance – it’s spiritual leadership. Paul is saying, “If you want to grow in Christ, look at how I live – and find others who are walking the same path.” In doing so, he gives us a powerful truth: God uses people to shape people. Let’s unpack three truths from this verse about godly imitation.
“Join together” – A community pursuit
Paul begins with the phrase, “Join together…” This is not a private command. It’s a collective invitation. The Christian journey was never meant to be walked alone. From start to finish, the Bible presents faith as a shared journey. The Greek word used here (symmimetai) is translated as “join in imitating.” It’s plural – addressed to the whole church. Paul is inviting the Philippians to corporately imitate godly examples, not in isolation, but in community. Why is this so important? Because spiritual growth is not just about information – it’s about transformation through imitation. And imitation happens best in relationships.
You learn to pray by praying with others. You learn to serve by watching people serve. You learn to forgive, to love, to persevere – by walking alongside people who model those things. Too many Christians try to grow in isolation. They read books, attend services, and consume teaching – but they’re not walking with other believers. Paul says: Don’t go it alone. Join together. Follow the example of mature believers in your community. This is why small groups, discipleship relationships, and mentoring are so vital in the church. You don’t grow by merely hearing about Christ – you grow by watching Him reflected in the lives of His people.
“In following my example” – The role of spiritual models
Some people might feel uncomfortable with Paul’s statement: “Follow my example.” Isn’t that a bit self-promoting? Not at all. In fact, it’s deeply biblical. Paul isn’t saying, “I’m perfect.” Just a few verses earlier (v.12), he admitted he hadn’t yet “taken hold” of everything. But he’s saying, “I’m pursuing Christ. Follow my direction, follow my pattern, and you’ll grow too.” Elsewhere, Paul makes the same appeal:
- “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)
- “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me – put it into practice.” (Philippians 4:9)
- “You became imitators of us and of the Lord…” (1 Thessalonians 1:6)
This is the biblical model of discipleship. We learn Christ by imitating those who are imitating Christ. We’re not called to perfection, but to progress – and godly leaders help point the way. This raises a question for each of us:
Who are you following? Are there mature believers in your life whose example you’re watching and learning from? Do you have mentors, spiritual fathers or mothers, people who challenge and encourage you? If not, it’s time to seek them out. Ask God to bring into your life those whose walk can strengthen your own. It also raises another question:
Who is following you? Whether you realise it or not, someone is watching your example. What are they learning from you about humility, prayer, integrity, and love? As we grow in maturity, we should not only follow examples – we should become them. Paul wasn’t special – he was simply available, intentional, and Christ-centred. You can be the same.
“Keep your eyes on those who live as we do” – Finding the right examples
Paul expands the command beyond himself: “Keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” He’s saying, “I’m not the only one. There are others living faithfully. Watch them. Learn from them. Let their example shape you.” This is incredibly important. We need multiple models of faith. No single person reflects the fullness of Christ, but together, we form a fuller picture.
In every healthy church, there should be people – men and women, young and old – who are living lives worthy of imitation. People who don’t just know the truth but embody it. People who are growing, not perfect. People who radiate joy, compassion, and conviction. Paul says, “Keep your eyes on them.” Be watchful. Be intentional. Let yourself be discipled by watching their example.
This also implies that we must be discerning about who we follow. The world is full of loud voices, but not all are trustworthy. Just because someone has a platform doesn’t mean they have character. Just because someone teaches well doesn’t mean they live well. Paul says: “Watch the people whose lives match the gospel. Follow the ones who live like we do – who model Christ.”
Philippians 3:17 gives us a vision for spiritual growth that is deeply relational and rooted in community. It reminds us that:
- We grow best together, not alone.
- God gives us examples to follow, so we can learn how to live the faith.
- We are called to watch carefully, imitate wisely, and become examples ourselves.
So let me ask you:
- Who are you watching?
- Who are you walking with?
- Who are you becoming?
God calls us to follow Him by following others who are faithfully walking in His steps. Let us join together in imitating those who walk with Christ – and let us strive to become the kind of people whose lives are worth imitating.
Enemies of the Cross – A sorrowful warning (v.18)
In verse 17, Paul encouraged the Philippians to imitate godly examples – those who live in accordance with the gospel of Christ. But now, in verse 18, he offers a sharp contrast. There are some, he says, who do not walk in the same manner. They are not examples to follow – but warnings to heed. This next verse is deeply emotional and sobering: “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:18)
Paul is not speaking in anger, but in anguish. This is a pastoral cry, not a theological debate. His heart is breaking – not only because some have turned from the truth, but because their lives are leading others astray. Let’s look closely at what this verse teaches us about spiritual discernment, gospel fidelity, and the dangers of abandoning the way of the cross.
“As I have often told you…” – A repeated warning
Paul begins by reminding the Philippians that this is not the first time he has addressed the issue. “As I have often told you before…” These are not new concerns. Paul has consistently warned the church about people who distort the gospel, and he repeats the warning here. This teaches us something critical: some truths need to be repeated. We often grow weary of hearing the same message, but spiritual health depends on constant reminders of the dangers around us.
Like a shepherd who never tires of warning his sheep about the wolves, Paul returns again and again to this concern. Why? Because these enemies of the cross are not far away. They are nearby. Their influence is real. Their message sounds convincing. False teaching and false living are not just external threats – they often rise from within the community of faith. This is why we must remain vigilant, returning again and again to the true gospel.
“And now tell you again even with tears…” – A heart of compassion
Perhaps the most striking part of this verse is the phrase, “even with tears.” Paul does not speak these words with a clenched fist, but with a broken heart. He is not gloating over the downfall of others. He is not puffed up in self-righteousness. His tone is not cold or calculating – it is weeping. This is what makes Paul’s warning so powerful. It flows from deep sorrow, not judgmental superiority. These tears show us his pastoral heart – a heart that grieves over those who have rejected the truth and endangered others in the process.
This is important for us to understand: Truth and tears go together in gospel ministry. We must be bold in speaking the truth, but we must also be broken-hearted over those who reject it. Truth without love hardens. Love without truth deceives. But truth with love – truth spoken with tears – mirrors the very heart of Christ. Let us ask ourselves: Do we speak the truth with compassion? Do we grieve over those who wander from the gospel? Or have we become indifferent – or even smug – in the face of their lostness
“Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ…” – A devastatingcontrast
Here is Paul’s warning in plain terms: “Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Notice carefully – he does not say they are enemies of religion, or enemies of morality, or even enemies of Christ in name. He says they are enemies of the cross. This is crucial. What does it mean to be an enemy of the cross? The cross represents:
- Sacrifice: Jesus giving His life for sinners.
- Grace: Salvation not by works, but by the blood of Christ.
- Humility: The Son of God humbling Himself to the point of death.
- Repentance: A call to die to self and live to God.
To be an enemy of the cross, then, is to reject this message. It is to oppose the way of self-denial, grace, and surrender. It is to promote a message of self-indulgence, self-righteousness, or self-salvation. Many commentators believe Paul is referring here to two kinds of people:
Legalists– Those who reject the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and try to earn salvation through works (like the Judaizers Paul warned about earlier in chapter 3).
Libertines– Those who claim to follow Christ but live in open rebellion, indulging the flesh and denying the need for holiness.
Both are enemies of the cross – because both distort the gospel. One denies the sufficiency of grace. The other denies the call to obedience. One adds to the cross. The other mocks it.
In our time, we see the same threats:
- Some preach a gospel of performance – do more, try harder, be good enough.
- Others preach a gospel of permissiveness – God loves you, so do whatever feels right.
But the true gospel says: Come and die. Be forgiven. Be made new. Follow Jesus.
Philippians 3:18 reminds us that we live in a spiritual battlefield. Not everyone who claims Christ truly follows Him. There are many who walk in ways that oppose the cross, and their influence is real.
But Paul’s example shows us how to respond:
- With truth – we must expose error and call people back to the gospel.
- With tears – we must speak with compassion, not condemnation
- With discernment – we must be wise in who we imitate and follow.
- With hope – because the cross still saves, still transforms, and still calls.
As we continue in this passage, Paul will point us to the ultimate hope – the return of Christ and the glory to come. But for now, let us hear the warning with open hearts and tearful resolve.
Our true home and ultimate hope (vv.19–21)
Having warned with tears about those who live as enemies of the cross in verse 18, Paul now describes their lifestyle and destiny with sobering clarity: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” (v.19) This verse provides a four-fold profile of the spiritually lost – those who may appear religious or respectable, but whose lives are shaped by self and not by Christ.
“Their destiny is destruction”
The final end of those who reject the cross is ruin. Paul is not exaggerating or being dramatic. He is describing eternal separation from God – not simply physical death, but spiritual condemnation. Paul’s warning is clear: it matters how we live. It matters whom we follow. It matters whether our lives are shaped by the cross or opposed to it.
“Their god is their stomach”
This phrase refers not only to physical appetites, but to unrestrained desires of every kind. To make a god of the stomach is to serve one’s own cravings – whether for food, pleasure, wealth, power, or recognition. Paul is highlighting a life governed by self-indulgence, not self-denial. These individuals worship comfort, not Christ. Their desires dictate their choices.
“Their glory is in their shame”
In other words, they boast about what they should be ashamed of. What the Bible calls sinful, they call liberating. What God condemns, they celebrate. This is more than moral failure – it is moral inversion.
This is painfully relevant in today’s world. Many take pride in what dishonours God. But this is not new. Paul saw it in the Roman world. We see it in ours. And the church must respond not by retreating into silence or self-righteousness, but by faithfully proclaiming the truth and living lives of holiness.
“Their mind is set on earthly things”
This is the root issue. Their minds – hearts, values, priorities – are fixated on the things of this world. They measure success by material gain, approval by popularity, and purpose by personal happiness. They live with no reference to eternity, no awareness of God’s judgment or presence, and no hunger for spiritual transformation. This is the defining feature of those who are enemies of the cross: they are earthbound. Life is about the here and now. The eternal is ignored, if not rejected.
A radical reorientation: “But our citizenship is in heaven” (v.20)
Paul now makes a dramatic turn – from those whose minds are fixed on the earth to those whose identity is rooted in heaven. “But our citizenship is in heaven.” This is one of the most powerful identity statements in the entire New Testament. Paul reminds the Philippians – and us – that we do not ultimately belong to this world. Our truest allegiance, our deepest loyalty, and our eternal identity is not found in a nation, culture, or earthly system. It is found in heaven.
This statement would have carried special significance for the Philippians. As residents of a Roman colony, they were proud of their Roman citizenship – even though they lived far from Rome itself. Their culture, laws, language, and dress reflected their Roman identity. Paul uses this as an analogy: just as Philippians were Roman citizens living abroad, we are heavenly citizens living on earth. Our conduct, our values, our loyalties – everything about us – should reflect our heavenly home.
This truth challenges us to evaluate our priorities:
- Do we live like citizens of heaven?
- Do our goals, relationships, and decisions reflect eternal realities?
- Or are we more influenced by culture than by Christ?
Being a citizen of heaven means we live as ambassadors on earth. We represent the interests of our King, speak the language of grace, and live with the values of the kingdom of God.
A joyful anticipation: “And we eagerly await a Saviour from there…” (v.20b)
Paul continues: “… And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” As citizens of heaven, we don’t just look back to the cross – we look forward to the return of our King. Our hope is not grounded in human progress or political reform. It is anchored in the promise thatJesus is coming again. This eager waiting is not passive. It is hopeful, joyful, and active. It shapes how we live now. We live in expectation – not fear or despair – because the One who saved us is the One who will return to complete our redemption. This contrasts powerfully with those described in verse 19. While their destiny is destruction, our destiny is transformation. While their minds are set on earth, ours are lifted to heaven. We live not for what is fading, but for what is eternal.
A glorious transformation: “Who… will transform our lowly bodies…” (v.21)
Paul ends this passage with a breathtaking promise: “…who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” This is the final hope of every believer. When Christ returns, He will not only renew the world – He will renew us. Our frail, mortal, perishable bodies will be transformed to be like His resurrected body – immortal, glorious, and fit for eternity. The same power that created the universe and upholds all things will accomplish this. Jesus will subdue everything under His authority. No force of sin, death, or decay will resist Him. He will bring it all into submission – and in doing so, He will complete the salvation He began in us.
This promise is intensely personal and profoundly comforting:
- For those who suffer physically, it offers the hope of healing.
- For those who battle sin, it offers the hope of victory.
- For those who mourn, it offers the hope of resurrection.
This is not myth or metaphor. It is the future reality for all who belong to Christ.
Conclusion:
In this passage, Paul calls the church to live according to their true identity and future destiny. He contrasts the enemies of the cross – whose lives are shaped by earthly desires – with the citizens of heaven, whose hope is anchored in Christ’s return.
So how then should we live in light of this?
- With discernment– knowing that not all who claim Christ follow Him.
- With integrity– letting our lives reflect our heavenly citizenship.
- With anticipation– looking forward to Christ’s return with hope.
- With perseverance– standing firm as we await final transformation.
Our hope is not in this world. Our Saviour is coming. And when He comes, everything broken will be made whole, everything lowly will be lifted, and we will be made like Him. Let us live each day as citizens of heaven – faithful, joyful, and steadfast – until the day He comes again.