We imitate those people that we want to be most like. Christians should run with with godly Christians and learn to follow their example. Follow us at Bibleguy.org

1. Be Careful Who You Run With!
Philippians 3:17-4:1

2. Philippians 3:17–4:1 (ESV)
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your
eyes on those who walk according to the
example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I
have often told you and now tell you even with
tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly,
and they glory in their shame, with minds set on
earthly things.

3. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it
we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who
will transform our lowly body to be like his
glorious body, by the power that enables him
even to subject all things to himself. 1 Therefore,
my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy
and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my
beloved.

4. Imitate Godly People

5. Skilled people have emulated skilled
people
To be a great golfer emulate a great golfer.
To be a great baseball player emulate a great baseball
player.
To be a great pianist emulate a great pianist.
Emulate their talent, not their life or character.
Mickey Mantle
Tiger Woods

6. Imitate Runners of the Faith
17 Brothers, join in
imitating me, and keep
your eyes on those who
walk according to the
example you have in us.
• 1 Cor. 11:1 Be imitators
of me, as I am of Christ.
• “Walk” – Christian
behavior, How they live
the faith.

7. Who Should We Imitate?
• Christ
• Apostles and the disciples
• People that have consistently run the race of
faith:
– Positive Bible Characters
– Those we know
– Historical figures: Agustin, Luther, Judson, Carey,
Ten Boom, Robert E. Lee, Daniel Webster,

8. Even the best have flaws
• Peter, Paul, David, Noah, Abraham, Joseph,
etc.
• Emulate the positive and learn from their
weaknesses.
• Look for positive moral and faith attributes.
• In every race we pull muscles, fall down, get
distracted, but we must get back in the race
and finish our race.

9. Some People Will Trip You
18 For many, of whom I
have often told you and
now tell you even with
tears, walk as enemies of
the cross of Christ.
• Types of enemies:
– Antagonists to the Cross
• Atheist, agnostics, other
religions, etc.
• They outwardly oppose
Christianity
– Non-Christians that
simply influence away
from the cross.
– Those in the church that
place obstacles in the
path of the runners.

10. Enemies – Citizens of the Earth
19 Their end is destruction,
their god is their belly, and
they glory in their shame,
with minds set on earthly
things.
• Their finish line –
destruction.
• Their god – “belly”:
appetite: pleasure,
possessions, position.
• They brag about doing
things disgraceful to
God.
• Thoughts are on things
of the earth.

11. We are citizens of heaven
20 But our citizenship is in
heaven, and from it we
await a Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ,
• “Citizenship” πολίτευμα
• Finish line – heaven
• The Lord Jesus Christ is
coming from heaven to
save us from the
destruction of this
world the people of this
world make their god.

12. We will be the perfect athlete
21 who will transform our
lowly body to be like his
glorious body, by the
power that enables him
even to subject all things
to himself.
• Our present body is
inadequate for the race.
• But Christ will transform
it to be a body that
endures the race.
• By the same power that
he uses to transform all
things to himself.

14. What is the trophy for running?
1 Therefore, my brothers,
whom I love and long for,
my joy and crown, stand
firm thus in the Lord, my
beloved.
• “Crown” στέφανος – a
wreath, victors crown.
The saved, those in the
race are Paul’s crown.
• “Stand firm in the Lord”
– Let no one shake you
from the faith. Let
nothing in this world
distract you from the
race.
1 Thess. 2:19–20 19 For what is
our hope or joy or crown of
boasting before our Lord Jesus
at his coming? Is it not you? 20
For you are our glory and joy.