Stand Firm in the Lord (1)

Paul now comes full circle and returns to his call in chapter 1:27 where he encouraged us to stand firm and live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, to live as citizens of heaven. We do so by standing firm in the one Spirit, contending together for our faith, being fearless, believing in and suffering for Christ. In chapter 2 he explained that we live as kingdom citizens by having the same mind and heart as Christ. In humility, we count others more significant, more important than ourselves and we look out to the interests of others. We follow the example of Christ who emptied himself, gave up his rights in self-sacrificing love, and became a slave to save us. 

Then, Paul exhorted us as children of God to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, to do all things without grumbling or arguing so that we can be pure and blameless, and thus shine like lights in the world. We do so by holding firmly to the word of life; in other words, stand firm in the Lord. Next, he presented Timothy and Epaphroditus as living examples of men who lived as kingdom citizens. In chapter 3, using himself as an example, Paul challenged us to count everything and all things a loss, as garbage in order to gain Christ, know Him fully, and become like Him. We are running a race pursuing Christ. In this race we take a hold of Christ, we hold on to him and we live up to who we are in Him, citizens of heaven. This is no future dream or ideal. This is an ongoing eternal reality. Here and now, we are already kingdom citizens. 

That is why Paul now again calls us to stand firm in the Lord. In this passage, Paul explains how and why we should stand firm in the Lord. We stand firm by imitating those who follow the example of Christ. We stand firm by watching out for the enemies of the cross. We stand firm because we are citizens of heaven. We stand firm because our Savior is coming and He will transform us. Today we will focus only on the first of these. We stand firm in the Lord by following His example, by following the examples of those who imitate Christ, and by being examples to others so that they can see Christ in and through us. Verse 17 — Join together in imitating me (following my example), brothers and sisters, and keep your eyes on (observe carefully) those who live in this way according to the example you have in us.

1. Stand Firm by Following the Example of Others in Christ

Paul calls us to follow his example, not because he is arrogant, such a good Christian, or promoting himself. No, Christ took a hold of him, and he, Paul has taken a hold of and is holding on to Christ. In humility, he follows passionately the example of Christ so that he may become like Christ, be an example to others, and so bring many to Christ. To the Corinthians Paul wrote, “… for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me … my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor 4:15-17). “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor 10:33-11:1). This is not a call to follow Paul but to follow the example of Christ as He is shown in and through Paul’s life. 

We learn to follow the example of Christ by following the examples of others who imitate Christ, who are living the kingdom life, who are showing Christ to us. We are not blessed like the first followers to see and experience Jesus in visible, bodily form. But He is alive and He lives in us. Yes, we know Him through His Word, but what we learn in the Bible about Jesus is made visible, concrete, real, and practical in our lives as He lives in us by the power of the Spirit. 

We need to find godly men and women who are imitating Christ and follow their examples. As the body of Christ, as church, we need one another. We cannot do this alone. That’s why Paul says, join together in imitating him. There are many godly men and women throughout history who like Paul and his band of brothers imitated Christ. We can grow in Christ by learning from and following their examples. We all need pastors, missionaries, elders, church leaders, grandparents, parents, mature believers, brothers and sisters in Christ, youth workers, Sunday school teachers, who live according to the example of Christ. Our children, youth, students, young adults, and new believers need to see living examples to imitate so that they can learn to follow the example of Christ and be like Him. Those who pursue Christ will produce others who pursue Christ.

Therefore, we must make sure that we ourselves are pursuing Christ, running after Him, taking a hold of Him and holding on to Him, following His example, and living as citizens of heaven. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet 2:21).

Whose examples are you following? Why are you following them? Who is mentoring, discipling you? Is there a godly man or woman in your life who is imitating Christ whom you can imitate?

2. Stand Firm by Being Examples of Christ to Others

But, this is not only about ourselves. Not only should we follow Christ’s example, not only should we follow the example of other believers who are imitating Christ, but we are also called to be examples to others. “You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thes. 1:5-7). Paul instructed Timothy and Titus. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim 4:12). “In everything set them an example by doing what is good” (Tit 2:7). And to the church leaders Peter says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet 5:2-3). 

Every one of us, all of us, are called to make disciples. We follow the example of Christ not only for our own gain, seeking our own good but for the good of many, so that they may be saved (1 Cor 10:33). Unbelievers first see and encounter Christ in our lives, through our examples. That’s how they come to know Jesus. New believers learn to follow Jesus, pursue Christ, and grow in Christ by following our examples. They are watching us. What an awesome responsibility!

To whom are you an example as you imitate Christ? To whom are you showing, demonstrating Christ? Whom are you discipling? Who are you mentoring? Young people — never too young to begin. You are an example to others. EXAMPLES. They are looking, watching your lives.

But there is also a word of warning. There comes a time when we must step out of the way. Yes, at first new believers see Christ through our examples and lives. But as they take a hold of Christ, pursue Him, grow in Him and become like Him, they should begin to follow His example directly. If we don’t step out of the way, the danger is that they may become fixated, focused on our examples. They may become our followers and not followers of Jesus. It’s easy to fall into that trap because our examples and lives are what they see. Jesus Christ himself is unseen. That’s what happened in Corinthians. They become so focused on the examples of certain leaders that they became the followers of Apollos, followers of Cephas, and followers of Paul, instead of followers of Jesus Christ. Be an example but make sure that you step out of the way so that they can pursue Christ directly. This is important because our examples are not perfect. We are all flawed and sometimes we and our models sin and fall. EXAMPLE.

Charles Kraft, a well-known missiologist, shares his experience as a young missionary in a remote rural village in West Africa. No Christians, no church. Have not heard the gospel, not heard about Jesus. Shortly after arrived, prayed on a hill overlooking the village. Realized — the only way they are going to meet Jesus, come to know Christ, is through him. He represents Christ to them in and through his life, his example. He was overwhelmed by that awesome responsibility. 

That responsibility is no less today for us than it was for him then. We have this same awesome responsibility here and now, in our times, in our situation, in our community. Today, there are many unbelievers around us. We are living in a post-Christian society where many have not heard the gospel and don’t know Jesus Christ. And then there are the new believers, the next generation, and others who need to see Christ in us. 

We face many challenges. There are many enemies of the cross. They and the world are tempting us to live as citizens of the world and not as citizens of heaven. They want us to set our minds on earthly things and not on God’s kingdom. Daily, we are faced with the choice, what are we going to set our minds on? What are we going to focus on? What are we obsessed with? What are we pursuing? It is easier to pursue the things of the world because they are seen. But we have a critical decision to make between the eternal and the temporary, that which is fleeting and passing, between heavenly and earthly things, between treasures in heaven or on earth. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor 4:18). 

Who are our heroes? Whose examples are we following? We are citizens of heaven, therefore, we must stand firm in the Lord. And we stand firm in the Lord when we pursue Christ, run, chase after Him. Ultimately, we follow only one Hero, our Lord Jesus Christ, and his example. May these words from the song, Hero (Newsboys) be true of us. 

I wanna follow like a shadow. I don't need no one to see me, I just wanna chase You down. I wanna trail like an echo. I don't need no one to hear me, I just wanna make You loud. I'm about Your name, Your life, Your story. I'm alive to bring You glory. You took my blame and You paid the debt I owed. I'm gonna lay me down to lift You up. You're the only king in the kingdom come. If I live, if I die, my life will show You're my hero, oh Jesus. You are who You say You are. The evidence is in my heart.

Let us join together to take a hold of Christ, and then hold on to Him as our example. Let us join together in following the examples of those who are imitating Christ. Let us join together in being examples of Christ to others. Let us stand firm in the Lord.