Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 37

Paul Urges the Philippians to Grow Up into Spiritual Adults following after his Example

Philippians 3:15-17 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. KJV

Although the Apostle Paul understands that he has not attained, achieved, or arrived at perfection ‘in Christ’, however, he does see himself as no longer a ‘babe in Christ’ (1 Corinthians 3:1) as he did see the Corinthian believers by virtue of their actions. Paul sees himself to be grown up in his walk with our Lord Jesus Christ or in essence ‘spiritually mature’ in the faith. So Paul now calls on all those in the Church at Philippi to rise up and serve as flaming tortures to spiritual adulthood for those who are still spiritual babies needing their bottle of milk, by saying to them, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” (Philippians 3:15) (KJV). Paul uses the English phrase ‘let us therefore’ at the beginning of verse 15 tying in this verse with the last three verses urging these believers to press on toward Christ growing up into spiritual maturity. This English phrase ‘let us therefore’ is translated by one Greek word oun which is a primary word meaning certainly or accordingly.

In other words, Paul is here reminding them of how he sees himself as not morally perfect as he walks with our Lord Jesus Christ, but he presses on or pursues after the moral character of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and he wants them to do likewise as he is doing. When he writes ‘as many as be perfect, be thus minded’, he is here calling on those who are spiritually mature to take initiative in the Philippian Church in order to teach, lead, and guide the others so that everyone will grow from spiritual babes into spiritual adults. The English phrase ‘be thus minded’ is translated by one Greek word phroneo meaning to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience): - set the affection on, be likeminded, be of one mind, be of the same mind. God will reveal to each person whether they are spiritually mature or not, in whatever manner He chooses to make every individual person aware of their growth level.

Note: “Paul wanted these Philippian believers and we believers today to continue on in thinking ourselves to not yet have attained unto absolute perfection and keep stretching forward after what we see of Christ Jesus our Lord as we read and study His character, actions, and mind set as revealed to us throughout the Gospels and those who think themselves to have arrived at perfection God the Father will show them (by His own way right for them) how far off the mark they still are in their walk.” This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was trying to do for the believers in Corinth in writing the two letters to them in order to see them grow up from babes spiritually into adults spiritually as he emphasized strongly with these words written in the first letter to them, “Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men].” (1 Corinthians 14:20) (Amplified Bible).  Paul now writes, “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” (Philippians 3:16) (KJV).

Here in a nutshell Paul means that every spiritually mature Christian should have his or her main focus in this life our Lord Jesus Christ praying to our Heavenly Father through Him and seeking after or pursuing His moral character and desiring to see those who do not know Him come to know Him that they would be with Him forever in Heaven as we will, following after the view of the Prophet Hosea when he wrote this, “Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. His going forth is prepared {and} certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the [heavy] rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.” (Hosea 6:3) (Amplified Bible). Our Lord Jesus Christ and His selfless sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary is the most important thing that has ever happened in humanities existence and what He (Christ) did for us and who He (Christ) is to us should be the most important thing to us as long as we live, for the Apostle Paul summed it up greatly when writing to the Galatian believers when he said, “But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and regulate their lives by this principle], even upon the [true] Israel of God!” (Galatians 6:14-16) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now lays upon himself a huge responsibility by exhorting these Philippian believers to use him as their example of spiritual maturity as he writes, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” (Philippians 3:17) (KJV). The English phrase ‘followers together’ is translated by one Greek word summimetes (this is the only time this word is used in the New Testament) meaning a co-imitator, that is, fellow disciple. In other words, Paul is not afraid to place himself as the example of a devoted disciple of Christ, spiritually mature pressing forward toward Christ’s moral character as a sprinter would stretch himself or herself out toward the finish line at the end of a 100meter race, just as he wrote in this manner to the Corinthian believers, “PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate {and} follow Christ (the Messiah).” (1 Corinthians 11:1) (Amplified Bible).

“The meaning is this, that though there might be different degrees of attainment among Christians, and different views on many subjects, yet there were points in which all could agree; there were attainments which they all had made, and in reference to them they should walk in harmony and love.” Albert Barnes

“What he desires them to copy is his self-distrust, his willingness to sacrifice all things to win Christ, his clear sense of his own shortcomings, and his eager straining towards as yet unreached perfection. His humility is not disproved by such words, but what is remarkable in them is the clear consciousness of the main direction and set of his life.” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…