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"Let us walk by the same rule..."

Text: Philippians 3:16

A GENTLE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Paul continued to encourage and exhort the Philippians with this word.

“Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained,
let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”

Philippians 3:16

VARYING DEGREES OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY

1. This is to be expected.

2. The apostle John listed three categories in his first general epistle.

a) Little children 1 John 2:12

b) Young men 1 John 2:13

c) Fathers 1 John 2:13

ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NOT ALL WOULD HAVE THE SAME MATURITY

Paul did not come up with the same list as John. However in his pastoral epistles he did acknowledge the following:-

1. The apostles (like Paul)

2. The leaders of the church (pastors/ deacons)

3. Mature believers who may not have any specific leadership roles

WALKING DILIGENTLY

Paul’s word of encouragement was correctly put.

1. “Nevertheless”

This particle is often used to conclude a section of thoughts or arguments.

2. “To the degree that we have already attained”

a) He is speaking of spiritual maturity in this text.

b) Spiritual maturity may indeed be described as something we attain (Greek “phthano”).

c) “To the degree” was put in by the translators so that the text can be understood more easily.

3. The Christian walk

a) To walk according to the same rule (Greek “kanon”).

b) To think the same way (Greek “phroneo”).

c) All should be considering the upward call of God.

d) All should be marching in order (Greek word for walk… “stoichein”).

e) This was used by the military to describe soldiers marching in an orderly manner.