Pattern of Christ
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, Feb. 2025
Part of “Christ Our Life” Series based in the Epistle to the Philippians

Scripture
Php 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
Php 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
Php 3:16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Php 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
Php 3:18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.
Php 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Php 3:21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Php 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Here some elements of we find in apostle Paul’s life to produce Christ’s pattern in us.

1. Determination to press on towards the goal. What is the goal? The upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The good news: We are already in Christ Jesus, remaining in Him throughout our upward call is a key to reaching it!

2. Become mature. The sincere milk of the Word causes us to grow, the meat of doing’s God’s will and understanding it from His perspective helps us mature in Christ.
Heb 5:7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
Heb 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Heb 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
Heb 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

3. Walking with the same rule and mind of Christ’s pattern. Study the life of Christ, explore His life manifest in His church in Acts, access the furtherance of the Gospel throughout the early church by reading the epistles written to the saints. Study the law and the prophets from Christ’s New Covenant perspective.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Php 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Php 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

4. Follow the examples of Christ in others. People don’t score 100% – no one does, but there is a element of Christ in them their hope of glory – ask them: “How did Jesus accomplish that specific win in your life?” We need wisdom and understanding from the testimony. I don’t like it when people leave out details that describe how God brought about a miracle in their lives. Faith needs understanding to implement.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Heb 6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
Heb 6:12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Heb 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
Heb 6:14 saying, “SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS YOU, AND MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY YOU.”
Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

5. Gain heavenly citizenship in your spiritual position and thinking. See also Hebrews 12:22-24

Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

6. Participate in the transformation to conform to the image of Christ, through His glorious body the church.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

7. Subdue all things by Jesus’ working ways and power, by His Spirit.
The Lord has given us spiritual weapons to cast down arguments and every high thing that exults itself against the knowledge of God:
2Co 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2Co 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2Co 10:6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
God has exalted the name of Jesus above all and we access the power in His name by faith:
Php 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Php 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
Php 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

8. Access your royal priesthood identity in Jesus Christ. Give your mentors reason to rejoice – “You are my joy and crown, stand fast in the Lord.” The crown referred to here is the victors garland that ancient games gave as a reward for winning the race. God thinks of you as a winner when you overcome in the name of Jesus and the pattern of Christ’s victory continues in you and those whom you are reaching for Him.