Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:15-21
Patterns to Follow
Intro.
1. Patterns are valuable (house plans, pharmaceutical compounds, etc.). Patterns can be a matter of life and death (air traffic control).
2. Pattern (tupos): “an archetype serving as a model, type, pattern, model...technically, design, pattern”[1]; “primarily denoted “a blow” (from a root tup—, seen also in tupto, “to strike”), hence, (a) an impression, the mark of a “blow,” John 20:25.”[2] (“print”)
3. God has given patterns for individuals and the church. Blessed when followed, sin when we do not. Matter of eternal life and death.
I. THE OT SHOWS THAT GOD-REVEALED PATTERNS EXIST AND ARE VALUABLE, 1 Cor. 10:11.
A. The Tabernacle was Built by an Exacting Pattern, Exo. 25:9, 40; 26:30; Num. 8:4 (Acts 7:44; Heb. 8:5).
B. Adam was Used as a Type (Pattern) of Christ, Rom. 5:14.
II. GOD REVEALS PATTERNS FOR US TO OBEY.
A. The New Testament of Christ, 2 Tim. 1:13 (Matt. 28:19-20).
B. Apostolic Examples (Patterns), 1 Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 4:9; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9.
C. Salvation Patterns: How to be Saved, Rom. 6:17-18.
1. Believe in Christ, Rom. 1:16; 10:9-11.
2. Repent of sins, Rom. 2:4.
3. Confess faith in Christ as Lord, Rom. 10:9-10.
4. Baptized into Christ, Rom. 6:3-4.
a. Model of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, Rom. 6:3-6.
b. Saved, freed from sin, in Christ, no condemnation.
5. Be faithful to Christ, Rom. 6:1; 11:22; 12:1-2.
6. Paul’s conversion is a pattern (tupos) for the lost, 1 Tim. 1:15-16.
D. Moral and Ethical Patterns, Titus 2:11-12. Acts 20:33-35 (shown you)
1. Without a God-revealed pattern there are no absolutes, each person decides; self becomes the standard. (Jgs. 21:25)
2. Morality becomes situational, fluid (stealing, lying, adultery, etc.).
3. Used to justify LGBT, adulterous remarriages, drinking, drugs, etc.
E. Doctrinal Patterns, 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Cor. 14:37; Gal. 1:8-9.
1. The doctrine of Christ is definable and discernible.
2. Pattern of sound words, in faith and love, 2 Tim. 1:13.
F. When You Follow God’s Patterns, You become a Pattern for Others, Phil. 3:17 (1 Cor. 11:1). Example (specimen)
1. Preachers, 1 Tim. 4:12 (tupos, pattern).
2. Elders, 1 Pet. 5:3 (tupos, example).
3. Faithful Christians, 1 Thess. 1:6-7 (tupos, model).
Conclusion
1. Some call us “legalists” for insisting on following NT patterns. They do not intend to be confined and restricted by a “thus saith the Lord” (Col. 3:17).
2. Nevertheless, we will imitate the patterns God has given us, 3 Jno. 11; Heb. 6:12.
[1] Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the
New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 1020). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[2] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 202). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: May 17, 2016