Sermons on Philippians 3:19
The various sermons below converge on the interpretation of Philippians 3:19 as a warning against the elevation of bodily appetites and earthly desires to the status of ultimate authority, effectively replacing God in the believer’s life. They consistently identify "their god is their belly" as a metaphor for idolatry rooted in self-indulgence, whether through physical cravings, greed, or misplaced trust in material things. A common thread is the recognition that this idolatry leads to a distorted sense of shame and glory—where shameful behaviors are boasted in and celebrated, reflecting a deeper spiritual blindness or darkness. Several sermons emphasize the subtlety of this error, noting that it can manifest both as antinomian lawlessness and as legalistic self-righteousness, both equally dangerous. The theme of spiritual blindness is often linked to a loss of moral sensibility, where the mind is set on earthly things, resulting in eternal consequences such as destruction or separation from God. Nuances emerge in how these sermons connect the physical and spiritual realms, with some highlighting the psychological and ethical dimensions of shame and glory, while others focus on the practical implications of bodily discipline and the spiritual dangers of addiction or greed.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their theological emphases and pastoral applications. Some sermons frame the passage primarily as a critique of antinomianism, stressing the necessity of works as evidence of true faith and warning against the error of dismissing bodily actions as irrelevant to salvation. Others explore the progression from a God-absent focus to the enthronement of appetites, offering a more psychological and spiritual analysis of how shame is redefined as glory. A distinct approach highlights the doctrine of hell and eternal destruction as the sobering outcome of such misplaced worship, underscoring the apostle’s compassion and sorrow. Another perspective challenges the typical dichotomy between legalism and libertinism by identifying the love of money as the root of both, thus uniting seemingly opposed sins under a common theological theme. Finally, some sermons bring a practical and embodied focus, linking idolatry directly to physical appetites and advocating for spiritual disciplines like fasting as means of breaking bondage and restoring worship. These differences shape how the passage is applied pastorally—whether as a call to doctrinal correction, ethical transformation, compassionate warning, or holistic stewardship of body and spirit
Philippians 3:19 Interpretation:
Living as Friends or Enemies of the Cross (MLJTrust) offers a unique and historically grounded interpretation of Philippians 3:19 by focusing on the heresy of antinomianism in the early church. The sermon explains that "their god is their belly" refers to those who, under the guise of Christian liberty, indulge their bodily appetites and desires, believing that their actions in the body are irrelevant to their spiritual state. The preacher uses the term "antinomianism" to describe this error and highlights the subtlety of the devil in promoting both legalism and lawlessness as equally dangerous distortions of the gospel. The analogy of the devil switching tactics—first emphasizing works, then dismissing them entirely—serves as a vivid metaphor for the spiritual danger Paul is warning against.
Enemies of the Cross: A Call to Examine Our Focus (Desiring God) provides a detailed, stepwise analysis of the three phrases in Philippians 3:19, interpreting "their god is their belly" as the elevation of bodily appetites to the status of ultimate authority or treasure, "their glory is in their shame" as the celebration and boasting in behaviors that are inherently disgraceful, and "their mind is set on earthly things" as a life focus magnetically drawn to the world and its distractions, to the exclusion of God. The sermon uniquely explores the causal relationship between these elements, suggesting that when God is removed from one's focus, the void is filled by appetites, which then demand worship through shameful behaviors, and the mind becomes fixated on the world.
Living as Children of Light: Exposing Darkness (Desiring God) brings a fresh angle by connecting Philippians 3:19 to the concept of shame and glory. The preacher uses the phrase "they glory in their shame" to illustrate a loss of moral sensibility, where people boast about actions that should evoke shame. The analogy of light and darkness is used to explain that a lack of "light" (spiritual discernment) leads to a defective sense of shame, resulting in the celebration of what is dishonorable. This interpretation is distinct in its psychological and ethical focus, emphasizing the internal transformation required to regain a proper sense of honor and shame.
Compassion and Consequences: The Cross and Citizenship (Desiring God) interprets Philippians 3:19 by focusing on the phrase "their end is destruction" and its connection to the preceding characteristics. The sermon highlights that the ultimate consequence of living with one's appetites as god, glorying in shame, and being fixated on earthly things is eternal destruction—defined as the wrath of God, hell, and separation from divine life. The preacher's methodical use of biblical cross-references to define "destruction" adds a theological depth to the interpretation, framing the passage as a sober warning about the eternal stakes of misplaced worship and focus.
Freedom from Phariseeism and the Love of Money (SermonIndex.net) offers a unique interpretation of Philippians 3:19 by challenging the common dichotomy between legalistic Pharisees and libertine lovers of money. The preacher argues that Paul, and Jesus before him, do not see these as separate categories but as deeply intertwined: the root of both legalism (Phariseeism) and lawlessness is the love of money and earthly things. The sermon draws a direct line from the phrase "their god is their belly" to both self-indulgence and the hidden greed of the Pharisees, suggesting that even those who appear morally rigorous may be ruled by their appetites for security, status, or possessions. The preacher uses the Greek term for "belly" (koilia) to emphasize that it refers not just to physical appetite but to the seat of desire and self-indulgence, encompassing both material greed and moral pride. This interpretation is further illustrated by examining the lives of the Pharisees, the rich young ruler, and Judas, showing that all were ultimately ruled by their appetites, whether for money, power, or self-righteousness. The sermon’s most novel insight is the insistence that the love of money is the root of all forms of spiritual corruption, including those that masquerade as religious zeal.
Breaking Free: Stewardship of Body and Spirit (SermonIndex.net) interprets Philippians 3:19 as a direct warning against being ruled by physical appetites, particularly in the context of food and bodily discipline. The preacher draws a close parallel between physical health and spiritual health, arguing that when "their god is their stomach," it is not just about gluttony but about any form of addiction or overindulgence that takes the place of God in a believer’s life. The sermon uses the etymology of "gluttony" (to "gulp down") to highlight the compulsive, uncontrolled nature of such appetites. The preacher applies the passage to modern American culture, where overconsumption and addiction to unhealthy food and drink are rampant, and suggests that these patterns are spiritually significant because they reveal what truly rules a person’s life. The analogy of being a "prisoner of appetite" is used to illustrate how unchecked desires can enslave a person, making the stomach (or any appetite) a false god.
Philippians 3:19 Theological Themes:
Living as Friends or Enemies of the Cross (MLJTrust) introduces the theme of antinomianism as a persistent and subtle threat to Christian living, arguing that both legalism and lawlessness are equally dangerous distortions of the gospel. The sermon emphasizes that true faith must be accompanied by works, and that the belief that bodily actions are irrelevant to salvation is a grave error that makes one an enemy of the cross.
Enemies of the Cross: A Call to Examine Our Focus (Desiring God) presents a nuanced theological theme: the progression from a worldly mindset to idolatry of appetites, culminating in the perverse worship of shameful behaviors. The sermon suggests that the loss of God as the center of one's life inevitably leads to the enthronement of base desires, which then demand public celebration and redefine shame as glory. This theme is developed with a psychological and spiritual logic that is both novel and deeply reflective.
Living as Children of Light: Exposing Darkness (Desiring God) adds a new facet by exploring the ethical and psychological implications of "glorying in shame." The sermon argues that the loss of the capacity to feel shame is a sign of spiritual darkness and a defective moral compass, and that true Christian transformation involves regaining a sense of honor, dignity, and integrity that recoils from celebrating what is shameful.
Compassion and Consequences: The Cross and Citizenship (Desiring God) brings a distinct theological emphasis on the doctrine of hell and eternal destruction as the necessary outcome of a life oriented around self-indulgence and earthly concerns. The sermon frames Paul's warning as an expression of compassion, highlighting the apostle's tears as evidence of the gravity and sorrow associated with the fate of those who reject the cross.
Freedom from Phariseeism and the Love of Money (SermonIndex.net) introduces the distinct theological theme that the love of money is not merely a vice among many but is the underlying root of both legalistic religiosity and open worldliness. The sermon contends that both the Pharisee and the libertine are ultimately motivated by the same misplaced trust in earthly things, whether that manifests as moral achievement or material acquisition. This theme is deepened by the assertion that true freedom from both legalism and lawlessness comes only through the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, which reorients all desires away from self and toward God.
Breaking Free: Stewardship of Body and Spirit (SermonIndex.net) adds a new facet by connecting the theological concept of idolatry directly to bodily appetites, arguing that when physical cravings dictate behavior, they become a form of worship that displaces God. The sermon also explores the idea that spiritual disciplines such as fasting are not merely acts of self-denial but are means of breaking the bondage of false gods (appetites) and restoring proper worship. The preacher further develops the theme by emphasizing that obedience in physical matters is not legalism but a relational response to God’s call, and that abundant life is found in the integration of spiritual and physical health.
Philippians 3:19 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Living as Friends or Enemies of the Cross (MLJTrust) provides significant historical context by explaining that the heresy Paul addresses in Philippians 3:19 was a real and present danger in the early church, known as antinomianism. The preacher notes that this teaching is referenced in other New Testament writings (e.g., 1 John, Colossians, Revelation 2-3), and that it involved the belief that bodily actions were irrelevant to salvation because only the soul mattered. This context helps the listener understand why Paul uses such strong language and why the issue was so pressing for the early Christian communities.
Breaking Free: Stewardship of Body and Spirit (SermonIndex.net) provides historical context by referencing the early church fathers’ concern with gluttony as one of the major sins, noting that the early church saw overindulgence as a spiritual issue tied to wealth, extravagance, and waste. The sermon explains that in the ancient world, gluttony was not just about food but was a symbol of a disordered relationship to material abundance, which was often seen as a sign of spiritual decay. The preacher also notes that the word "gluttony" comes from a root meaning "to gulp down," which was recognized in both biblical and early Christian writings as a sign of spiritual bondage.
Philippians 3:19 Cross-References in the Bible:
Living as Friends or Enemies of the Cross (MLJTrust) references several biblical passages to support its interpretation of Philippians 3:19. The sermon mentions 1 John, Colossians, and Revelation 2-3 as places where the early church confronted similar antinomian teachings. It also alludes to the broader Pauline argument that justification by faith must be accompanied by works, referencing the harmony between Paul and James ("faith without works is dead").
Enemies of the Cross: A Call to Examine Our Focus (Desiring God) cross-references 2 Thessalonians 1:7, which describes the Lord Jesus inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God, and connects this to the idea of "destruction" in Philippians 3:19. The sermon also references the broader biblical theme of idolatry and misplaced worship, drawing on the language of glory and shame found elsewhere in Paul's letters.
Compassion and Consequences: The Cross and Citizenship (Desiring God) offers an extensive set of cross-references to define "destruction" in Philippians 3:19. The sermon cites Philippians 1:28 (contrasting destruction with salvation), 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 (describing destruction as fiery vengeance and wrath), 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (Jesus delivering from the wrath to come), Romans 5:9 (justification by Christ's blood saving from wrath), Matthew 7:13-14 (the narrow way leading to life versus destruction), Matthew 5:29-30 (hell as the consequence of unrepentant sin), and Revelation 17:8, 19:20, 14:9-11 (destruction as the bottomless pit, lake of fire, and eternal torment). Each reference is used to build a comprehensive biblical theology of destruction as the ultimate fate of those described in Philippians 3:19.
Living as Children of Light: Exposing Darkness (Desiring God) references Philippians 3:19 directly to illustrate the concept of "glorying in shame" and contrasts it with the biblical ideal of honor and integrity. The sermon also alludes to Ephesians 5 and the broader Pauline ethic of light versus darkness, using these passages to reinforce the importance of moral discernment and the dangers of celebrating shameful behaviors.
Freedom from Phariseeism and the Love of Money (SermonIndex.net) references several biblical passages to support its interpretation of Philippians 3:19. Luke 16:13-14 is cited to show that the Pharisees were lovers of money, directly linking their religious hypocrisy to material greed. Matthew 23:25-28 is used to highlight Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees for being full of greed and self-indulgence, despite their outward righteousness. The story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22 is employed to demonstrate how even apparent law-keepers can be ruled by their love of possessions. The example of Judas (Mark 6:7, 12-13; John 12:6; Matthew 7:21) is used to show that even those who perform miracles and preach repentance can be motivated by greed. 1 Timothy 6:10 is referenced to assert that the love of money is the root of all evils, tying together the themes of legalism, lawlessness, and materialism. Finally, Philippians 3:5-8 and 4:11-13 are used to show how Paul himself was freed from these corrupting desires through the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Breaking Free: Stewardship of Body and Spirit (SermonIndex.net) references 1 Corinthians 6:12 to address the misuse of Christian liberty in the context of bodily discipline, emphasizing that while all things may be permissible, not all are beneficial, and believers should not be mastered by anything. Proverbs 23 is paraphrased to illustrate the dangers of unchecked appetite, warning against desiring delicacies and being ensnared by them. The sermon also alludes to various biblical passages on gluttony and addiction, though not all are cited directly, to build a comprehensive biblical case for the spiritual significance of bodily stewardship.
Philippians 3:19 Christian References outside the Bible:
Breaking Free: Stewardship of Body and Spirit (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references several Christian authors and works in its discussion of Philippians 3:19. Dr. Michael Brown’s book "Breaking the Stronghold of Food" is recommended as a resource for understanding and overcoming food addiction, with the preacher noting Brown’s personal transformation and insights into the spiritual dimensions of appetite. Andrew Murray’s "The School of Obedience" is cited to emphasize the importance of obedience as the key to spiritual victory, with Murray’s assertion that true obedience is rooted in close fellowship with God. Jensen Franklin is mentioned as an author on fasting, whose works help motivate believers to pursue spiritual disciplines that break the power of appetite. The preacher also references early church fathers’ writings on gluttony, noting that this was a major concern in the early Christian tradition.
Philippians 3:19 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Breaking Free: Stewardship of Body and Spirit (SermonIndex.net) uses several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate Philippians 3:19. The story of Renald III, a 14th-century Duke of Belgium, is recounted: after being overthrown by his brother, Renald was imprisoned in a room with unlocked doors and windows, but his extreme obesity prevented him from leaving. His brother sent him rich foods daily, and Renald’s inability to control his appetite kept him captive for ten years, until his health was ruined. This story is used as a vivid metaphor for being a "prisoner of appetite," directly paralleling the biblical warning against making the stomach one’s god. The preacher also references the American lifestyle of overconsumption, using examples like the "Big Gulp" drink and the prevalence of junk food, to illustrate how modern culture promotes gluttony and addiction. The Starbucks logo is analyzed as a symbol of seduction and addiction, likening the siren’s call to the pull of unhealthy appetites. Additionally, the preacher mentions a contemporary example from Greg Laurie about a fitness trainer who intentionally gained 70 pounds to experience the effects of unhealthy eating, finding it difficult to regain a taste for healthy food—an analogy for how sin and addiction reshape our desires.