Post by foxjj on Sept 15, 2023 7:22:13 GMT
Philippians 3:1-21 (NIV)
Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi was written whilst he was a prisoner in Rome. In spite of his circumstances he encourages his readers to rejoice in all circumstances. In chapter 3, Paul warns believers not to have confidence in the flesh, but to have our confidence solely in Jesus. He then warns his Jewish readers not to be drawn back into old ways by leaders who rely on rituals:
“1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—“
As a Jew, Paul know that the covenant of circumcision had deteriorated into a tradition, namely the cutting of the flesh. To Paul the fullness of the covenant is in Jesus as he explained in Colossians 2:11-12:
“11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Paul now writes concerning his pre-Christian religious standing:
“4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
In Acts 9:1-2 we read how - in his religious zeal as Saul of Tarsus - Paul persecuted the early Church. Because of his training as a Pharisee, Saul believed the followers of Jesus were guilty of blasphemy by proclaiming Jesus, both Messiah, and The Son of God:
“1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
The following verse’s are from the heart of a man who has experienced redemption. They are the words of one who acknowledges that his former life was lived outside of God’s will. Now, through Grace, he is born anew, and serves Christ Jesus as his Lord and Savior:
“7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
The previous verse’s can apply to all who have experienced conversion, acknowledging our fruitless previous life. That been said, the following verse’s express the desire of all born again believers:
“10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
It is spiritually dangerous to think that we have arrived at our spiritual goal. As long as we are in our human body we are absent from our eternal destination:
“12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul encourages believers to live as one who has been made alive in Christ Jesus:
“1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Paul now encourages the mature believers:
“15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
Next Paul encourages believers to follow his example while warning against departing from the faith:
“17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
Hebrews 6:4-6 warns:
“4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”
Aware of the destiny of the spiritually lost, Paul concludes this chapter by reminding his readers of our eternal, and glorious destination:
“20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Today, let us give thanks for the daily guidance of God’s Grace.
John Joseph Fox.
Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi was written whilst he was a prisoner in Rome. In spite of his circumstances he encourages his readers to rejoice in all circumstances. In chapter 3, Paul warns believers not to have confidence in the flesh, but to have our confidence solely in Jesus. He then warns his Jewish readers not to be drawn back into old ways by leaders who rely on rituals:
“1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—“
As a Jew, Paul know that the covenant of circumcision had deteriorated into a tradition, namely the cutting of the flesh. To Paul the fullness of the covenant is in Jesus as he explained in Colossians 2:11-12:
“11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Paul now writes concerning his pre-Christian religious standing:
“4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
In Acts 9:1-2 we read how - in his religious zeal as Saul of Tarsus - Paul persecuted the early Church. Because of his training as a Pharisee, Saul believed the followers of Jesus were guilty of blasphemy by proclaiming Jesus, both Messiah, and The Son of God:
“1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
The following verse’s are from the heart of a man who has experienced redemption. They are the words of one who acknowledges that his former life was lived outside of God’s will. Now, through Grace, he is born anew, and serves Christ Jesus as his Lord and Savior:
“7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
The previous verse’s can apply to all who have experienced conversion, acknowledging our fruitless previous life. That been said, the following verse’s express the desire of all born again believers:
“10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
It is spiritually dangerous to think that we have arrived at our spiritual goal. As long as we are in our human body we are absent from our eternal destination:
“12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
In Colossians 3:1-4, Paul encourages believers to live as one who has been made alive in Christ Jesus:
“1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Paul now encourages the mature believers:
“15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
Next Paul encourages believers to follow his example while warning against departing from the faith:
“17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
Hebrews 6:4-6 warns:
“4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”
Aware of the destiny of the spiritually lost, Paul concludes this chapter by reminding his readers of our eternal, and glorious destination:
“20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Today, let us give thanks for the daily guidance of God’s Grace.
John Joseph Fox.