Rejoicing in Christ Alone Philippians 3:1-12
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.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.
Paul is saying, rejoice in the Lord because there isn’t true joy outside of Him! Paul finds himself writing redundantly because he sees a real need in the young church to understand that outside of Jesus Christ they are nothing! He uses himself as an example for any other convert to understand that if he can’t trust his own works for salvation they can’t either! For the young and old in Christ Jesus the number one difficulty would be to stay in complete trust and faith through Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 3: 5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
Trusting in the Lord is a CONDITIONAL PROMISE. The desire to take things into our own hands becomes strong at times!
In-fact, Vs. 7 will come into play when a person doesn’t trust the Lord! Vs.7 say, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.” (Wise within yourself brings ultimate stupidity because we were created to trust the Lord.)
Phil. 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs they cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Matthew Henry say’s these men are called Dogs, for their malice against faithful professors of the gospel of Christ, barking at them and biting them. They urged human works in opposition to the faith of Christ; but Paul calls them evil-workers. He calls them the concision (cheapen, discount); as they rent the church of Christ, and cut it to pieces. The work of religion is to no purpose, unless the heart is in it.
Phil. 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Our circumcision is Christ Jesus and Christ alone! We worship God in the Spirit by faith and that brings a Spirit of rejoicing! (Then Paul says, we have no confidence in the flesh,)
Phil. 3:4-6 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
In three particulars he shows how he "might have confidence in the flesh"(1) His pure Jewish blood. (2) His legal preciseness and high status as such. (3) His zeal for the law.
Paul’s physical resume’ (for being a God man) should make every person in this building throw theirs away!
What qualifies us to be Spiritual giants in God’s kingdom? Jesus Christ and Him only! (Remember this, “ It’s the blood of Jesus plus nothing.”)
Phil. 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Jesus said in Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Paul understands that even if he loses everything, it will be worth gaining Christ!
Phil. 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Paul points out that anything of eternal value comes by faith and faith alone! Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
Romans 14:23b …for whatever is not from faith is sin. [Once more, “It’s the blood plus nothing]!”
Phil. 3:10-12 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.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.
Powerful words, know Him, understand the power of His resurrection, understand the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, having a personal goal to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul say’s, I haven’t attained yet, but I will press on, and lay hold of ‘that’ for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me!
What is Paul trying to attain, press on to and lay hold of? Maybe the first question should be asked in reverse order. Why did Christ Jesus lay hold of me? Love! Grace! Fellowship! Covenant!
