It was not simply something which had happened to Jesus, however important it was for him. Righteousness is a gift that God gives to those who have faith in Christ (8-9).But Paul does not stop there. But that power displays itself not in our strength, or wisdom, or any conferred resources. He "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. It may be remarked here, that from an expression often misunderstood in Philippians 2:1-30 it might seem as if the apostle wished somehow to weaken their confidence. We are kept by his mighty power through faith unto salvation,1 Peter 1:5. He must be conformed to his Master in all things; and this was one of them. In Philippians 3:1-21 it is not the display of intrinsic affection in Christ, or the gracious dispositions of Christ in the saints. Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. He knew well how much they might be tried by the report of his own imprisonment, and no deliverance coming as yet. Consequently we must look for another explanation of this verse. I want to know Him, I want to know the power of the resurrection, but yet, I want to know the fellowship of the sufferings and the cross. Faithful believers only will obtain this out-resurrection and have abundance of joy forever. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. All we want is, that the eye of faith be a little open; but it is only Christ before the eye that keeps it open. What is the Spirit now doing? There is always cause to rejoice in the Lord. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. There is no epistle that so abounds in joy. Heaven is the prize of the high calling; to brabeion--the prize we fight for, and run for, and wrestle for, what we aim at in all we do, and what will reward all our pains. ", Only he desires that their conversation should be as it became the gospel of Christ. The resurrection of the dead - Paul believed that all the dead would be raised Acts 24:15; Acts 26:6-8; and in this respect he would certainly attain to the resurrection of the dead, in common with all mankind. 3. Christian worship is not a thing of ritual or of the observation of details of the Law; it is a thing of the heart. . John Nelson was one of Wesley's most famous early preachers. No saints are outside the danger. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, [and] let us mind the same thing ( Philippians 3:15-16 ). Here and there at strategic military centres the Romans set down their colonies. InMatthew 23:1-39; Matthew 23:1-39 we have woe upon woe pronounced upon scribes and Pharisees, and so it is here. But he had himself gone through the trial; he had weighed it all; he had brought it into the presence of God. So Paul sets out his credentials, not in order to boast but to show that he had enjoyed every privilege which a Jew could enjoy and had risen to every attainment to which a Jew could rise. I like the power, but I don't like the suffering. The righteousness through faith in Christ, my faith in Jesus doesn't waver. To the confession of His Lordship is added "to the glory of God the Father." And it is an interesting period in church history where those who are indulging their flesh look upon it as spiritual superiority. Grace Evangelical Society Newsletter, November 1987, p. Christ was surely blameless in the highest sense, as His ways were harmless, "holy, harmless, undefiled," as it is said elsewhere. Does this content our hearts? This has its most weighty place elsewhere; but when it is a question of experience, the end cannot be here. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. He calls the Judaisers dogs because they like to cut the flesh of people; that is, they insist that they must circumcise Gentiles before those Gentiles can be saved. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things ( Philippians 3:8 ). It is Christ, and Christ only, that thus disposes of grief and pressure. Let nobody suppose me to insinuate that a woman is not in place when exercising, according to the Scripture, any gift God has given her. after a flea!" He was resurrected in a new body, patterned after the old yet equipped and fitted for heaven. But while a man is quite unfit to do a woman's work, can it be doubted that a woman brings no honour to herself, or to the Lord, by attempting to do a man's task? So what Paul says is, "If you have nothing to show but circumcision of the flesh, you are not really circumcised--you are only mutilated. The Christian awaits the coming of Christ, at which everything will be changed. He was so loyal a Jew that he had never lost the Hebrew speech; he was not only a religious Jew, he was a member of their strictest and the most self-disciplined sect; he had had in his heart a burning zeal for what he had thought was the cause of God; and he had a record in Judaism in which no man could mark a fault. . For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus." Nevertheless, energy there is, and this assuredly judges what is contrary to Christ. All error is founded on a misuse of a truth against the truth. As he who runs a race never takes up short of the end, but is still making forwards as fast as he can, so those who have heaven in their eye must still be pressing forward to it in holy desires and hopes, and constant endeavours and preparations. They really mind the earthly things. Hers is a more delicate place than that which becomes the man, and one which a man attempting it would awkwardly fill. It is hard to rejoice in circumstances. Forgive me, Lord. It is not at all as the objects of the gospel, but as having fellowship with it, their hearts bound up and identified with all the trials and difficulties that the gospel was sustaining in its course throughout the world. It is not the dread of losing the Saviour of their souls, but because they felt for His name; "for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." With all of my efforts I could never come up to that. ", And now there is the most lovely picture of Christ again; for it is always Christ here, and this again practically. He had to divest himself of every human claim of honour that he might accept in complete humility the mercy of God in Jesus Christ. That isn't a real representative of You. You see, there would be no security in that kind of righteousness at all. Here I am, you know, come and I will teach you. "Be anxious [or be careful] for nothing; but in everything" this is the resource "in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." He passionately longs to reach the final destination and, in no way presuming upon the grace of God, presses on towards that goal (OBrien 413). The logical progression in Pauls thought in Philippians 3:10-11 was from suffering to death to resurrection. This is one of the main features of our chapter. WebPhilippians 3:14 ESV I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The Jew placed his confidence in the physical badge of circumcision and in the performance of the duties of the Law. advert as at Romans 4:16, and elsewhere to the state of the persons in question, that state or kind of resurrection unto life of those who have died in the Lord, and whose resurrection will be a resurrection unto life and glory, their bodies being raised incorruptible, and both body and soul united for ever with the Lord. But to one cut off from such work it was, in appearance at least, a heavy burden and an immense trial; but Christ changes all for us. They declared that they were within the grace of God and that, therefore, it did not matter what they did; God would forgive. This is interesting, for it must mean that Paul had written other letters to the Philippians which have not survived. The tribe of Benjamin had the place of honour in Israel's battle-line, so that the battle-cry of Israel was: "After thee, O Benjamin!" Within the Church there were two sets of people to whom these accusations might apply. THE ONLY TRUE CIRCUMCISION ( Php_3:2-3 continued), (iii) Lastly, he calls them, the party of mutilation. Verse 11. Paul means something when he applies the title to Jesus in the context of citizenship. in this relationship, and it is an easy thing to esteem others better than myself. 3:10-11 My object is to know him, and I mean by that, to know the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, while I continue to be made like him in his death, if by any chance I may attain to the resurrection of the dead. No one denies this, which is, or ought to be, no new thing for a Christian. And then he uses a contrasting Greek word, and it is a play on Greek words. "Let your moderation be known unto all men. We now heard what the apostle renounced; let us now see what he laid hold on, and resolved to cleave to, namely, Christ and heaven. It is not the physical experience that saves, it is the spiritual: the death to the old nature and the old man in my heart, the reckoning of myself to be dead, and living that new life in the resurrected Lord. I had everything going for me as far as righteousness from the law. WebPhilippians 3:11. I just can't rise above it. It was not because of their own personal interest, though this was great and fresh, but they loved that it should go forth. In other words, "Give it all you have got.". b. Television would cause you to think that that is all retired baseball and football players do is just hang around the bars drinking lite beer, talking about the past. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. He desires for them, not anxiety about the issue of it, but true gravity of spirit, because of feeling that it is a question between God and the devil, and that we have to do with that struggle in the most direct way. They shared the conflict of the gospel; they partook of the reproach that covered those who preached it. And God then imputes to me, or accounts to me, righteousness. We must think rather of the conflict of the gospel: there was often for all concerned disgrace, and pain, and scorn. I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead: Paul has discussed in these verses the concepts of justification and sanctification, and now he speaks of the believers glorification. Superficially this verse seems to suggest that Paul had some doubt about the certainty of his resurrection. There were those who distorted the Christian doctrine of grace. It often happens that men can stand the great sorrows and the great trials of life but are undone by what are almost minor inconveniences. NIV I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. They go to the bars and drink lite beer and talk about the touchdowns they use to make. So, the exhortation in the scripture is always that of rejoicing in the Lord. At this point Paul repeats warnings that he gave the Philippian church some time earlier concerning Judaisers. It describes the man who is going flat out for the finish. I tried it for so long. But tomorrow, some nut pulls in front of me on the freeway and then blocks and traps me, and I may shake my fist and honk my horn, and say, "Get off the road, you fool." There is really no reason to suppose that they preached at all. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord ( Philippians 3:1 ). Because of that, righteousness nearly always for Paul has the meaning of a right relationship with God. the love of Christ everywhere! Philippians 3:1. He associates Timothy with himself, not merely, as elsewhere, himself apostle and Timothy in some other relation, but here conjointly "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ." Nevertheless, God will surely teach His own, and knows how to clear up what is hidden from them. Thus fervour of desire for others is the happy index of this whenever coupled with adequate knowledge of ourselves. Should any at present think differently, they will soon come to agree, if they allow God to teach them. You can get into a right relationship with God only by taking Jesus Christ at his word, and by accepting what God himself offers to you.". Work hard at doing that which is right. And, at best, I can develop a self-righteousness. But it frequently happened that they forgot their own language. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. This last is but a confirmation of the same truth. To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament. Christ was so truly before his heart, that in fact there was no self left unjudged to warp the choice. There was evidently energy among these Philippians. Or it alludes to a judicial appearance; so we are to be found of our Judge in peace, 2 Peter 3:14. So here at the beginning he simply takes the place of servant with Timothy, owning all the saints as well as the officials in their place: "To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." What the apostle's actings were under this conviction. It is not our laying hold of Christ first, but his laying hold of us, which is our happiness and salvation. Roman dress was worn; Roman magistrates governed; the Latin tongue was spoken; Roman justice was administered; Roman morals were observed. And now, follow me as an example, live by this rule, because there are those who don't live by this rule. The effect of their teaching was to take men further away from God instead of to bring them nearer to him. This epistle is therefore eminently instructive to those who could not have an apostle with them. The apostle takes up, no doubt, the sweet affections of chapter 2, but then they are strengthened by the energy that Christ seen in glory imparts, as in chapter 3. WebHe was naturally grateful to the Philippians, but more so to God who had worked such kindness through the Philippians. If he left this world, he would be with Christ; if he lived longer in this, world, Christ was with him. They really mean, this is worth my while, a well-known phrase in Latin too. Philippi was a Roman colony. If anyone has reason to think that he has grounds for confidence in his human heritage and attainments, I have more. B. Lightfoot remarks that the verb memphesthai ( G3201) , from which it comes, means to blame for sins of omission. 3:2-3 Be on your guard against the dogs; be on your guard against the evil workers; be on your guard against the party of mutilation; for we are the truly circumcised, we who worship in the Spirit of God; we whose proud boast is in Jesus Christ, we who place no confidence in merely human things. "I thank my God for my whole remembrance of you," says he, after his usual salutation and wish, "always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.". Every teacher must be more anxious to listen to God than to propagate his own opinions or he, too, will run the risk of being a worker of evil, even when he thinks that he is a worker of righteousness. The hope of the Christian is that the day will come when his humanity will be changed into nothing less than the divinity of Christ, and when the necessary lowliness of mortality will be changed into the essential splendour of deathless life. John Piper @JohnPiper. His goodness can even take this up and thus make it fragrant even to Himself. In this chapter the apostle cautions the Philippians against false teachers, whom he describes as evil men, and exhorts them to walk as they had him, and other faithful ministers for an example. should have been altered to . "Jesus" is His own name, His personal name. View Exodus on the Timeline. This was precisely what he desired when a Jew. Hence we see the great importance of this truth. Paul makes a conscious effort to keep his eyes on the prize promised to him by God. 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