Letter #7 - Philippians 3:1-11
by Henry Weigel
I. Philippians 3:1-6 (NIV) – Rejoice; Beware of Evil Teachers; No Confidence in the Flesh; Paul's Boast
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— 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.
“To Rejoice in the Lord,” regardless of circumstances, is a theme of Paul's throughout the letter. He believed in repetition of a theme to drive the point home! Paul has experienced troubles with his imprisonment (possibly leading to execution), and Epaphroditus' illness. Yet in 1:29 he talks about the privilege of suffering for Christ Jesus. In 3:10,11 he again talks about suffering with Jesus in the context of knowing Christ and experiencing the power of His resurrection.
Keeping the Resurrection Hope in view. In his letters to the churches in Rome and Thessalonica he makes it clear that trouble (or suffering) is to be expected and in fact is destined for the believers: Romans 5:3-5 and 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4. But as Rom. 5:3-5 points out that going through suffering is a maturing process for the believers. We must keep the resurrection Hope in view at all times (Phil. 3:10,11). Jesus action as seen in Hebrews 12:2 shows us that in the midst of suffering He was looking ahead with joy to the accomplishment of His work on the cross, namely making The Way for people to come into the Kingdom.
False Teachers. In keeping our eyes on Jesus we also must know His Word and listen to His Spirit to discern when false teachers take the stage or those who are motivated by selfish reasons. These teachers have their focus on self not on Jesus Christ. Paul's credentials in his accomplishments are outstanding (3:5,6). Yet he counted them as worthless when it comes to being approved of God. As we see in 2 Corinthians 10:18 – 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. When we are true believers (Israelites) we live by the Spirit. That way we have the Lord's approval. When commending ourselves (as the legalistic Jews did) we live in the flesh, not the Spirit.
II. Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV) – Paul's Value System
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. 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.
Paul's Values: Those of Great Worth → His Gains; and Those of No Worth → His Loss
Remember, 1:21 – For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. His achievements in 3:5,6 → Loss.
Righteousness – Titus 3:4-7 – God's kindness and love; He saved us because of His mercy; Renewal by the Holy Spirit; Justified by His grace; Our hope of eternal life: Accomplished by Jesus death on the cross and His resurrection.
Two Questions. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Do we do good works to achieve righteousness?
Or, Do we accept Jesus' righteousness that motivates us to do Good Works?
III Conclusion
We need to demonstrate our values by living under the Lordship of Jesus, as He leads us by His Spirit! We need to be aware of spiritual falsehoods and false teachers. We need to persevere, be patient, and take joy in the Lord in times of suffering – keeping the resurrection hope in view.
No Trouble (or suffering) → No Overcomer! – Alas!
In Revelations (NKJV) the ending of the messages to the churches often ends with to him who overcomes … good things will be given or done. So, if there is no suffering in the Christian life what is there to overcome? ( The NIV refers to an overcomer as being victorious – the same implication).
2:7 … To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, … .
2:11 … He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
2:17 … To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. … .
2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Personal Story on Rejoicing
Years ago I taught on Romans 5:3-5, particularly “Glory in Tribulations.” (NKJV); or “Glory in our Sufferings.” (NIV). I was passionate about that teaching. Not long afterward I was wallowing in a problem. The Holy Spirit spoke to me: “Rejoice (i.e. glory) in Tribulation.” My response was, “I do not feel like it.” The same prompting followed. My answer, “but this is different.” Then I realized that if I did not practice what I had taught so passionately, I would have trouble teaching in the future. So, I rejoiced and forced praises from lips unto God. When the problem was resolved I rejoiced in the reality of the resolution. The Holy Spirit again got my attention when He said to me that in the first instance I rejoiced in faith of the resolution of the problem; now I was rejoicing because of the reality of it. Then He said, “With me the two are the same.” I was astounded. I take that to mean, when following the Lordship of Jesus, we can rejoice no matter what happens because He is leading.
