Philippians

Paul continues to exhort in fellowship and unity. In this chapter he encourages the believers to press on yet watch for those that would trip them up along the way.

Philippians 3:1

‌The whole history of the world is discovered to be but a contest between the wisdom of God and the cunning of Satan and fallen men. The outcome of the contest is not in doubt.‌‌

A. W. Tozer

Paul acknowledged the conundrum that is normal for a Christian.  To live is Christ, but to die is the gain of being past this fallen world and the effects of sin.  We often feel that we no longer belong here because we are citizens of another kingdom.  We ought not feel entirely comfortable or completely at peace and content in this life.  Our peace and contentment are in Christ alone. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ are striving together in this journey; not for their best life now, but for the faith of the gospel.  Our conduct is consistent with the work done on our behalf.  The same power that raised Jesus from the grave lives in us. 

Paul held up examples of Christian conduct – the first of which is Christ himself.  He laid aside his reputation and took on the form of a slave to serve in obedience.  He humbled himself to save us.  Paul said he was also being poured out as a sacrifice for them, and others.  He then pointed to Timothy, a faithful servant.  And then finally to Epaphroditus, one of their own, a faithful servant and brother. 

Remember that there were no chapter breaks in the original.  Paul moved on in his letter by saying 'finally'.  This 'finally' isn't an indication he is getting near the end.  It is just a transition like saying furthermore.  The literal meaning is "As for the rest of you."  He held examples up before the Philippians of those who ought to be held in high esteem.  Then we should understand the beginning of verse one like this:

As for the rest of you, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. 

This statement, 'rejoice in the Lord' is equal to the Old Testament "Hallelujah!"  It was a greeting and declaration and they would have known this.  It was a greeting among brothers like we might say, the Lord bless you or Godspeed.

Paul was repeating to the Philippian Christians some things they had already heard from him.  He wasn’t bothered by doing so and it noted that it was for their good.  Remembrance or stirring up the good was edifying; reviewing the warnings was a way of keeping the proper guards in place – also edifying.  In the first two chapters Paul encouraged in fellowship and unity.  He was about to renew some warnings.  We minister to each other when we remind each other to contend for the faith; to stand fast in the Lord; to run your race with perseverance and finally to rejoice the Lord.

We find our joy in Jesus and rejoice in the Lord.  When our perspective is correct, the burdens of the world become a temporary inconvenience.  It's joy in a life that is characterized by God and not by all the stuff we have to live through, and the mess in which we stand.  We become more and more like citizens of heaven, passing through for a time, never forgetting that we’re going home real soon.  That's why Paul said it was safe.  Fellowship becomes a safety net to keep us all safely in the Lord.  In fellowship, our rejoicing reminds others of the Lord and testifies to who He is and what He’s done. 

Philippians 3:2

This seems like a big left turn after the "rejoicing" of the first verse.  But it’s a reminder, our rejoicing isn’t contingent on our circumstances, the people around us or the stuff of our life.  Paul warned them of one group by repeating the word ‘beware’ three times:

Beware of dogs

• • A derogatory term.  Gentiles were often called dogs by the Jews.  Paul flips this contempt around, warning the gentiles of the dogs that would draw them away from the true faith.

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

The New King James Version (Mt 7:6). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

Beware of evil workers

• • This group prided themselves in keeping the law.  They had a sense of superiority – placing themselves on some lofty righteous high ground from which they felt empowered to instruct others.  They saw themselves as good workers.  Paul called them workers of evil, not because these things were bad, but because they found righteousness in them. 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

[The New King James Version (Eph 2:8–9). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]

Beware of the mutilation

• • Circumcision was properly understood in the beginning as a symbol of covenant relationship (Gen 17).  In time, it became a test of righteousness and source of ethnic boasting.  It was given as a symbol initially.  These men held it as a test of righteousness.  Because it served no religious function, it was simply mutilation from a religious standpoint.
  • If you were baptized apart from faith, you simply got wet.  You did not display an inward change.  In a similar thought, if anyone was circumcised apart from faith, there was no sign of covenant – you were simply mutilated.

 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

[The New King James Version (Col 2:11–12). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]

The warning was likely of the Judaizers who were who were trying to infect the church with their legalisms.  The Judaizers followed Paul around teaching that to be a Christian you had to become a Jew, follow the law; keeping feasts, diet restrictions and men were to be circumcised. 

There were over 600 laws the Jews were given.  All these laws were a picture of God's holiness, God's perfect standard.  No man was capable of keeping the law.  The law was given to show men they were incapable of meeting God's standard of perfection.  Because of that they needed savior.  The Judaizers latched onto one law, that of circumcision.  It was their pet law that they added to grace.  Because of this, Paul called them dogs and evil workers. 

Nothing can be added to the cross; no matter how religious it looks or harmless it appears.  The most benign thing of the world becomes evil when it is added to the work of the cross.  It pollutes the purity of grace from which came our salvation.  The Holy requirements of God's law were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

Philippians 3:3-6

Paul declared the church to be the circumcision.  The church is those who are in covenant relationship with the Lord.  The sign of being God’s people is:

We are those who worship God in the Spirit

• • Not just in some ritual; as if it were a checklist of the law.  The word Paul uses for 'worship' is a word that the Jews would recognize.  It was the word describing the priests in the temple ministering to God.  It was about the heart – a right response to what had been done by the Lord.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The New King James Version (Jn 4:24). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

The New King James Version (Ps 51:17). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

We are those who rejoice in Christ.

• • The word ‘rejoice’ is to ‘boast’ or ‘glory in’.  Our boast isn’t that we did this or that, or accomplished anything of spiritual benefit.  Our boast is in Christ – He accomplished everything.

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

The New King James Version (Ga 6:14–15). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

We are those who have no confidence in the flesh.

• • Our confidence and hope are not based on human things.  Our confidence is in grace alone. 

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The New King James Version (Ro 8:3–4). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

It seems strange to us that anyone could trust in a religious resume’.  Yet, we might not have to look very far to find those who add works to the gospel.  Paul uses himself as an example; as if to say, ‘you want to talk about trusting in the flesh, let me give you my resume'.  He started with the privileges that came to him by birth:

Circumcised according to the law

• • The law required on the 8^th day after birth.  This was a sign of the covenant given to Abraham (Gen 17:12).   This sign was given to Abraham after he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.  The sign did nothing to establish righteousness.

Stock of Israel

• • Israel was the name given to Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.  Jacob was the father of the 12 tribes of Israel.  To be the ‘stock’ was to be the offspring of Israel.  Paul’s lineage was traceable to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Of the tribe of Benjamin. 

• • The tribe of Benjamin claimed a prominence; born of Rachael, he was the only patriarch born in the promised land.  Saul, the first king of Israel came from Benjamin.  When the nation was split, Benjamin remained faithful with Judah.

Paul continues his resume’ by listing his achievements.

A Hebrew among Hebrews. 

• • Pau placed himself in an elite category of Jews who held fast to the Hebrew culture and language.  The Greek culture had pressured Israel to step away from their Hebrew roots.  Those who had done so were Hellenists.  Paul was among the Hebrews holding fast to their roots (as the Pharisees and Essenes among others).  Even though he was born in a gentile city, he is a pure-blooded Jew and spoke Hebrew.

A Pharisee. 

• • They say there were never any more that 6000 Pharisees.  Once again, Paul is among the elite of the elite.  A pharisee was a ‘separated one’; separated from ‘normal’ life to pursue every detail of the law.  This was a lifetime devotion.

Persecutor of the church

• • For the Jews, the greatest part of a person’s religious life was his zeal.  Paul showed his zeal by devoting his life to the destruction of those who threatened Judaism. 

Blameless

• • Paul was righteousness as far as the law was able; he kept the law, the feast, the sacrifices, etc.  In this, he was found blameless.  Yet, in God’s eyes, there was no righteousness attained in the work of the law.

These Jewish false teachers would have been quite impressed with Paul's resume'.  If this was all they would have known about Paul, they would have looked up to him as a Jew among Jews.  They longed to someday attain a resume' like Paul’s so they could claim a righteousness and piety from their works.  

Now to my knowledge, no one is going around to churches today promoting circumcision as a way to God.  But men have added all kinds of other works of the flesh.  It will sneak into any life and eventually every church if we don’t guard against it.  Our salvation, according to Ephesians 2:8-9 is by grace alone.  It's by grace we are saved, not by works.  It is by faith alone in Christ alone.  There is no 'and'.  It's not Christ and anything.

Our informal list might look like this.  True believers trust Jesus and…..

• Use the KJV only.
• Attend Church every time the doors are opened
• Give lots of money to the church
• Sing only from the hymnbook.
• Wear dresses and suits to church
• Adopt the proper lingo

People grow up in many different religious traditions.  Many of them require you to 'do' things in order to be saved.  But we should always remember that our very best is nothing in the eyes of God.  When we think we can 'do' anything to be more righteous in God's eyes we are stealing the glory from Jesus Christ who did it all on the cross.

God’s law is written on our heart.  When you broke the law, you were found a lawbreaker.  The bible says the penalty of sin is death.  Our sin sentenced us to spiritual death; eternal separation from God.  The law of God reveals out sinful nature.  We are incapable of keeping the law and being found perfect in God's eyes.  But God in His mercy and grace made a way.  That way is the through the cross.  Not only does our sin debt get paid, our slate is wiped clean.  We are cleansed from our sins and covered with the righteousness of Jesus.  God granted us this grace so when he looks upon us, he doesn't see us as we were.  He doesn't see a list of rules we tried to keep or see you as someone who tried to be good as defined by men.  He sees you just like He sees Jesus.  Your life is wrapped up in Christ.

In Christ, we died to our self and all our sinful desires and we are born again into a new life.  In this life we have new desires and a new nature.  That desire is to be obedient to the God that saved us.  As a citizen of heaven, we choose a path of moral and godly decisions.  Those moral and godly actions or works didn't save us, instead they become evidence of our salvation.  Whatever sin is in your life, God will begin to remove it.  This is working out your salvation with fear and trembling.  It's making the internal change of your heart visible externally.

The Judaizers Paul was dealing with weren't concerned with the heart.  They were concerned with the external, with the appearance, with name, with pedigree and much more.  They defined their own way to righteousness and declared themselves righteous.  But this is self-righteousness that has no value to God. 

Philippians 3:7-11

Paul had a religious pedigree that would have been revered and caused people to bow at his feet.  However, Paul said, all these things that were once considered gain to him, he now counted as loss.  All that he spent so much time and effort on was just a waste of time.  There was nothing wrong with his heritage and tribe.  The problem was that he had previously put his trust in this list of works.  He had relied on these things, declaring himself righteous because of his resume'.  He came to know the true value of his resume’ and discovered his need.

All that you and I found hope in before Jesus Christ can be counted as loss.  Those hopes may have been found in living the high life, or being a world traveler, or getting married and having a home with a white picket fence.  We might hold up our education degrees, our trophies, our health, family name among other things.  All those things will let you down.  They will fail you if they haven't already.  All can be counted as loss and considered rubbish.

God used Paul's religious experience and pedigree as a testimony to the Jews.  Because of who Paul had been, he could speak of these men to the church at Philippi.  Paul's testimony carried weight because he had been there.  God will use all your life, good and bad, as a testimony to others to bring Him glory.  He will turn all that worthless stuff you used to do into something of value.  He'll use it in your personal testimony to others who are traveling the road you once traveled.  What's your story?  Do you remember all the rubbish of your old life?  Do you see that profound difference between that life and your new life in Christ?  Paul said his old life was to be counted as rubbish to gain the excellence of Christ and be found in Him.  The word for rubbish can was used to refer to the garbage thrown to the dogs or animal dung.

Jesus isn’t just a little better than the things of this life; that’s not even close to what Paul is saying.  There is no earthly comparison.  The very best Paul could accomplish, the very best things he could gather to himself were nothing more than garbage in comparison.  Jesus is far beyond all ‘things’ of this life.  Paul lost, or walked away from, all his ‘things’ in pursuit of Christ.  He did so to:

Gain Christ

Be found in Him -His righteousness by faith

Know Him (experientially)

Know the power of His resurrection (at work in his life)

Know the fellowship of His suffering.

Be conformed to His death (agape love; sacrificial, self-emptying)

Attain resurrection from the dead

Have you gained Christ?  Do you know Him and the power of the resurrection?  Do you know His presence in your life, in your heart and all that you do?  Do you hear Him in his word?  Have you listened to his words?  Do they ring in your ears?  Have you believed in them?  Have you let them change your life?  Do you spend time in His presence?  Do you enjoy being with His family in His house?  Do you share your life with Him, all your life?  Are you as committed to Him as He is to you? 

These things reveal your heart.  By faith in Him we know His righteousness; then we begin to know Him and grow.  As we grow, we are being conformed to his death.  Then in death, we will know and attain the resurrection.

Philippians 3:12-14

It might be easy to start thinking Paul had arrived at some spiritual perfection or completion.  It's easy to for us to put him on a pedestal and we say, "Well, it's easy for Paul he was a super-spiritual."  Imagine how it was for those that met him.  Paul was assuring them he wasn't in any way complete.  God was still working on Him as he worked out his salvation also, just as we are.

Paul had put his hand to the plow and now he was determined to press on.  He said this even as he sat imprisoned in Rome awaiting trial before Caesar.  Many times, we fail to press on because we want to know the cost and weigh them against the benefit as we would see it.  Where is this Christian life taking me?  Paul’s point is that the cost doesn’t matter; nothing compares to Jesus.  Press on!! 

The life of a disciple is a great adventure.  Pressing on isn’t something done in your spare time.  It’s not lackadaisical; not a stroll.  Paul was in pursuit; all his resources, all his efforts, all his life and energy is spent on this pursuit of Jesus.  He wanted to lay hold of that thing for which Jesus laid hold of him.  With all that Paul had done in his life, he didn't think he had apprehended everything that Jesus called him for.  Paul wanted to press on, forgetting all that he had done, not dwelling on any shortcoming, not worrying about failures, but also not resting on his laurels.  It would have been easy for Paul to start feeling sorry for himself while in chains.  He could have easily said, "I had a nice life before and I gave it up for Jesus.  I worked and worked and preached and traveled.  I've been beat up, stoned, left for dead and what did I get for it?  Anyone looking on would see that he got a prison sentence and was facing execution.  Yet Paul knew he was one step closer, pressing on!

"No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

NKJV; Luke 9:62; 1982, Thomas Nelson

When you plow a field, you set your eyes to the horizon to plow a straight line.  Keeping our eyes on Christ is like our compass to keep us on the right path, going the right direction.  But we'll never arrive at any destination in this world, in this body.  Paul pictures this as a race that started on the road to Damascus; he’s going to run that race all the way in pursuit of the prize that awaits him.  He doesn’t get bogged down in the past; he doesn’t worry about the future.  He ran the path set before him in the circumstances in which he found himself.  He traveled light, not encumbered by things.  This is working out your salvation in the present; today with whatever is happening in your life.

Set your life direction toward Jesus.  Apprehend Him in your life, on your path.  When an obstacle falls on your path, you don't turn around or give up and run away in fear.  You find a way over, under, through or around, all the while seeking God.  Our prayer becomes, "Lord Jesus, I don't understand why I'm here or what I need to learn in this.  You're going to have to show me, or grow me.  Grant me wisdom, open my eyes so I can see.  Teach me so I can push on."

Philippians 3:15-16

This simply means if you are mature, you already know these things.  And no matter what you know or how much life experience you have, you still encounter new challenges in your adventure.  God is still growing all of us – still showing us the remainder of our race.  He’ll show it to us and encourage us.  Keep running!

If, however, you have another mind, another thought process; if you struggle with pressing on and staying on course, God will reveal this to you.  The Holy Spirit will teach you how to press on. 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

The New King James Version (Jas 1:5). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

He will give you the energy to continue to apprehend Him.  “This mind” is a spiritual mind as opposed to being earthly minded.  As a citizen of heaven our minds are to be on spiritual things.

Whatever we have attained, let us walk by them, like-minded.  Whatever level of maturity the Lord has brought us to, we ought to act on it.  This is speaking to those people who are laying back, waiting for that day when they have it all figured out and they know exactly what it is they are called to and precisely how God will bring it about.

In the face of opposition and some internal dissension, some of the Philippians have lost their vision for and focus on their crucified and risen Lord, including his coming again. Even in a Roman prison Paul has not lost his vision; here he urges them to follow his example and to see their participation in Christ’s sufferings as Christ’s way of “conforming them to his death,” so that they, with Paul, may joyously gain the prize of his eternal presence.

Fee, G. D. (1999). Philippians (Vol. 11, p. 160). IVP Academic.

You need to take that first step toward apprehending Jesus Christ today.  Your lack of complete knowledge or understanding is no excuse for failing to move today.  You need to press on in faith with the insight that the Lord has given you.  Yup, it doesn't always make sense but God knows right where you are.

Philippians 3:17-21

Paul set himself before the Philippians as an example and asked them to join with him.  In addition, they were to take note of others walking in that example, because there were others walking with Christ in joy through difficult times.  He had already shown them Timothy and Epaphroditus as being Christlike. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”  Paul gave them a pattern and example that would become important because there are many fakers.  These fakers want folks to believe they are pressing on, yet they are walking another way.  They say they are Christians yet are living in the world, relying on their works.  Paul invited folks to join him in being spiritually minded as opposed to worldly or fleshly minded.

However, many walk a different path; one that’s apart from Christ.  There is lots of company on the wide road that leads to destruction (Matt 7:13-14).  It’s an easy path to take.  The narrow way doesn’t come easy – and is only entered into purposefully. 

Within that wide path leading to destruction, Paul seems to draw a distinction between those who are simply lost and those who are enemies of the cross by identifying these enemies.  They are the contrast to the pattern of Christ followers.

Their end is destruction

• • Paul speaks of perdition as a result of the judgment to come.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

The New King James Version (2 Co 11:15). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

Their god is their belly

• • Their belly is their highest concern.  This is their god in which they live and move and have their being.  The belly was seen as the place of sensual desire.  It also speaks of gluttony and possibly licentiousness.
  • Paul warned Timothy of such men:

(Those who are) obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

The New King James Version (1 Ti 6:4–5). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

They glory in their shame

• • The things they perceive to be glory; the things they celebrate and parade in the street; the things they award others for; the accomplishments that will be nothing in eternity – these will be their shame.

The more they increased,

The more they sinned against Me;

I will change their glory into shame.

The New King James Version (Ho 4:7). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

Their minds are set on earthly things

• • They pushed aside heavenly things, ignoring them.  They disregarded the call for their own plans.  They pursued their desires and dreams instead of Christ (Antichrist).

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

The New King James Version (Ro 8:5). (1982). Thomas Nelson.

They were living shortsighted only doing what pleased them, only pursuing what they could see and touch.  These fakers were glorifying things that ought to be shameful for Christians.  They were all caught up in the world.  They quickly became religious when it was convenient, claiming some piety or doing some work they believe would please God or at least give the appearance of godliness.

Paul calls for the Philippians to look beyond their prized Roman citizenship to something greater.  Look beyond the things of the world to heavenly things.  Those that chase after and apprehend the things of the world are pressing on to a disappointing end.  As citizens of heaven, we press on to a goal.  To an end that is no end at all but an eternal beginning.  As we press on, we do so not just to be found in Christ on that day but every day.  Paul expected the Philippians and us to begin to act like citizens now, in this life, as we wait for Christ.

This is a mature attitude and we should live this out in our lives.  The Holy Spirit will show us where we are lacking and He will guide our walk as we apprehend Him.  As we continue on our path, we mess up, we learn from it, turn from it and press on.

In Christ, our life is that of a citizen of heaven.  We’ve been transformed into ambassadors, living in a foreign land, serving our master until He calls us home.  A day will come when the Lord will call for us and then transform us into our new bodies.  We will leave our corruption behind in these bodies of flesh. 

Jesus will bring all things into submission.  He will stand as Lord of Lords and King of Kings at which every knee will bow.  All the sin and junk of our past will no longer have an effect on us.  The burdens of life, the fallenness of this world and all the its darkness will no longer threaten us in any way.  I long for that day. 

We’ll never look back or count our losses, we will only look on the surpassing greatness of Jesus Christ.  Paul calls us to apprehend the greatness of the Lord now,

In a little churchyard in the south of England, Dean Alford lies buried, and on the tablet erected, is the beautiful inscription: “Diversorium Viatoris Hierosolymum Proficiscetes—The Inn of a Traveller on his way to Jerusalem.” After the road which winds uphill, after the journey which takes the whole long day, is the hostelry, with “beds for all who come” and a quiet night.

Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations:

Signs of the Times (p. 1007). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

©2017, 2023 Doug Ford