Day 4 - Practicing Scripture
Welcome to Day 4 apprentices! I hope this is helping your forge a new love for the word and a new life giving habit! I was thinking about something and realize that I forgot to mention something I recommend you do… before I ever try to dive into something, I like to just read the entire chapter through pretty quickly. It helps to have that context before dissecting verses. So, go read Philippians 3 really quick. Speed reading is fine - just get some context before we try to dive in.
1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.
You got to love when the guy on house arrest on the way to the gallows reminds you to rejoice in the Lord. Then he says, “there’s no trouble for me to say this…” How Challenging!
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh
Here in verse two Paul is reversing terminology used by Jewish people of the day to describe non-jewish people.
This is interesting in light of the constant running theme of unity. Paul here is identifying a group of “preachers” who are aiming to undermine the Gospel of Grace and preach a gospel that requires adherence to the jewish law. Paul’s language is STRONG here!
It seems like Paul is making a distinction here on what is important as he said in the first chapter… take pride in Christ Jesus and His work, not your own. Also, false teachers of the Gospel are bad.
4 although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
Paul is making his case here to show how great he was in following the law. He could have been more confident in his adherence than most others.
Here is great insight from the Chuck Smith commentary we are using: You remember Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, chapter 5 of Matthew, said, "Except your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven." Now, Paul was a classic example of what Jesus was referring to. As far as the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, Paul had it. He had done everything that he was supposed to do according to the law to be righteous. In fact, he had gone beyond. He was a Pharisee. He persecuted the church. As far as his zeal and according to the righteousness that is in the law, he was blameless. But still, that is not enough to bring a man an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
7 But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ,
This was written 30 years after Paul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus when Jesus asked Paul why he was persecuting Jesus. Even 30 years later, he counts everything he worked for in the law to be rubbish as compared to knowing Christ.
Paul is experiencing a vibrancy in his relationship with Christ 30 years after conversion.
12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
This is an interesting verse. Paul is not speaking of obtaining perfection of performance as a believer but he is speaking of fulfilling the purpose God has for his life.
The original language here reads something closer to, “I have apprehended what has apprehended me…” Essentially, He is saying Christ found him with a purpose to complete.
Side note: The more I am reading through and studying, the less I like or would recommend New Living Translation. New living is a thought for thought translation as opposed to word for word. They do a good job communicating the “big picture” but I feel like there is a lot lost here. Just my opinion!
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; 16 however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Paul says forget the past, look at the future. There can be a lot of reasons for that and a few different implications. There is work to be done. But also, you can’t build your salvation on a past relationship.
Paul presses on…. the upward call of God is to finish the race. You can’t win a race you don’t finish.
Paul’s pastoral note here in 15-16 is encouraging… “You might disagree, but I will be praying the Lord reveals truth to you.”
17 Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
Paul says to be like him. What a challenge to live by! I would love to be able to confidently go around telling people, “just pattern your life after me and you’lll be fine.”
18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things.
Part of the reason Paul is imploring them to follow Him is because of those preaching a false Gospel.
We need examples to follow, and others around us need examples to follow in a way to live in Christ.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
Here is more of that treasure!
Where are you from? Heaven! Your citizenship is from another land. That’s great news to keep at the forefront of your mind.
Verse 21 gives a promise for the end of the age. Our bodies will one day be made glorious. You may suffer now and go through trials, but there is a day where we will be glorified! Amen!
A Note from Chuck Smith’s Commentary: When Jesus comes again, we will each experience a metamorphosis. "This robe of flesh I will drop and rise to reap the everlasting prize." The new body, the building of God not made with human hands, the eternal house that God has created for my spirit. And so, this body will be changed, and I will receive a new body like His, fashioned like His glorious image, according to that power of the Spirit that raised Him from the dead.
Love you all and see you tomorrow for the next chapter!
What’s your personal summary?
-Pastor Brian
