Philippians 3:1
Paul's Quest
Each chapter in Philippians seems to have a different theme.
Phil 1 - Paul’s Heart
Phil 2 - The Mind of Christ
Phil 3:1-14 - Paul’s Quests
Each chapter seems to take a different theme in the book of Philippians. In this
chapter, we will see Paul’s quests or his pursuits. Like the previous two chapters,
this is showing us how Paul thought and the things for which he longed.
For some, looking to Jesus as a pattern for life allows some room from
compromise. "After all," they reason, "Jesus is God, and I can’t be like Him."
But by looking at the heart of this earthly Christian, our lackluster life is
exposed. Paul was a man just like us and yet he caught a vision of what it meant
to be like Jesus and pursued that vision. We ought to do likewise.
I. \\#Phil 3:1-8\\ Be Careful - Paul is not bitter (although perhaps a little
aggravated) with the Jews leaders, but he is wise and cautious. In these
verses, Paul is warning the Philippians against the Jews who have
instigated his arrest.
A. \\#1\\ - "Finally" - Paul does not mean that he is about to finish
his letter; for at this point, he is only half way through it. He
means that he is getting to the reason of his writing.
B. What are the reasons for writing?
1. \\#Phil 3:1\\ "rejoice in the Lord"
a. This is the sixth time Paul has used that word in this book.
b. Paul does not want the Philippians to be overcome with:
(1) fear
(2) anger or bitterness
(3) bewilderment or confusion
c. These are not the emotions of the child of God who is in the
hand of his Almighty Father.
d. No. He (or she) is to rejoice.
(1) That is not an indication that no problems will come for
they will.
(2) It is a indication that no matter what happens, God has
allowed it for a purpose which will glorify Him and
reward us.
2. \\#Phil 3:2\\ "Beware… beware… beware"
a. Paul’s second reason is to warn the Philippians of the Jews.
(1) Paul uses the word BEWARE three times in one verse!
i. Do you get the idea that he is earnest in them
getting this message?
ii. It is because Paul calls these Jewish leaders DOGS
that I presume he is a little aggravated at them.
(2) Even though he speaks of "dogs… evil workers… the
concision," all three refer to the Jews.
i. CONCISION means TO CUT, TO MUTILATE.
ii. That is a reference to the Jews who were the only
nation of people who routinely circumcised their
males.
iii. Paul is not giving a warning against all Jews for
Paul himself is a Jew. The Bible is not an anti-
Jewish book. While the Bible does not always say
so, when it speaks negatively of the Jews, it is
speaking of the Jewish leaders at that time.
b. \\#1\\ "To write… is not grievous, but… safe."
(1) Paul is not warning about the Jews because he is bitter
(grieved) at them.
(2) Paul is writing because others need to be warned so they
may be SAFE.
(3) Remember, Paul is danger of losing his life because the
Jewish leaders have lied and plotted against him.
C. \\#Phil 3:3\\ "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in
spirit"
1. Paul is saying that WE (CHRISTIANS), not Jews, are the true
circumcised of God.
a. Not because the Christians of that time had been physically
circumcised for most Gentile Christians had not.
b. But because Christian hearts, both male and female, have had
the rebellious tough exterior skin cut away.
2. To some Jews, Being of the CIRCUMCISION was the equivalent of being
predestinated to heaven.
a. The Jews considered that they were the people of God because
they had been circumcised.
b. That is a case of a religious symbol becoming more important
than the meaning for which it stood.
c. Paul will explain that it is not the act of circumcision which
makes a Jew God’s, but what the act MEANT.
Romans 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou
be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not
his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge
thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision,
which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart,
in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
d. Paul’s point is circumcision without a right heart means
nothing.
e. The same is true of church membership, baptism, tithing, or any
other work that a modern-day worshipper might want to use as
a substitute for salvation.
f. No work produces salvation.
(1) At most, they are only the outward symbols of a right
heart.
(2) We know that a right heart is one that has experienced
salvation and can worship God in the spirit.
D. \\#Phil 3:3-8\\ Paul uses his own Jewish pedigree as an example of what
would NOT produce salvation.
1. Paul understood the Jewish mentality since he was one.
a. He had been saved out of that mindset so he understood the
things in which the Jews trusted.
b. Paul himself had one of the best Jewish records anyone could
hope to have, but he found it was insufficient for salvation.
2. What was Paul’s record?
a. \\#5\\ Paul was "circumcised the eight day," as the law
required \\#Ge 17:12\\.
b. He was of "the stock of Israel;" that is, Paul was born a Jew
as opposed to converting to Judaism.
c. He was of the tribe of Benjamin. He could trace his genealogy
all the way back to Jacob, making him a "Hebrew of the
Hebrews."
d. Concerning his interpretation of the Old Testament law, he was
a Pharisee, the most conservative of religious orders.
e. \\#6\\ Concerning his devotion (zeal), he persecuted "the
church," and would have done so against any he deemed as
heresy.
f. Concerning his obedience to the law, he was "blameless."
g. \\#4\\ Paul says that if anyone had cause to trust, or have
"confidence," in the flesh, it was him.
3. What did he learn?
a. \\#3\\ He had "no confidence" in these fleshly things.
b. \\#7-8\\ He counted them as "dung," manure, waste; that is,
they were absolutely useless in the arena of producing
salvation.
II. \\#Phil 3:9-14\\ A Stronger Desire - Paul having been a Jew who thought he
understood salvation, now has a stronger desire, one that every Christian
should have.
A. \\#Phil 3:9\\ Paul wants to be "in him" not having his "own righteousness."
1. The emphasis here is not that Paul wanted to be FOUND in Jesus.
a. There are several phrases in this section which some attempt to
use to prove that Paul was not certain of his salvation.
b. I do not believe Paul's salvation is the issue in these verses;
the issue is that Paul desired something far more intimate
with Jesus than just salvation, as the context bears out.
2. The emphasis is that Paul wanted to be FOUND not standing in his
OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, which came by the works of the law and was
insufficient.
3. Rather, he wanted to stand in the righteousness of Christ which
came by having faith in Christ.
a. Paul wanted to stand before the Lord meritless, completely
resting on the work of Jesus Christ.
b. While every Christian should work as if his soul depended upon
it, no Christian should trust in a single work to earn God’s
favor!
B. \\#Phil 3:10\\ Paul wants "to know" Jesus.
1. This is not just to have a head knowledge of Jesus.
a. Paul is not interested in any superficial relationship with
Jesus.
b. And again, I do not believe that Paul is speaking of a
salvation experience.
c. Paul is after a richer, deeper knowledge of Jesus than even
salvation gives.
2. Paul wants to experience what Jesus experience.
a. The strongest relationships are not those who simply share
a bloodline or ideas; but those who have shared experiences and
memories.
b. Two elderly people from the same generation meet and instantly
become best friends. Why? Because of what they share.
3. What did Paul want to share with Jesus?
a. The power of the resurrection
(1) This is what most every Christian wants to have.
(2) Resurrection power is all power.
(3) If you have the power to rise from the dead, what else
could you do? What could you not do?
b. But to know the power of a resurrection, you must first know
death.
(1) No one can know how to live after death who has not first
died.
(2) Paul did not just want to experience just the glory of the
power, he desired to die to self, and if necessary
to die physically, as well.
(3) Paul was willing and indeed did pay the price of his life
to know Jesus in this deeper way.
c. To know the death of Jesus, you must experience the pain that
He suffered.
(1) Just as Christ has gone beyond death to suffer for us,
so Paul desired to go beyond death and suffer with
Jesus.
(2) Paul’s desire was to endure all that Jesus endured, so
that he and Jesus might have all of that in common.
C. \\#Phil 3:11\\ "If… I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead"
1. Again, this phrase might be used to say that Paul did not know he
was saved.
a. Paul seemed assured of his place in the resurrection. I
noticed that when Paul discusses the resurrection in his
letters, he uses the inclusive pronoun "we."
1Thess 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1Cor 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall
all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
b. \\#12\\ Paul also refers to himself as being "apprehended by
Christ."
c. \\# 13\\ Paul calls the Gentiles his "Brethren."
d. Paul was not worried about his salvation.
(1) He understood that he had been CAUGHT by God.
(2) Salvation is not us holding onto God. Salvation is God
holding onto us.
(3) Paul is not striving for salvation. He is striving to
get a hold on God like the hold that God had on him.
2. My belief is that Paul is still talking about the POWER of the
resurrection in \\#11\\.
a. That is what he desired in \\#10\\. Paul wanted to experience
God to the place of having the power of the resurrection.
b. However, although the context does indicate this, it is not
provable so some will continue to doubt Paul’s assurance.
D. \\#Phil 3:12\\ There were two things Paul did not have.
1. Paul had not attained unto the power of the resurrection.
a. Paul may be saying that he still has along way to go in the
fellowship of Christ’s sufferings and death to get to the
kind of power that is available to the believer.
b. This is also backed up by the statement of Jesus, who said
His followers were to have more power than even He had.
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I
go unto my Father.
c. It is possible that you and I have never even dreamt of the
power that is available to us if we were able to set self
totally aside and seek after Christ.
2. \\#12\\ Paul had not attained unto perfection.
a. Some might think Paul to be the perfect Christian (and
compared to us, he might be); however Paul knew his own short
comings.
b. \\#13-14\\ Instead of thinking he was perfect, Paul was:
(1) …forgetting his past…
(2) …reaching ahead - looking to the future.
(3) …and pushing forward to be and do all that Christ had
called him to do.
c. All of this implies that Paul had failures, regrets, and short
comings just like us.
d. However, he would not let them hinder his onward push to be what
his Savior wanted him to be.
Paul desired to know Christ not just for the power but for the relationship. How
his desire should put ours to shame.
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