Philippians 3 — Worship God in the Spirit
Introduction: Paul used the word rejoice five times in the first two chapters, and in this chapter he emphasized the importance of continuing to rejoice in the Lord, but also to be on guard against the false teaching that could develop in their midst. He used some strong language when he wrote about the false circumcision that some Jews in the local church were teaching as a requirement. The need to be converted in the heart by grace through faith is figuratively the true circumcision.
NOTE: All scripture passages are from the World English Bible.
A — Be on Guard While You Rejoice in the Lord
Philippians 3 “1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
Comments: Paul wanted the believers to know that centering their heartfelt thoughts in joy in the Lord could keep them safe from erroneous teaching. With strong language he called those requiring circumcision dogs and evil workers of false circumcision. Those who worship God in the spirit have undergone the true circumcision of the heart and can rejoice in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the flesh. Even in the second book of the Law, Moses wrote about this: Deuteronomy 10:16 “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.” Deuteronomy 30:6 says “Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart… to love Yahweh your God with all your heart.” Jeremiah 4:3–4 similarly warned Judah. Romans 2:28–29 explains that he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit, not in the letter. Galatians 5:3–6 warns that those desiring to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ and fallen from grace.
B — Righteousness from Christ Far Exceeds Any Achievements
Philippians 3 “4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. 7 However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord… that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death.”
Comments: Paul wrote that if confidence in Jewish heritage or personal achievements could make someone worthy before God, he had much about which to boast — but he readily rejected the value of what he had once prized so highly. Before his conversion Paul had been very zealous to persecute all Christians, as he testified before a violent crowd in Jerusalem: Acts 22:3–4 “I am a Jew… brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God… I persecuted this Way to the death.” But Paul now counted all such things as nothing but refuse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, and declared that he had no righteousness of his own which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. Romans 6:3–6 describes how our baptism into Christ brings us united with both his death and his resurrection to newness of life.
C — Press On for the High Calling in Jesus
Philippians 3 “11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Comments: Paul clarified for his readers that becoming conformed to Christ still left a journey of life in the flesh before the attainment of the resurrection from the dead. We are not made fully complete while still struggling against our sin nature in this life, so we must press on to that final point for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us. Paul encouraged the fellow Christians by saying that since he himself had not fully taken hold of that goal, he was forgetting the past, reaching to things ahead, and pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
D — Our Citizenship Is in Heaven with Our Savior
Philippians 3 “15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind. 17 Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example. 18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.”
Comments: Paul wanted the believers to consider themselves completely equipped in Christ, and to be as he was by considering all personal credit as nothing compared with the high calling given to them by Christ. If there were still ways in which they needed to grow in their faith, God would reveal those things to them. There are many whose conduct reveals them as enemies of Christ, and Paul had warned of them before and now warns again even with tears — their end is destruction because their god is their appetite for material gain. But the citizenship of the Christian is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change the physical body of our humiliation to be conformed to the spiritual body of his glory, according to the working of his power by which he is able even to subject all things to himself!
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, keep me from developing any sense that my own efforts have earned the salvation of my soul, but may I instead rejoice in your grace to me. Thank you for the record of how Paul gladly referred to all of his personal status as a Jew and his scholarly achievements in scripture as nothing but refuse compared to the excellent and surpassing joy of receiving the righteousness which is from God by faith. Lord, please guide me in the power of Christ’s resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, that I may become conformed to his death while I live in the flesh. I want to continually press on to that final point for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me to receive the prize of the high calling of God to resurrection in His eternal kingdom. May I be cautious about any people around me whose conduct reveals them as the enemies of Christ. I want to remember to share whatever you provide for me in this life, and to live out the belief that my citizenship is in heaven from where I also wait for my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I eagerly await the time to come when Christ will change my physical body of humiliation to be conformed to the spiritual body of his glory! Hallelujah, amen.
Published 30 November 2015