Philippians 3:1-11
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
The first thing that fires Paul up: a life centered around self-willed
.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more… —Philippians 3:2-4
Circumcision represents a confidence before the Lord found in what we do as opposed to what Christ has done for us.
Self-willed moral effort
your eyes off of God and
them on you.
Self-willed moral effort
us from brothers and sisters in Christ.
Self-willed moral effort
you from people whom you are called to bring the gospel to.
Self-willed moral effort
your view of yourself.
Self-willed moral effort
your joy.
The second thing that fires Paul up: a life centered on the
of Christ for us.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ —Philippians 3:8
: We don’t have to earn salvation because Christ already won it for us.
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— —Philippians 3:9
: We don’t own our growth because Christ does.
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, —Philippians 3:10
: We don’t have to be afraid of anything or anyone because Christ will raise us when He comes again.
that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. —Philippians 3:11
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. —Philippians 3:1