Introduction
Luke 13:24 Jesus says strive to enter through the narrow gate. What is most important for not only the new year but for life? Paul is pursuing the prize. He keeps that same focus to attain Christ. Worldliness, human achievement he is shedding so he can run faster.
Verse 7-8 he counts all things loss and rubbish that he may gain Christ.
This new year to focus on a real living saving relationship with Christ so that we may he formed to His image. There is no salvation outside of Christ. Paul tells us to run. To gain, to attain, to press forward.
This is not teaching we save ourselves or attain salvation through human merit. He is countering those who have confidence in human achievement. He calls them dogs (v2). Dogs were not pets at this time. They were dangerous and ravenous. Beware of evil workers. (V2) – they boast in good works but they are evil. Beware of the mutilation – Jews who are trusting in their works. All true Christians are the true circumcision. If you don’t believe in Christ you are not the circumcision. Your circumcision is meaningless. At this time the Jews were persecuting Paul. Disrupting churches and Paul has to deal with this. Paul is warning they will come and not to be taken in by them.
V3 – For we are the circumcision,
– this an amazing thing to say in a predominantly gentile church. Those who trust in Christ are circumcised in the heart. This is why Paul talks about the flesh so much because the Jew trusted in the flesh. Circumcision was a sign of sin and that sin needed to be cut off. Jeremiah 4:4, Jeremiah 9:25.
Romans 2:29 (NKJV) but [he is] a Jew who [is one] inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise [is] not from men but from God.
1 – those who worship God in the Spirit
It’s internal and not just external. Good works are a fruit of the spirit. John 4:23 (NKJV) “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. Circumcision ended as a sign. Because Jesus had come. Worship may be anywhere. John 4:21 (NKJV) Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Worship would not be at a place but in the heart. The church is Gods people. Ecclesia – the called out ones. The internal has to be there but it has to come out.
2- They rejoice in Christ Jesus (v3)
When we are satisfied with Christ we aren’t led away or enticed by false religion. Rejoicing in the Lord is the summary of all safeguards. Paul is in jail. He is rejoicing even if he dies. You can get through any circumstance if we put our trust in Christ. It is bad to boast in the flesh it is good to boast in Christ.
A Christian is one who only boasts in Christ. We give all credit and all glory to Jesus Christ. Everything else is rubbish, without life if it is not in Christ. The unbeliever is not interested in boasting in Christ. False religion boasts in their works, their worship, their church, their traditions. A Christian grieves over their sin, wants others to know Christ. A true Christian boasts in Christ.
Never in anything else. To Him be the glory! It’s all about Christ and seeking His righteousness.
3 – the 3rd mark of a Christian. It takes no confidence in the flesh.
What did your flesh gain? (V4-8) . Paul calls it rubbish (skybalon skoo’-bal-on) – spiritual worship of God – putting our confidence in Christ. The cure for self righteousness is focusing on the Lord
Philippians 3:1-21 (NKJV) 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you [is] not tedious, but for you [it is] safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from 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, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.