How to replace self-confidence with something better:
Knowing Christ.
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!
It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a
safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do
evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision,
we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no
confidence in the flesh- 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put
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; in regard to
the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now
consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a
loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for
whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that
comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his
resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him
in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all
this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that
for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself
yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are mature should take such
a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will
make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example,
brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many
live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their
god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on
earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a
Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables
him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so
that they will be like his glorious body.
Chap 4
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
INTRODUCTION
In this passage, which includes 41, Paul takes a good look
at himself. From a human point of view
he had many advantages and some would have said a lot of cause to be confident
in himself. He takes a new look at these advantages and draws up a new balance
sheet for his spiritual life. Notice the “we” and “I” passages that divide the
chapter. 1-3 4-14 15-41
Perhaps the most memorable verse is v14 “I press on toward the goal…”
OUTLINE
1. Watch Out! Recognise the true spirituality vv1-3
2. Face up to self-confidence vv4-6
3. Replace it with knowing Him and being like
Him vv7-11
4. Recognise that it isn’t achieved overnight vv12-14
5. Be consistent, follow the pattern vv15-17
6. Make the most of your rights as a citizen
of heaven vv18-41
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!
It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a
safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do
evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision,
we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no
confidence in the flesh-
“Finally …” Apart from the application in the next chapter, Paul has reached the final part of his letter – but as is often the case with Paul he isn’t done yet.
“dogs” The reference is to the Judaisers – a group many times referred to in these prison letters – Jews who wished to impose on gentile Christians the outward signs of Judaism – in particular circumcision. Here Paul describes the threefold nature of the real circumcision:
o
we who worship by
the Spirit
o
who glory in
Christ Jesus
o who put no confidence in the flesh
The Church is the real circumcision – the real chosen people – and it is marked by a Spirit led worship, a Christ centred message and a determination not to trust to human virtues or righteousness.
This thought of “confidence” leads Paul to his central theme: the place of self confidence in Paul’s life.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put
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; in regard to
the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless.
If anyone had reason to boast in his credentials it was surely the apostle. He gives us his reasons: and they have to do with Paul as he used to be.
Born a Jew “the eighth day” i.e. not a proselyte Jew
A member of the Covenant people of Israel
A member of a specially privileged tribe of Benjamin
A Jew descended from a Jew
A Pharisee by training and persuasion
Zealous in persecuting Christians (Ac 9 13)
In legalistic righteousness faultless - like the rich young ruler he had kept the law according to the outward values of strict Pharisaism.
Such a heritage is something you do not put aside lightly!
We need to remember that for Saul they represent all that is worth
living for. Only when he met Jesus on
the Damascus Road did he realise there was something better.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now
consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more,
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I
consider them rubbish, 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 is through faith in Christ-the
righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of
sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow,
to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Look at that paragraph. See how the name Christ is set in it like a jewel in a precious setting – in every verse but one.
Paul is giving the Philippians a new view of his testimony so you can
compare if you will Acts 23 and 26.
This, if you like, is the balance sheet of Paul’s life – his profit and
loss record. He is well placed in the
prison to reflect on his past life – before he became a Christian – and the
subsequent way his understanding of Jesus has changed.
It is a radical change “whatever was to my profit”
It is comprehensive “everything” “all things”
|
Verse |
Loss |
Profit |
|
7 |
What was to my profit |
Christ |
|
8 |
Everything All things These = rubbish |
Knowing Christ For His sake Christ |
|
9 |
Righteousness of my own From the Law |
Righteousness from God By faith |
|
10 |
|
Know Christ Power of His resurrection Sharing sufferings Become like Him |
|
11 |
|
Attain the resurrection |
Notice the progression:
7
I consider
what was profit now to be loss
8
Consider
everything a loss Have
lost all things
Consider them rubbish = dung
That is the how of his balance sheet – a steady progress from regarding to losing to
abhorring as refuse.
Notice what Paul gains:
In a word – such
a precious word – Christ 7
Surpassing greatness of knowing Christ
Jesus my Lord 8
Be found in Him 9
Righteousness that comes from God 9
The power of His resurrection 10
Fellowship of sharing in his sufferings 10
Becoming like him in his death 10
Attain the resurrection from the dead 11
As he looks back over his life as Jew – indeed as he reviews the
progress of his spiritual life, Paul shows the Philippians that he has a new
attitude to what was regarded as profit, that he applies that new attitude to
everything in his life, that he regards those advantages not only as losses –
but refuse!
This he sees is the way his life should develop – with a radical
alteration of the values he once had and a new attitude to everything that is
of the present life.
It is not easily achieved – it requires a view of Christ that is
all-surpassing, and an effort to achieve more and become more like Christ.
Notice the word “somehow” in v11. Does it suggest doubt about the
outcome?
The stress is on the effort required rather than the possibility of
achieving.[1]
The Message renders it “If there was any way to get in
on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.”
12 Not that I have already obtained all
this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that
for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself
yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize
for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
There is a prize worth winning. I am determined to get it. I know I
haven’t got it yet – but it will be mine!
I know Christ – but there is so much more to know – I haven’t learned
enough yet. But I am going to keep on learning.
The Christian life needs effort. Yet one of the things which the
doctrine of Grace seems to mitigate is effort. Our righteousness is in Christ –
we don’t achieve it by trying – but in achieving it we must make the effort to
move on.
In v12 the two-sided nature of our faith is brought out:
I press on to take hold of that for which
Christ Jesus took hold of me.
It reminds me of the motto of Spurgeon’s College. “Teneo et teneor” “I hold and am held”
Notice the verbs of effort in these verses:
o Press on
o Take hold
o Forgetting
o Straining toward
o Press on
At first sight Paul’s “one thing” seems to be many – but it is “I press
on”.
The guarantee of its success is in v14
the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus.
From the “we” passage of 4-14 Paul now adopts the “I” of instruction.
15 All of us who are mature should take such
a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will
make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in
following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to
the pattern we gave you.
Paul does not expect everyone to agree with him. It is a measure of spiritual maturity that the view of progress will be shared.
The key words are in v17 “live according to the pattern”
He may not expect all to agree with him – but he requires that they must “live up to what they have already attained” v16
As in the case of “Work out your own salvation…” the Christian life in terms of its understanding of Christ and obedience to the Word of God must make progress – and it builds on progress already made.
Notice then:
o Progress is fundamental
o God explains those things not yet understood or applied
o It’s up to you to keep up – not as regards an ultimate success in pleasing God, that is impossible – but in following Christ in whom we do please him.
Then Paul commends his own life as an example for the Philippians and the lives of others who have acted on his teaching.
This leads Paul into another contrast between the enemies of the cross and the believers.
18 For, as I have often told you before and
now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in
their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in
heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will
transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
Paul expresses his deep regret at those people he now describes as living “as the enemies of the cross of Christ” v18. We quite simply do not know to whom he was referring. It could be the Judaisers of the earlier reference to “dogs” – but it is not certain. Sufficient to say that they are enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul
Draws out a comparison between those and the citizens of heaven.
It may be helpful to set out the comparison in a table:
|
|
Enemies of cross |
Citizens of heaven |
|
Destiny |
Destruction
- judgement |
Heaven |
|
God |
Stomach /
lust? |
Lord Jesus
Christ |
|
Boast / glory |
In their
shame / immorality |
Will
Transform our lowly bodies to be like His |
|
Mind |
Earthly
things |
Eagerly
await a Saviour … |
The Christian life is never lived in isolation. Paul uses the word “citizenship” uniquely here to describe the Christian Church living together.
Philippi was extremely proud of its status as a Roman “Colony” and it’s people proud of their citizenship. There is a similar cause for pride amongst believers. Citizenship involves status and a shared hope and liberty; it also includes responsibilities.
The two concluding verses – even though they straddle the conventional
chapter margins of our bible – set out a hope, a deep concern (on the part of
Paul) and a concluding command:
the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power
that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our
lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
Our hope –
which is here closely related to our citizenship – is focussed on Jesus who –
Has the power to bring all things under His control
Will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious
body
And
He is coming (implied from
v20)
Paul’s deep concern for the Philippians is expressed in 41 :
Love
Long for
You are “my joy and crown”
Dear friends
It is also echoed in v. 18
“even say with tears”
His
final command
“Stand firm in
the Lord”
There’s a sort
of paradox here. Those who press on will stand firm. It is certainly not a static state.
Hold the truth
& Resist
attack
There are
enemies about – and also there are those to whom, as we learned earlier, we
must stand firm in shining as stars in the universe.
The future’s
bright – the future’s Jesus.
©
David A. Green BD Spring 2000
[1] “Thus he needs to continue to trust in Christ and that
is the “somehow” of attaining to the resurrection from the dead—continued trust
in the context of being a sinner”. “Unconquerable Gospel” Herrick at www.bible.org