They regarded circumcision in itself as being enough to set them apart specially for God. That is, the resurrection of those who, having died in the Lord, rise to glory and honour; and hence St. Paul uses a peculiar word which occurs no where else in the New Testament, . As a man knows the bliss of parental or wedded love only by having it, or as he knows the taste of wine only by drinking it, or the glory of music only by hearing it, and the brightness of the day only by seeing it, so we know Christ only by winning Him. He "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Let us not mistake in this; let us not be driven from it by a too common misuse. "My desire is to know Him, and to be found in Him." Even in the ends of the earth they remained unshakeably Roman. He was in prison, long shut out from that which had been his joyful service, though in constant toil and suffering for so many years. i. [Note: W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, 1:86.] What they did seems a much more proper thing, in my judgment, for a woman. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely," nor was this all, but "supposing to add affliction to my bonds.". But then, worse than that, this judgmental spirit. Hence he calls upon them, as one that could not be with them to help them in the conflict, to work out their own salvation. They went in. Every teacher must be more anxious to listen to God than to propagate his own opinions or he, too, will run the risk of being a worker of evil, even when he thinks that he is a worker of righteousness. Preaching and teaching and studying the side-issues may be attractive, and these have their place, but the fundamental truths can neither be spoken nor heard too often for the safety of our souls. But whatever might be their own proper joy, whatever might be their delight in that which God works in the church, they had full and simple-hearted fellowship with His good news. Christ was "without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation." To him to live was Christ. With us it is far otherwise; and only as we live on Christ do we remove, as it were, from the enemy's hand that which would furnish him abundant occasion. Hence I am inclined to retain . This is lost in the idea of labouring in it. But unfortunately, since then, a lot of those things that they counted loss at that point, they picked back up, so that they are encumbered again. It describes the man who is going flat out for the finish. And so the models started coming in with all these beautiful dresses showing them off and doing their little stances and all, and a model came in that had a dress that was absolutely gorgeous. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Let me press this, because alas! But "that in nothing I shall be ashamed." He gave him time to repent; and not only so, but a heart to repent." It was not so with the Philippians. As the Christian has died with Christ, been buried with Him, been raised with Him, and now walks with Him, he will also be glorified together with Him. B. Christ was Son of God in a sole and supreme sense. Experiences are good. If any other" carrying on the same thought of the flesh "if any other man thinketh that he hath matter of trust in the flesh, I more. Or is it, on the settled judgment of the old as altogether and only self and sin, that we are habitually manifesting Christ? The moment you look at what He is made, then it is to the glory of Him who thus exalted Him. The one thing that suits is to pursue the glory before him, till he is in the same glory along with Christ. This is our conformity to his death. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. It was seen laid in the grave of Christ. Phinehas had saved the people from the wrath of God, and been given an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God ( Numbers 25:11-13). Such was the apostle's faith. The manner, too, in which these things happened seemed to make all as remote as possible from furthering the gospel; but here again he brings in Christ. Now, Paul was a classic example of what Jesus was referring to. Paul says, "You Jews think that you are circumcised; in point of fact, you are only mutilated.". Evidently, therefore, two glories of Jesus are referred to here. All error is founded on a misuse of a truth against the truth. Whatever he needed, love is never itself but in unselfish action and suffering. Their end is destruction: their god is their belly; that in which they glory is their shame. No saints are outside the danger. It is because the world was created out of this flawed matter that sin and evil are in it. Paul said, "No, I came out of that. Already knowing Jesus as his Savior, he now desires to know Thus the degree to which we are faithful to use our talents, treasures, gifts, abilities, resources, and opportunities in life to please Him is the degree to which we will obtain this out-resurrection abundance of life." The resurrection of the dead - Paul believed that all the dead would be raised Acts 24:15; Acts 26:6-8; and in this respect he would certainly attain to the resurrection of the dead, in common with all mankind. "I want to know him; I want to know him completely." It is not a question of acceptance in Christ. At this point Paul repeats warnings that he gave the Philippian church some time earlier concerning Judaisers. And with a lot of people, there is just a lot of bad experiences in the past. I had it made as far as the law was concerned." He counts all of the works of the past just wasted effort, refuse. Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body: Our Savior can do and will do something that no Caesar can. This disperses all clouds from the soul. He too in love still keeps up the servant-character, and gives them as it were the Christ-character. Sit at my feet and learn." It would be the equivalent in England of saying that he came over with the Normans or in America that he traced his descent to the Pilgrim fathers. One morning Wesley had preached with great effect: "As we returned, Mr. Wesley stopped his horse to pick the blackberries, saying: 'Brother Nelson, we ought to be thankful that there are plenty blackberries; for this is the best country I ever saw for getting a stomach, but the worst I ever saw for getting food!'" He provides his own life as an example to the Philippians to follow as opposed to the false teachers. Paul is talking about their demands that the Gentiles be circumcised to be saved. He was never ashamed to confess his shame and to tell men that once he had hated the Christ whom now he loved and sought to obliterate the Church which now he served. But out of the midst of bitter experience he had learned Christ, as even he had never known Him before. WebPhilippians 3:14 Once a man or woman has trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour, he embarks on a race through life to the finishing post. He persecuted the church. It is the same in Greek thought; the dog stands for everything that is shamelessly unclean. WebBible Commentaries Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary Philippians 3 11 Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary Philippians 3:11 If by any means - Implying, that he meant to make use of the most strenuous exertions to obtain the object. After being here near three weeks, one morning about three o'clock Mr. Wesley turned over, and, finding me awake, clapped me on the side, saying: 'Brother Nelson, let us be of good cheer: I have one whole side yet, for the skin is off but on one side!'" There is no question that there will be differences of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). It is a blessed and refreshing picture even in thought. In the Bible the dog always stands for that than which nothing can be lower. There are two Greek verbs which are very like each other. [Note: Bob Wilkin, "Philippians 3:11: Is Our Resurrection Certain?" body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself." What might you and I have thought of such? Here and there at strategic military centres the Romans set down their colonies. Returning, however, to the women Evodia and Syntyche, they had devoted themselves to an exceedingly happy and prized service. His desire above all was that Christ's name might go forth. 87-88; and S. Lewis Johnson Jr., "The Out-Resurrection from the Dead," Bibliotheca Sacra 110 (1953):139-46; and Lightner, "Philippians," p. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord ( Philippians 3:8 ): Paul the apostle is on his way to Damascus to persecute the church. But Paul forgot the things which were behind so as not to be content with present measures of grace: he was still for having more and more. But supposing it possible to be clothed with the righteousness of the law, he would not have it now. For such conflict we need the power of the Lord and the whole armour of God. Why should women expose, themselves? True experience is still the great theme which the apostle has in hand here as well as in his own personal history. There may be sins within your heart that have long resisted control. WebPhilippians 3 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. Oh, it is a blessed thing, that in the midst of the sorrows of this world, the Holy Spirit knows how thus to blend the name of Christ, as the sweetest balm, with the sorrow, however bitter, and to make the very memory of the grief pleasant because of Christ, who deigns to let Himself into it all. Because this is going to bring him an estrangement from his cronies back in Jerusalem that he has been going around with.Paul is writing this epistle to the Philippians some thirty years after the Damascus road experience. She just sort of caught her breath when she saw it, it was just such a glorious gown.Lady Bountiful, being very astute, noticed that she gasped at that one. They are living in the past, the past glories. We now heard what the apostle renounced; let us now see what he laid hold on, and resolved to cleave to, namely, "Help them" (says he) "with Clement also, and with my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life. "Laboured" gives a wrong sense. It is important to note the verb which he uses for to know. The effect upon the individual is usually pride and the developing of a judgmental attitude.As the Pharisee who went in before the Lord and said, "Father, I thank you that I am not as other men. WebFor we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit ( Philippians 3:3 ), Paul was constantly emphasizing that the physical rites had no value except there be a It is the only place in Scripture where the phrase means, not simply the righteousness of God in point of character, but the righteousness of God in point of source. Not in a figurative sense, the resurrection from the death of sin to a life of grace, of which Christ is And the problem is that they are constantly going back and going over those bad experiences. He had done everything that he was supposed to do according to the law to be righteous. Nothing less would be in keeping with such a high position. Is this the life that is practically exercised? The problem with this view is the unusual word used for the resurrection (Gr. "Rejoice in the Lord alway." None can have interest or benefit by it but those who come off from confidence in themselves, and are brought heartily to believe in him. I don't know about this suffering bit. One cannot overlook the amazing strength with which he speaks even of his affections. Now, when the Lord apprehended us, He had in His mind a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. But Paul didn't stop there did he? And do count them but dung [as refuse], that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith ( Philippians 3:8-9 ): Now, Paul had excelled in the righteousness in the law. He would have them realize the solemnity of the strife that is going on. iv. WebPhilippians 2:1-5. The fellowship of His sufferings.Our flesh always rebels against suffering. i. Jesus really can subdue all things. Paul himself did not hope to attain it through his own merit and righteousness, but through the merit and righteousness of Jesus Christ. And thus it was the power of the Spirit of God that gave him to look out in the midst of all that he passed through day by day, that all, whatever it might be, should be done to Christ, and so too all by Christ, the Holy Ghost working it, so to speak, in his soul to give him simply and settledly in everything that occurred an opportunity of having Christ Himself as the substance of his living and serving, no matter what might come in the course of duty. We now heard what the apostle renounced; let us now see what he laid hold on, and resolved to cleave to, namely, Christ and heaven. It is not the dread of losing the Saviour of their souls, but because they felt for His name; "for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." According to Jewish belief, circumcision was ordained upon Israel as sign and symbol that they were the people with whom God had entered into a special relationship. But here is the proper experience of a Christian. So these Gnostics taught that gluttony and adultery and homosexuality and drunkenness were of no importance because they affect only the body which is of no importance. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. And it is an interesting period in church history where those who are indulging their flesh look upon it as spiritual superiority. In 48 B.C. Verses 1-21. Not only do we have the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, but we have the privilege of gathering together and studying the word of God together. And so the rule of the Christian life is: forgetting those things which are behind, and pressing for those things which are before, or reaching for those things which are before, pressing towards the mark. Men whose whole minds are earthbound! And so, too, he could now read and interpret all things in that bright light around him. What is the point of this? Download Commentary. I don't want to see it nailed to the cross. "For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Does not our love fervently flame towards heaven? (Spurgeon). Wherever he taught, the Jews followed him and tried to undo his teaching. (1.) Impossible that He could be made Jehovah. In this passage the key-word is righteousness. It was by this name that the Jews called the Gentiles. after a flea!" And he said, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus." but for you it is safe. Did he want more for himself? What he means by forgetting the things that are behind is, that we should not think of any progress we may have made in following Christ, that we should lose sight of everything calculated to give us self-satisfaction. 3:1 As for what remains, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. "I beseech Evodia, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. Who, when He comes, He is going to change our bodies, that they might be fashioned like His own glorious image. How rich and full he was of the goodness of the God he had proved so long and could recommend so well! Whatever you desire, just ask God, insist on God, command God. This last is but a confirmation of the same truth. the scope of the context) is as decidedly for as the weightiest external witnesses. The word is amemptos ( G273) , and J. Who have had more palpable witness that service may become the object rather than Christ? This filled Paul with sunshine; and he would have others to enjoy the same bright light which the name of Christ cast on every object. A sole and supreme sense of this flawed matter that sin and evil are in.... Is amemptos ( G273 ), and to be saved do according to the cross keeping such. 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philippians 3:11 14 commentary