Introduction: In the third chapter of Philippians, the Apostle Paul shares his personal journey of faith and his relentless pursuit of Christ. He warns believers against false teachers, recounts his own past qualifications, and points out the all encompassing value of knowing Jesus. Paul encourages believers to focus on spiritual goals and to live in anticipation of Christ’s return. The inspiring words in this chapter should motivate believers to persevere in their faith, disregard the world, and to press on towards the prize of eternal life with Christ.
I. Warning Against False Confidence (Philippians 3:1-3)
The chapter begins with Paul reminding the believers to rejoice in the Lord and to watch out for those who preach circumcision as necessary for salvation. He emphasizes that true believers are those who worship by the Spirit of God. This beings to mind Jesus’s teaching in John 4:24 that true worshippers must worship in spirit and truth, God blesses those who truly worship Him. In Romans 2:28-29, Paul also makes it clear, that being a Jew is not about outward signs but about inward life change, which is in agreement with his message in Philippians about true circumcision being of the heart.
II. Paul’s Past Credentials (Philippians 3:4-6)
In these verses, Paul lists his highly regarded Jewish credentials to show that if anyone could have confidence in the flesh, it would be him. Yet, these qualifications are worthless compared to knowing Christ. We see in both 1 Corinthians 1:31 and Jeremiah 9:23-24, the Bible teaches that boasting should not be in human achievements but in understanding and knowing the Lord, and our glorying should not be in ourselves, but what Jesus told the disciples in Luke 10:20, rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
III. The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7-11)
Everything Paul once highly valued, he now considers loss for the sake of Christ. He desires to gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of his own but one that comes through faith. The thought of counting all things as loss for Christ echoes Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 16:26 about the worthlessness of gaining the whole world but losing one’s soul, what would a person gain if they had it all, but lost the most precious thing they have, their eternal, never dying soul. It also brings to mind Paul’s message in Galatians 2:20 about being crucified with Christ and living by faith in the Son of God.
IV. Pressing On Toward the Goal (Philippians 3:12-14)
Despite not being perfect, Paul is determined to press on toward the goal of the heavenly prize in Christ Jesus. This characteristic is spoken of in Hebrews 12:1-2, which calls believers to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul speaks of running the race to get the prize, showing that his message is still the same, to live a disciplined life in pursuit of the higher spiritual goals.
V. Encouragement to Follow Paul’s Example (Philippians 3:15-17)
Here in these verses, Paul encourages others to follow his example and to live according to what they have attained in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul tells believers to follow him as he follows Christ, teaching the true pattern for Christian conduct.
VI. Warning About Enemies of the Cross (Philippians 3:18-19)
In these verses, Paul warns about many who live as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction. This warning lines up with Jesus’s words in Matthew 7:13-14 about the broad and narrow gates, one leading to destruction and the other to life. In 2 Peter 2:1-3, the Bible also warns about false teachers who introduce destructive heresies, which is the same as Paul’s concern for the church in Philippians.
VII. Citizenship in Heaven (Philippians 3:20-21)
The chapter ends with the hope of believers’ citizenship in heaven and the expectation of Christ’s return to transform our humble bodies. This hope Paul speaks of here, brings to mind Colossians 3:1-4, where the Bible talks about setting hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Conclusion: Philippians 3 challenges believers examine their own lives and to align them with the path Paul has outlined. It warns of the dangers of misplaced confidence, celebrates the true value of knowing Christ, and encourages a relentless pursuit of spiritual maturity. Paul’s words in this chapter should inspire believers to persevere in their faith, follow his example, and to live with the joyful anticipation of our future with Christ. The tone of this chapter is very encouraging, as it points us toward eternal things and the ultimate prize of our faith – the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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