Philippians: "The Value of Knowing Christ" Philippians 3:1-11
Notes
Transcript
Today we are in our 7th sermon in the series in the book of Philippians.
Philippians 3:1–11 (ESV)
1 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.
Paul begins this passage in verse 2,
by giving a warning to them,
to look out, (come or coming soon) [teaching not the pure Gospel]
Paul is very intentional in leading up to his stern warning against these opponents.
Humble servants… (Greatest Jesus) [Human Timothy and Epaphroditus]
Following Paul's examples of humble servants,
he moves to the opponents who conduct themselves contrary to humility.
This group of opponents Paul is addressing,
is a very arrogant group of teachers. (boost in the law not in Christ) [blind arrogant leaders]
This particular group was called "Judaizers,"
which were Jews who confessed Jesus as Messiah,
but also believed to be saved one must be circumcised. (Mosiac law)
Paul has already encountered this group of Judaizers in Galatia,
were Paul forcefully opposed their false Gospel.
2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.
12 I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.
Judaizers going down the same path as the Pharisee’s...
(Jesus, yoke is easy and burden is light)
1. Paul’s warning
Philippians 3:2–3 (ESV)
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—
Paul states Look out! three times. (dogs, evildoers, mutilates of the flesh)
These Judaizers are wolves in sheep’s clothing.
They are posing as Christian teachers,
but there is nothing Christian about their message.
These Judaizers are boosting in their Jewish heritage,
rather then boosting in Christ.
Paul addresses these Judaizers by flipping the script on them…
(taste of their own medicine)
See it was common for the Jews at this time to call outsiders derogatory names.
Paul begins his warning with the statement, "look out for the dogs" (V2).
(Tremendous insult) [Krystal burger]
dogs were extremely hated at this time in history,
because they would eat anything...
dead animals, human corpses, vomit, Krystal burgers.
(Very unclean animals to anyone, but especially with Jews, purity laws of Jews)
so,
Jews would often times call Gentiles dogs,
because the Jewish people saw Gentiles as unclean. (Unclean dogs)
Here Paul reverses the role in saying,
that those who are forcing circumcision,
are the ones who are unclean dogs.
and goes on to say in verse 3 that it is the Gentile Christians are the ones who are truly clean.
The second warning Paul gives is to look out for evildoers.
Paul’s reversal of the Judaizers' self-understanding gives this label an ironic tone.
These Judaizers would have practiced the works of the law to the fullest degree,
which would lead them to poetry themselves as righteous servants.
But Paul calls them evildoers.
There are two points to understand on why they are not righteous,
but are rather workers of evil.
First,
because they emphasize the works of the law,
people will believe in self-reliance for salvation rather than the need for salvation in Christ alone.
The second,
by forcing circumcision on the Gentile Christians,
will be misleading them to believe that they need to supplement faith in Christ,
with works of the law. (Is Christ enough?)
Paul articulates in verse 9 that righteousness comes through faith in Christ and that righteousness is from God.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
how many know that it is not works of the law that saves,
but rather it is faith in God that saves us. Amen!
The third warning is to look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Paul's play on words here does not give the proper title to circumcision (peritomē).
Instead, He mockingly calls it mere cutting (katatomē), which is forbidden by the Jews (Lev 21:5)
and the title given to pagans who practiced cutting of their bodies in ceremonial rituals (1 Kgs 18:28 Mount Carmel, Elijah).
Paul implies that by thinking of themselves as "the circumcision,"
they have become like a pagan cult by insisting on circumcision as act of worship. (pagans not the people of God)
Philippians 3:3 (ESV)
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—
Paul communicates that the flesh is not what gives us confidence,
but rather it is the work of Christ done on the cross that gives us confidence. Amen!
The people who carry the title of Citizen's of Heaven are Jews and Gentiles alike,
who worship God in Spirit,
and thus are transformed at a heart level not a flesh level.
And after Paul rebukes the Judaizers for boosting in their Jewish heritage,
by saying to be saved you have to be circumcised.
He gives a little background about himself.
2. Paul’s Accomplishments.
Philippians 3:4–6 (ESV)
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.
Paul’s list of accomplishments,
would be seen by any Jew as a list that not many could match.
The Judaizers may try to demonstrate their confidence in the flesh,
but Paul demonstrates why he could put even more "confidence in the flesh." (List to brag about)
[Example bragging about money to a millionaire]
Paul highlights seven accomplishments that he once took extreme pride in to make his point.
The first accomplishment is circumcision,
which demonstrated his parents' obedience to the Jewish law.
"Circumcised on the eighth day" (V5) proved that Paul was a true-blooded Jew from the cradle and nursed in the ancestral faith.
The second accomplishment is that Paul is "of the people of Israel."
Paul is highlighting the fact that his blood line is unpolluted by any Gentile's blood.
And therefore,
a direct descendant of the patriarch Israel.
The third accomplishment for Paul was that he was not only from the people of Israel,
but specifically "of the tribe of Benjamin"
The tribe of Benjamin played a vital role in Israel's history,
especially in their role of having great warriors.
Also, Israel's first king (Saul) belonged to the tribe of Benjamin (1 Sam 9:1-2)
Paul's Hebrew name,
Saul (Acts 13:9),
probably reflected his parents' pride in the most famous member in the tribe.
The fourth accomplishment for Paul was that he was "a Hebrew of Hebrews".
It is important to understand that since the Hellenization of the Mediterranean world in the third and second century B. C.,
the Jewish people were divided by language and culture.
Many Jews assimilated into the Hellenistic culture,
which ment they lost their use of the Hebrew language and their commitment to the Hebrew culture.
However, other Jews were aggressively opposed to the Hellenistic culture.
They were proud Hebrews that fiercely protected their linguistic and cultural heritage against the corrupting influence of Hellenism.
Jewish hostility against Hellenized Jews in 169 B.C.,
documented in 1 Maccabees,
gives the history of the Jewish revolt against the forces of Hellenism.
Therefore, Paul claiming to be "a Hebrew of Hebrews"
insists that he is on the side of those in Israel who would rather die than abandon their Jewish heritage.
The fifth accomplishment for Paul was that he was "a Pharisee" (V5).
Pharisees were noted for being the most meticulous observers of the law. (Very works based)
Not only a Pharisee but a Pharisee who was trained "at the feet of Gamaliel" (Acts 22:3),
who was known to be the greatest living Jewish authority and most revered figure in all Judaism.
(Not only a Pharisee but a highly trained Pharisee)
The sixth accomplishment for Paul was his zeal as "a persecutor of the church.”
Jewish men often measured their faith and commitment to God by how aggressive they opposed foreign religions.
By Paul persecuting the church with such zealous behavior,
proved his complete devotion to the Jewish faith.
Paul's seventh and final accomplishment was "as to righteousness under the law, blameless”
As a Pharisee,
Paul was required to make a deliberate effort to obey the 613 commands of the Mosaic law as interpreted and expanded in Jewish Halakha (rabbinic legal decisions).
Paul’s record is spotless…
All seven of these accomplishments demonstrated,
that if anyone had reason to boost in the flesh it would be Paul...
(Great earthly accomplishments)
[New understanding when Paul encountered Christ]
3. Paul’s Understanding
Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)
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.
Jesus parable’s of the treasure in the field and choice pearl.
Value of the Kingdom.. Sold everything...
Paul gave up everything…
V7 Paul says "whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (V7).
Paul makes it clear that all the accomplishments he achieved in the flesh are all "rubbish" in comparison to "knowing Christ"
It was not just knowing about Christ for Paul,
but rather it was having a personal relationship with Christ.
Paul's encounter with Jesus functioned like a divine audit on his life.
All the gains he once thought he had now understood as losses,
because Paul realized the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord.
Close with this question...
What is the value that we put in knowing Jesus?
(What would we give up?)
The Apostle's giving up everything.
Andrew, Peter, James and John (Careers fishermen)
Matthew Tax Table (great wealth)
Simon the Zealot (political affiliation)
More than that... gave up their lives…