Philippians 3:1-11 May 1, 2022

Introduction

Philippians 3:1–3 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—

Rejoice!

In this first verse Paul challenges the people to rejoice in the Lord. And once more he reminds them that it is safe for them. I think that’s interesting. How is it safe for them to rejoice in the Lord. What makes it safe for them? What might make it not safe for them?

Regardless of what the particular answer is to this question it still remains true that Paul regularly commands the followers of Christ too rejoice. this is one of the reoccurring themes in this book!

Philippians 4:4 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Now in this next verse Paul doesn’t mince words whatsoever in the language that he uses to describe the people he’s warning the church about.

Dogs!-Yes, he is using this term negatively.

I mean! Look at the language here. He calls these people dogs. In that day dogs were not actually pets more often they were known as roving creatures who caused damage. Creatures that tried to scavenge food wherever they could and were generally seen as dirty and dangerous.

In fact throughout the Bible dogs are creatures that are predatory and dangerous and it is a term used to warn others. And then he continues to describe these people he’s wanting them against as evil doers.

This kind of points back to

2nd Corinthians 11:13

2 Corinthians 11:13 ESV

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Paul always saw extraordinary danger in people who sought to actively corrupt the message of the gospel. And you know what’s fascinating here he described these men as dogs, as evil doers, but even more as those who seek to mutilate the flesh. In this I believe is a reference to circumcision. We’ll see that further on in this section. It’s ironic that Paul describes the actions of these people as advocating circumcision as mutilation. Because for Paul who is a Jew at heart circumcision was one of the great traditions and markers of what defined a follower of Yahweh.

Mutilation??

So if Paul did you referred to the actions of these men as mutilation then what on earth is he talking about? Does he see circumcision now as mutilation? Does he see circumcision as something negative?

Well as soon as you start to read verse 3 we can get an idea of how Paul sees this idea of circumcision. Not only does Paul still believe in the power of circumcision in obedience to Jesus he claims that it is he and those he’s advocating on behalf of that are the circumcision. In the Bible in the New Testament there is a place where the people who have received circumcision who have undergone circumcision are referred to as the circumcision.

Romans 2:29 ESV

29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Now if you look at Romans 2: 29 you will see Paul making his argument that a true Jew is one who is circumcised as a matter of the heart and not just as a physical action. Someone who truly is obedient and marked as a follower of God is someone who is life is marked by a heart change of gods and not just a physical action that anyone could do. That’s the argument that Paul is making here. So it is those who in their hearts see Christ Jesus as Lord that are truly set apart as followers of Jesus.

Paul had a problem with religion keeping people from Jesus.

The problem wasn't that some of these false teachers talked about the value of circumcision. The problem was that they were trying to add religion to Jesus. They're trying to say if you want to be saved you need to be good enough and you need to do these things before God can forgive you. And Paul was enthusiastic in defending the reality of salvation by grace. Let's never make this mistake today. Let's never mistakenly believe that we must be good enough for God to forgive us. Let's never believe that we must sacrifice enough for God to forgive us. God Forgives us because of what Jesus has done.

In verse 3 Paul continues his defense of his statement. He says that we are the circumcision, who worshipped by the spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

Paul describes what a true believer does with trinitarian language.

The Trinity and the Believer

He is truly trinitarian in what he writes here. And to say that someone is trinitarian means they are referring to the Trinity. And just say we’re talking about the Trinity it refers to this grand biblical and theological concept as God as one God three persons. Paul says that we are those who worship by the spirit of God we glory in Jesus Christ and put him no confidence in the flesh. And when he refers to himself as the circumcision he is saying that we are those who act in obedience to God the father to what he told us to do. We worship him through the spirit that God gave us at Pentecost. And we glory in the son of God who came to earth, died, and rose again. Those are the three members of the Trinity. And that relationship with God is what defines Paul and all believers including ourselves that follow Paul is that trinitarian approach to God in worship.

Saved by grace through faith, not works.

We are not defined by fleshly actions of sacrifice. In fact one of the greatest sacrifices throughout history has been when men and women think that they can earn their way into God’s favor. It’s really pretty selfish surprisingly. We think that we can do all these hard things and God will see that and take pity on us and be gracious to us show mercy to us because of our great sacrifices on his behalf. The reality is as Paul is going to make vividly clear here we can’t be good enough for God. You can’t sacrifice enough to please God you can only take advantage of the sacrifice that Jesus has already done.

How Paul formerly depended on his flesh

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.

Now as we enter into the 4th verse of this passage Paul starts to list the reasons he has to be confident in his flesh. What he means is these are the reasons that I can be proud of what I’ve done and think that what I have done should be able to earn God’s favor.

Circumcised on the eighth day… precisely the day as a good Jewish boy he should have been circumcised.

Of the people of Israel… He’s genetically part of God chosen people.

Of the tribe of Benjamin… he is not only part of the people of Israel he knows what part of the nation he’s from. And for a Jew that was essential. And for a Jew especially that marked you as someone that cared about what God cared about. God cared about families. And if you knew what family you were from that showed that you valued what God valued. And what’s more that showed that you were by birth a person that God had made promises to.

He describes himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews…

As to the law, a pharisee… these people were known for their over and above keeping of God’s law. It’s like someone driving down the road and instead of going at 55 mph the posted speed limit they drive five miles under it to make sure they don’t come anywhere close to violating that law because they take it that seriously.

As to zeal, a persecutor of the church… Before becoming a believer Paul demonstrated his enthusiasm and his zeal for the Jewish faith by doing everything he could to eradicate cults and threats to the Jewish faith. He was passionate about his faith he had zeal and enthusiasm and if anyone could get favor with God by virtue of enthusiasm and zeal Paul was it. If you or I want to think that we can get good enough for God or be pleasing to God by virtue of enthusiastically and zealously following God then we should take note of Paul here.

As to righteousness under the law, blameless… insofar as keeping the law Paul saw himself as blameless. I think Paul would be the first one to meant that he wasn’t perfect but instead blameless means he did everything he could to keep the law of Moses.

In short Paul had every reason to be proud of what he had done. In short Paul had every reason to be confident in who he was by virtue of birth or actions he had reason to be proud and reason to depend on his own strength and to rest in his own power. He had reason to be confident.

But he pivots powerfully here in this 7th verse

Philippians 3:7–9 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—

“but whatever gain I had I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”

In light of what Jesus had done Paul saw his work as less than important. in light of what Jesus had done Paul saw the significance of all his actions his birthright and more to that date as insignificant. He writes it off as a loss. In business terms when someone writes something off as a loss it means something that they’ve lost money on or is not useful to the business anymore. In family terms a loss is the next thing that your pet dog destroys on the middle of the living room floor. That shredded stuffed animal will never be whole again.

For Paul all the things he had did stand in shreds and tatters by comparison to the work of Jesus Christ.

Indeed I count everything as last 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 and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that was comes through faith in Christ the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

Paul realizes that he has found someone for whom it is worth it to him to throw everything away.Jesus is worth Paul sacrificing everything.He’s worth it he’s worth it he’s worth it.

Paul’s new dependence on Christ

Philippians 3:9–11 ESV

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 has received a salvation that is from God and it is through faith.

We have received a salvation from God through faith. It's not by virtue of any good deeds we could do is by the grace of God.

Paul lived a life in love with the person and work of Jesus. That meant no matter what happened to Paul, he lived to see and know Jesus. He’d been saved by the grace of God and the work of Jesus. He could look for with anticipation and hope.

Conclusion

How do we apply this to our lives today?

First and foremost there's only one way to be saved. We are saved by the grace of God through the work of Jesus. That means you don't have to feel like you're good enough for God. You don't have to get over the ways you screwed up in the past period or what other people have done to you. You're saved simply by virtue of what God has done for you.

This means you don't need to work to earn God's favor. But you've been given the opportunity to live a life learning to love God in response to what he's done for you.

When we share Christianity with others let's remember to constantly remind others of the love of God. Let's constantly remind others that God loves and cares for them. Perhaps even use scripture verses to talk about your faith with others. Perhaps quote John 316. Ourworld is full of people isolated and want in love. Sometimes our world needs to be reminded of the judgment of God. And many other times individuals need to be reminded of the grace of God.