Woo hoo, we’re in chapter three now. What a delight it is to read these words. There are so many great messages here. Enjoy.
Philippians 3 – Amplified Bible
Please read Philippians 3:1-4a
The Goal of Life
1Finally, my [a]fellow believers, continue to rejoice and delight in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you.
2Look out for the [b]dogs [the Judaizers, the legalists], look out for the troublemakers, look out for the [c]false circumcision [those who claim circumcision is necessary for salvation]; 3for we [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, set apart for His purpose and] are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory and take pride and exult in Christ Jesus and place no confidence [in what we have or who we are] in the flesh— 4a though I myself might have [some grounds for] confidence in the flesh [if I were pursuing salvation by works].
Delight
Rejoice and Delight in the Lord. For we have been born-again, spiritually transformed and are being renewed, set apart for his purpose and worship in Spirit. Exalt Christ Jesus and place no confidence in what you have or who you are.
I’m very grateful we have this letter and all the others in our Bibles. Because otherwise we wouldn’t get to read these letters because they weren’t sent to us by Paul. He has particular people he’s sending them to. And since it’s in the Bible, we can at least count on it having particular value to us.
Please read Philippians 3:4-6
4bIf anyone else thinks that he has reason to be confident in the flesh [that is, in his own efforts to achieve salvation], I have far more: 5 circumcised when I was eight days old, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews [an exemplary Hebrew]; as to the [observance of the] Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to my zeal [for Jewish tradition], a persecutor of the church; and as to righteousness [supposed right living] which [my fellow Jews believe] is in the Law, I proved myself blameless.
He mentions all this to make a point, which we’ll get to in the next verse, but what you need to see now is, that all the things you have reason to be confident because you have accomplished or done, all of them are nothing when compared to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Though there are things we can do, those He has prepared for us beforehand, that aren’t worth nothing, instead they are proof of trust and counting on Him in Faith and that is the whole point. Faith is all that matters. Faith in Him.
For His Sake we Delight
Please read Philippians 3:7-8a
7 But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. 8 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled].
It’s a priceless privilege and supreme advantage to know Christ Jesus our Lord. I keep this printed statement on the wall in front of me, “Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive.” – Jesus. He’s worth it. So worth it. Delight and rejoicing all through the tough times as well as in the good. He’s always worth it.
Please read Philippians 3:8b-9
8bFor His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, 9and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.
Righteousness by faith. Yep, that’s another gift of Faith. You just have to have faith. It’s the precursor to all the gifts. Faith.
Please read Philippians 3:10-11
10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; 11 [d]so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.
Yes, another gift of faith is eternal life which is resurrection from the dead (or as it’s often called in Scripture, sleep).
Pressing On with Delight
Please read Philippians 3:12-16
12 Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on [e]so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. 13[f]Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature [pursuing spiritual perfection] should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us stay true to what we have already attained.
Keep growing your faith, the call of God in Christ is worth every minute we spend pressing toward it. Keep rejoicing and delight in Him. All the while pursuing spiritual perfection.
Please read Philippians 3:17-19
17 Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you. 18 For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], 19 whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.
Sometimes I wish it was stated right out…this is the pattern, because it would be so much easier to know. However, we can see that focus matters. And studying helps us learn the other ways of walking out this life.
Please read Philippians 3:20-21
20 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious resurrected body.
What a gift His return will be. So delight and rejoice today. It’s going to be so good for those of us who believe. Faith is what matters. Keep growing your faith.
Footnotes
[a] Philippians 3:1 -my [a]fellow believers- Lit brethren.
[b] Philippians 3:2 -Look out for the [b]dogs- Jews often used “dogs” as a derogatory term to refer to Gentiles, so Paul’s reference to his Jewish opponents in this verse is ironic. Most dogs were untamed scavengers and considered disgusting because they ate anything.
[c] Philippians 3:2 -look out for the [c]false circumcision- Because circumcision was not necessary for salvation, the circumcision demanded by the Judaizers was nothing more than mutilation.
[d] Philippians 3:11 –[d]so that I may attain to the resurrection- Lit if somehow.
[e] Philippians 3:12 -but I actively press on [e]so that I may take hold- Lit even if I may. Paul knew that he could not really reach perfection in this life, but his goal was to “press on” as if it were attainable.
[f] Philippians 3:13 –13[f]Brothers and sisters-Lit Brethren.
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