Philippians 3 vs 1-3
Philippians Chapter 3 Verse 1
· I like how Paul says “finally” here in perfect pastoral pattern. Why? Because this is the mid-point of the letter. So, when a pastor says “finally” or “we’re almost done” in a sermon, you know you’re about halfway through! HA!
· Actually, that word in the Greek also means, “Moreover, furthermore or henceforth,” so moreover, rejoice in the Lord! It is often difficult and sometimes even impossible to rejoice in circumstances. But the born-again, Spirit-filled believer can always rejoice in the Lord. Why? Well one, God is above and beyond any circumstance! And, when you think upon what the Lord has done for you, all of the goodness of God, it is impossible not to rejoice! Your sins are forgiven! You are free to live unto Christ! You have eternal life and that eternal life is secure in Jesus! He has brought you through every bad day you’ve ever had and His plan for you going forward is good and God’s favor is upon you because of Christ, no matter what!
· He doesn’t change with the characteristics of the cultural or the crisis of the circumstance. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His grace is for you, His love is upon you, and His promises are true AND somehow, in all things, He is working them together for the good, for those that love God and are called according to His purposes.
· I said last week, and just like Paul mentions how repetition is important, I’ll allude to this fact again. Joy isn’t only an emotion. It can be, but doesn’t have to be. Joy is not the absence of sorrow. Joy is resolve of hope, determination of personal goodness and righteousness, no matter the setback or circumstance. Joy is in a way a decision! It’s a choice and it rests upon your great confidence in God! So, here’s the charge, joy is at least a portion my responsibility as a Christian.
· A faithful expectation of a positive Godly outcome. A steadfast trust in God’s wisdom and goodness. Yes, Jesus is the Author of my faith and therefore He gets the credit for every ounce of it I have but it is up to me and truly I must activate and walk in that faith and that includes (if not is completely) the act of rejoicing!
Philippians Chapter 3 Verse 2
· These verses are so powerful! And they are the setup for the next series of verses that will round out our study of the first half of Philippians. Paul says beware, beware, beware! And the context here is not outside of the church. The context, and you really can’t get away from this, is from WITHIN the church!
· Beware! Discern this! Look out for this! Don’t turn a blind eye to this in others OR in yourselves! Because it is a mutilation, a distortion, an injury, super harmful, these things are a contamination in the Body of Christ. BRUH! Listen up! Examine yourself and take note of these things in others and get back on track…or maybe for them and for some out there, get on the right track for the first time!
· No wonder your walk with God isn’t filled with joy! No wonder you’re critical and not courteous! No wonder your heart is to consume and critique rather than care for and contribute to the work of the ministry! No wonder your faith cannot defeat your fascinations with your flesh and serving yourself! Two women in the church of Philippi were more concerned with despising and hating on each other than serving the Lord and rejoicing in grace and Paul goes hard after the problem now… And really, truly, simply, completely…., it all boils down to pride! Focus or fancy of self of which Paul says BEWARE!!! Open your eyes and fix it or at least stop accepting it in yourself and do SOMETHING!
· Beware of dogs! A term that Paul is somewhat turning on its head because that would be the term the Jews would use for the gentiles…, it’s sort of the worst of insults… And now Paul uses it to warn the gentiles really of the Jews in a way but also it’s a warning speaking about carnal Christians too!
· Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Paul gives us more insight here speaking to the church in Philippi and really in correction of the folks that were biting and devouring each other from within the faith!
· What do dogs do? Think of a “Beware of Dog” sign. They beg and demand rather than serving. They bite rather than protecting. They snap at you. They are dangerous. They run in packs. Christians are not to be dogs…, we are to be sheep following the ways and guidance of the Shepherd!
· Beware of evil workers! This is not speaking of people outside of the church! Does that not incense you! The word for “evil” is also “harmful” and the word for “workers” is also “forwarder.” Beware of those within the faith, these should be sacred-slapped (HA!), beware of those within the faith that are forwarding harm towards each other!
· And if this is you, what are you doing!? You are doing exactly, precisely, entirely the opposite of what you should be doing and you are the foundational weakness in the body of Christ and you’re choosing to be! When the fruit of the Spirit, when the Spirit of God is being honored, that result is love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, longsuffering, faithfulness, control of self! Paul says “beware” and definitely DON’T BE!
· And finally, he takes a cannon-shot at the Judaizers within the church. You have to understand that the early church, early Christianity, was actually, practically, in reality, it was a sect of Judaism. It came from Judaism and it came from the Jews. It even spoke of and honored the Law of Moses. Not in a way of salvation but in a way of tradition. Jesus Himself would go up to the Feasts in Jerusalem.
· But what was different is that Jesus did not come to keep the law OR to abolish the law…, Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” However, old habits die hard…
· And there were Christians at the time, Jewish Messianic born-again believers who would follow Paul around and when a gentile got saved, they would then seek to convince them to be right with God they would need to be circumcised, essentially coming into Judaism-Christianity and these were called the Judaizers.
· Paul goes as far here as to say that what they were doing wasn’t even circumcision but at this point its mutilation! And then he goes as far as to completely scandalize them…
Philippians Chapter 3 Verse 3
· Romans 2:25-29, “For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”
· Essential to Christianity! If circumcision or any other work increases our stature in the eyes of God then we cannot rejoice in the grace of God through Jesus Christ, the cross of Christ, or my acceptance through the free gift of salvation, but now I must rejoice in what I do. And what does that do? Leads me to dejoice (my word) kill my joy, when I don’t do what I ought to do… What’s the problem with that!? ME!
· What we are supposed to do is worship God in Spirit. Give our entire selves to God, heart, soul, mind and strength…, the good and the bad, and let Him deal with it by the power of His Word, His presence, His love, grace and His Spirit as we individually seek to be His (relationship)! We seek God in the inner most parts of our hearts and that works its way out for sure to the works in the flesh but we cannot, do not, doesn’t work, seek to know God more purely upon good works!
· What we are supposed to do is rejoice in Christ Jesus, not rejoice in ME! What we are supposed to do is have no confidence in the flesh but ALL confidence in Christ for our right standing with God! And then Paul lays this out… Which we don’t have time this morning to cover…, and will cover next time we meet…