And all of my good record down the tube and the righteousness is erased. Pastor Mark Schlamann. She couldn't buy a dress, but she really didn't have much money to buy very good material. The idea is that a man's Christian maturity cannot go beyond martyrdom. Oh, it is a blessed thing, that in the midst of the sorrows of this world, the Holy Spirit knows how thus to blend the name of Christ, as the sweetest balm, with the sorrow, however bitter, and to make the very memory of the grief pleasant because of Christ, who deigns to let Himself into it all. The word he uses for reaching out (epekteinomenos, G1901) is very vivid and is used of a racer going hard for the tape. It is something that I could have never made for myself, but it was given to me by Lady Bountiful. Accordingly he prays for them, that as they had shown this true and unabated love for himself as Christ's servant, so their love might abound yet more and more, and this too in knowledge and in all judgment. They turned Christian liberty into unchristian licence and gloried in giving their passions full play. The name of Christ Himself is the true centre of the saints; unto this the Spirit gathers. He is one who has his joy exclusively from and in Christ. He has not only put aside religious ceremonies and national status, but he considers that all things in which he might boast are worthless. WebContext Summary Philippians 3:111 warns Christians about the influence of false teachers, particularly those who add legalism on top of the gospel. Because I may blow my horn and shake my fist, but the Spirit will say, "Hey, don't you remember you have got a fish emblem on the back of your car? 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already You run until you ache and you think you can't go anymore, but you keep going. There is nothing so high as that which we all have been made in our blessed Lord. Paul himself did not hope to attain it through his own merit and righteousness, but through the merit and righteousness of Jesus Christ. This was now among the last outpourings of the apostle's heart, as he himself had almost arrived at the end of his active labours, if indeed it was not absolutely their end. It was not that he wanted more. All we want is, that the eye of faith be a little open; but it is only Christ before the eye that keeps it open. Strange way of God! Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. All Commentaries Videos Images Devotionals Other Translations Sermons Related Scriptures Podcasts Blogs. "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." He gave him time to repent; and not only so, but a heart to repent." The NIV is more paraphrastic, translating a Greek word with any number of English synonyms to make the English translation more readable. He pressed towards the mark. "Let your moderation be known unto all men," strengthened by this consolatory truth, "the Lord is at hand. No, the righteousness which I depend upon is that which is through the faith of Christ, not a legal, but evangelical righteousness: The righteousness which is of God by faith, ordained and appointed of God." Their happy and bright state in Christ did not dim their fellowship with the gospel. To that thought he now returns and defines more closely what he means. Far from him was the vanity of being the man first to preach Christ in the great metropolis. But Paul was certain that the only kind of righteousness there is comes from casting oneself freely upon the grace of God. 146-47.] Observe, The apostle was as ambitious of being sanctified as he was of being justified. So Paul sets out his credentials, not in order to boast but to show that he had enjoyed every privilege which a Jew could enjoy and had risen to every attainment to which a Jew could rise. But now the apostle was shut out from every labour apparently. Another, less likely, possibility is that Paul meant faithful Christians will experience a better resurrection than unfaithful believers. This is what gives force to our affections, and rivets them on Christ. He says that they had happened rather for the furtherance of the gospel, "so that my bonds in Christ are manifest;" for this is the way in which he looks at it "my bonds in Christ." But in my opinion the sense, and even the Greek, seems bad; for on the one hand both and the drift of the argument point to a resurrection of favour and blessedness, not to that in which the unjust must rise to judgment; while on the other hand would imply the dead, i.e. And what did the apostle do with all this roll of fleshly advantages? The resurrected life always follows the crucified life. No; it is practical. They contributed to his. Oh, how honourable, how sweet and precious, to have bonds in Christ! For it is not meant looking to Him now, or having Him as one's life: to win Christ means having Him at the other side. So what Paul says is, "If you have nothing to show but circumcision of the flesh, you are not really circumcised--you are only mutilated. I just" And living in the past, and being destroyed in the past, and can't go ahead because they are looking backward. He takes the very name the Jewish teachers would have applied to the impure and to the Gentiles and flings it back at themselves. And so they go back to the past, and they pick up the failures of the past, and they are discouraged to try anything in the future. Why? Thus easily do we fall into error, because the human mind likes to have either one thing or another, and thus avoid all difficulty in Scripture, having each squared according to our notions. It is interwoven with practical appeal, and indeed the chief development of doctrine (namely, in the second chapter) forms a ground of exhortation. "Be anxious [or be careful] for nothing; but in everything" this is the resource "in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." So Paul says that in the Christian life we must forget every past achievement and remember only the goal which lies ahead. It is not sentiment, but a genuine feeling, thus "looking not each at his own things, but each also at the things of others." In point of fact the Ishmaelites could trace their descent to Abraham, for Ishmael was Abraham's son by Hagar; the Edomites could trace their descent to Isaac, for Esau, the founder of the Edomite nation, was Isaac's son; but it was the Israelites alone who could trace their descent to Jacob, whom God had called by the name of Israel. 1. It speaks of believers who were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. All believers will be resurrected, but there is a better one for those who endure. "Let your requests," whatever they may be, "be made known unto God;" and not only so, but "with thanksgiving." For, in point of fact, through this epistle salvation is seen as going on from first to last, and not yet complete, being never viewed as such till the conflict with Satan is altogether closed. (Compare Ephesians 1:1-23 and Colossians 1:1-29) But all, even these in hell, must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. In modern speech that would mean that the body is an utterly evil and horrible thing; but vile in sixteenth-century English still retained the meaning of its derivation from the Latin word vilis which in fact means nothing worse than cheap, valueless. It is not Paul's aim to know about Christ, but personally to know him. The effect of it usually on the individual who has obtained such a thing: I keep the rules; I never do anything wrong; I always do what is good; I am a doo bee; I am just living by these righteous standards. This explains the unusual word Paul employed that appears only here in the Greek New Testament. It is not achieved by any man but given by God; not won by works but accepted in trust. Did he want more for himself? "For the same cause also do ye joy and rejoice with me. The particular, electing love of God from before the foundation of the world is the reason why anyone becomes a Christian. The past has been glorious, it has been exciting to see what God has done, but you know, I am more excited about what God is going to do.So. He was made Lord and Christ. Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. The happiness of heaven is here called the resurrection of the dead, because, though the souls of the faithful, when they depart, are immediately with Christ, yet their happiness will not be complete till the general resurrection of the dead at the last day, when soul and body shall be glorified together. There would be no question of his being a part of such a resurrection." She just sort of caught her breath when she saw it, it was just such a glorious gown.Lady Bountiful, being very astute, noticed that she gasped at that one. They helped them, and in that sense "laboured" if you will. Now she walks back out where all of the girls are waiting, and she said, "Look girls," and as they gasp in amazement at the glory and the beauty of the dress, she said, "This is something that I could have never purchased for myself. This is a good example, by the way, of the characteristic difference between these two translations. How lovely that even such a man should speak, not merely of his own prayers, but of theirs, turning all to such account. The basic thought of this passage is the uselessness of Law and the sufficiency of knowing Christ and accepting the offer of God's grace. There is no looking at Him as Saviour on the cross merely; but when He comes for us, there will be in the filial sense (as ever in our epistle) "salvation." You know, there are many people in the world tonight who have never had the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the more important, because such fear is the main weapon of Satan. The Bible teaches that God will resurrect all people, believers and unbelievers, if they have died (e.g., Daniel 12:2; Matthew 22:29-32; Luke 20:37-38; John 6:39-40; John 6:44; John 6:54; John 11:25; Acts 4:2; Acts 17:18; Acts 23:6; Acts 24:15; Hebrews 6:2; Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 20:13). John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. It was to Israel that they in the most special sense traced their heritage. cannot but be conqueror, more than conqueror, where the heart is filled with Christ. He was totally, completely ostracized by those who were once his compatriots, those whom he once shared with. It was not because of their own personal interest, though this was great and fresh, but they loved that it should go forth. It is not our laying hold of Christ first, but his laying hold of us, which is our happiness and salvation. Beware of dogs ( Philippians 3:1-2 ). There is always danger of these, and the more so where there is activity among souls. It has been hard for you to kick against the pricks." It is the apostle giving us what his heart was occupied with when he could not go forth in the activities of work, and when it seemed as if he had nothing to do. Whatever the case, all should make sure that they do not slip back from the standard of practical holiness they have already reached (15-16). Following the Jewish Law does not make anyone right in Gods eyes; only faith in Christ does that. The apostle does call for "fear and trembling" on the part of the saints in that chapter; but there is not an atom of dread or doubt in it. It was a calm, fixed, cordial habit of their souls, which indeed had distinguished them from the first. Faith is called knowledge, Isaiah 53:11. To rise with the saints; to enter with them into the blessedness of the heavenly inheritance, was an object that the apostle thought was worth every effort which could he made. So Paul states his attainments. But the (trace of Christ wrought in them all; and that was the great joy and delight of the apostle's heart. There was victory to his faith by the grace of God. . " As far as he was concerned, therefore, why could he choose? One morning Wesley had preached with great effect: "As we returned, Mr. Wesley stopped his horse to pick the blackberries, saying: 'Brother Nelson, we ought to be thankful that there are plenty blackberries; for this is the best country I ever saw for getting a stomach, but the worst I ever saw for getting food!'" Such is the meaning here. I. What a God is ours, so to treat that which, connected with the world, Christ Himself calls "unrighteous mammon!" The things that happened to him he could therefore judge calmly and clearly. 4. It often happens that men can stand the great sorrows and the great trials of life but are undone by what are almost minor inconveniences. Not so: Christ is always better; and so says he, "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Love does not calculate these costs and dangers, but goes calmly forward, come what will, trouble, scorn, or death. Why should women expose, themselves? THE WORTHLESSNESS OF THE LAW AND THE VALUE OF CHRIST ( Php_3:8-9 ). In fact, he had gone beyond. Such is the force of the exhortation. It is not at all a question of ecclesiastical order, in which naturally the chief guides would have front rank. We do not speak of standing in Christ now, but of their allotted services. It is perfectly possible for a man to go through an elaborate liturgy and yet have a heart that is far away from God. We may enjoy the "fancy things" at meat times, but it is the basic foods on which we live. To support this statement, Paul refers to his own experience. The expression intimates that we have need to strive for him and after him, and that all is little enough to win him. Of the two, the converse would be more intelligible; but my conviction is that both the Lord and His apostle used similar and correct phraseology, as did the Holy Spirit elsewhere. With Him you will be right about the gospel, right about the church, right about doctrine, walk, and service. Hence he thus opens, "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown." If he desired for them that they should be without one stumble till the day of Christ, it was the purpose to which grace had girded up his own loins. And if anyone is otherwise minded in any way, this too God will reveal to him. Yet they were the witnesses of Christ whom God had put forth at the close; for it was manifestly of Him. Roman dress was worn; Roman magistrates governed; the Latin tongue was spoken; Roman justice was administered; Roman morals were observed. And as he headed out towards Damascus, he was going out with threatenings of murder against the believers. Probably Paul meant that he hoped he would live to experience the Rapture, the "out-resurrection from among the dead," before he died. The Gnostics were heretics who tried to intellectualize Christianity and make a kind of philosophy out of it. It is part of the verb ginoskein ( G1097) , which almost always indicates personal knowledge. 3:4-7 And yet it remains true that I have every ground of confidence from the human point of view. All rights reserved. WebBible Commentaries Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary Philippians 3 11 Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary Philippians 3:11 If by any means - Implying, that he meant to make use of the most strenuous exertions to obtain the object. But to one cut off from such work it was, in appearance at least, a heavy burden and an immense trial; but Christ changes all for us. Joy should be the normal state of the Christian. Within the Church there were two sets of people to whom these accusations might apply. InMatthew 23:1-39; Matthew 23:1-39 we have woe upon woe pronounced upon scribes and Pharisees, and so it is here. Their end is destruction: their god is their belly; that in which they glory is their shame. He desires for them, not anxiety about the issue of it, but true gravity of spirit, because of feeling that it is a question between God and the devil, and that we have to do with that struggle in the most direct way. This counting on the Lord the apostle might have even where things were wrong. There is not one of these things but may in itself become the veriest snare; and so much the more dangerous because each looks fair. Is this the life that is practically exercised? But there he was soon to experience the faltering of brethren; there he was to see not one standing by him in the hour of his shame and need. He is my Savior. It is not the physical experience that saves, it is the spiritual: the death to the old nature and the old man in my heart, the reckoning of myself to be dead, and living that new life in the resurrected Lord. It is called the resurrection of the just, and the resurrection of life (John 5:29), and they are counted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead,Luke 20:35. b. We are kept by his mighty power through faith unto salvation,1 Peter 1:5. Resurrection -- If "raised" with Christ in baptism, we have a picture of also being "raised" at the resurrection. However elsewhere in his writings he was very confident that God would resurrect him and all believers (e.g., Romans 8:11; Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:12-57; 2 Corinthians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Timothy 2:18). Thus the two things are repeated the past judgment and the present power: "and do count them but dung, that I may, win Christ." This is but a poor human resource, as unworthy of the saints as of the truth of God, who would not have us to wink at any mistake. As he tells them, fruit that might abound to their account was all that his heart really yearned after. No one denies this, which is, or ought to be, no new thing for a Christian. (iv) As for the righteousness which the Law could produce, he was blameless. Wherever he taught, the Jews followed him and tried to undo his teaching. WebMatthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Philippians 3:9-14. Hebrews 11:35 is instructive here. I want to know Him, I want to know the power of the resurrection, but yet, I want to know the fellowship of the sufferings and the cross. Whatever the motives, whatever the manner, the Lord would surely deal with these in His own day; but, at any rate, Christ was now preached, and God would use this both for His own glory and for the salvation of souls. Paul said, "One receives the prize, and you run to obtain." (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are [really] the enemies of the cross of Christ ( Philippians 3:17-18 ): You know, there are a lot of people who talk a lot about Jesus Christ but are enemies of the cross of Christ. "* Clearly we here look out of the world and into a state to come, when we have the consummation of our hopes and the end of the journey. In the context he had been speaking of suffering and dying with Him. in this relationship, and it is an easy thing to esteem others better than myself. You see, Jesus could not experience the power of the resurrection until the cross. By this claim Paul makes it clear that he is not an Ishmaelite, for the Ishmaelites were circumcised in their thirteenth year ( Genesis 17:25), nor a proselyte who had come late into the Jewish faith and been circumcised in manhood. The great saving truths of Christianity do not change; and we cannot hear them too often. What he means is: "Anyone who has come to be mature in the faith and knows what Christianity is must recognize the discipline and the effort and the agony of the Christian life." This he must wish for them, if he wished them well. Energy is not the best or highest aspect of Christianity. Paul had certain people that seemed to follow him wherever he went, trying to pervert that which he taught of the grace of God, especially the Jewish legalizers who sought to bring the people back to a legal relationship with God, putting them under the law. In the days of the early Church it is quite often used to describe martyrs. Let us not mistake in this; let us not be driven from it by a too common misuse. He did not forget, but meant what he said. The lost must bow; the devils must bow; the lake of fire must own the glory of Him who has power to cast them there, as it is said, "unto the glory of God the Father." And, therefore, even in circumstances where joy would seem to be impossible and there seem to be nothing but pain and discomfort, Christian joy remains, because not all the threats and terrors and discomforts of life can separate the Christian from the love of God in Christ Jesus his Lord ( Romans 8:35-39). But it gives us also the effect of Christ in the saints eventually of Paul himself, of Timothy, of Epaphroditus, and indeed of the Philippian saints. Father, I would that those who You have given to me, to be with me here, would also share with me in the Kingdom. However, one is correct in understanding that these words express his humble expectation and hope (1 Corinthians 15:20; 2 Corinthians 5:1). The critical reading he owns has force and propriety; but he does "not see why . Barking and snapping at everybody, and belonging to nobody. Click on the different category headings to find out more. "I have attained, I have achieved. He had been born in the Gentile city of Tarsus, but he had come to Jerusalem to be educated at the feet of Gamaliel ( Acts 22:3) and was able, for instance, when the time came, to speak to the mob in Jerusalem in their own tongue ( Acts 21:40). Jesus wasn't resurrected until he first went to the cross. It was God the Father that made Him Lord and Christ, but God the Father never made Him Jehovah. Of course, the enemy would have desired above all and at any cost to lower such an one as the apostle Paul in the loving esteem of God's saints, more particularly where all had been sweet and happy; but, notwithstanding every effort, grace hitherto had prevailed, and these saints at Philippi felt the more for the apostle when he was a prisoner. The passive shines in Christ coming down; the active is realized by the eye that is fixed on Christ, who is actually in glory. To whom these accusations might apply aim to know him sense traced their heritage Jesus... 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