PHILIPPIANS 3:1-21
1) ¶ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe. 2) Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4) ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; a Pharisee 6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 9) ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. __________________________ 15) ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16) Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17) ¶ Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19) Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. |
1) In conclusion, I say REJOICE (be glad, very happy in a permanent way, hail and praise God, celebrate God, glory in God, delight in Him, boast of His goodness). To write to you (from jail, prison, incarceration-actually Paul was under house arrest in a palace-jail. Often medieval castles had towers that were jail sections). To write (from here) is not sad, it is joyful for me and toward you (and we suppose it is because they were true believers in Christ Jesus, God the Father + God the Holy Spirit.__________________
2) Yet, boldly look for and discern those who are not of the faith, “of dogs” (St Gr No.2965 a man of impure mind) And discern and understand that among you are those who do evil things and pretend to be in the faith, and watch out for those (concision) who want to cut you up (and to circumcise you and make you under the bondage of the old law). Those of the concision (cutting off or cutting apart) Malachi 3:18 says when you are truly of God: Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.______________________________________ 3) For those who are truly Messianic Jewish believers are circumcised those “in the spirit” are “circumcised in the heart,” by receiving Christ, not cut in the foreskin and perhaps children of God. Compare this with infant baptism or baby dedication. In both of these latter cases the baby is no more aware of the baptism then the Jewish son who is circumcised on the 8th day. It takes the dedication of parents and sponsors to raise up a child in the faith._____ 4-5) BUT as to bragging rights about who is the most Jewish, the biggest follower of the faith, listen up! I AM A SUPER JEW! I was circumcised on the eighth day. I come from that tribe that produced the first king of Israel, King Saul of Benjamin. I was raised with all the Hebrew traditions in an Israelite community. Then I became a Pharisee. Pharisee Greek Lexicon ─ Strong's Number 5330 Pharisaios {far-is-ah'-yos} of Hebrew origin 1) The Pharisees were a religious party or school among the Jews at the time of Christ. The word means "separated". The chief sects among the Jews were the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes, who may be described respectively as the Formalists, the Freethinkers, and the Puritans. It was a leading aim of the Jesus to teach men that true piety consisted not of forms, but in substance, not in outward observances, but in an inward spirit. The whole system of the Pharisaic piety led to exactly the opposite conclusions. The true humility, not faked or feigned was, what our Lord Jesus taught. But, the Pharisees sought mainly to attract the attention and excite the admiration of men. Matthew 6:2,6,16; 23:5,6; Luke 14:7. Which we, as true followers of Christ are not supposed to do. Mark them who exalt themselves and what they have done, a Pharisee. Indeed the whole spirit of the Pharisee’s religion was summed up, not in confession of sin or true humility, but in a proud self- righteousness. (I thank God that I am not as this publican) They do not have a true conception of man's relation to either God or his fellow creatures. (Paul thought he was right with God as he killed people who were followers of Jesus). A cursory perusal of the Gospels is sufficient to show Christ's teaching was in some respects thoroughly antagonistic to the Pharisee. Christ denounced these proud self righteous men, in the bitterest language; see Matthew 15:7,8; 23:5,13,14,15,23; Mark. 7:6; Luke 11:42-44, and compare Mark 7:1-5; 11:29; 12:19,20; Luke 6:28,37-42. The Pharisees says that beside the law of Moses, by the side of the written law was an oral law to complete and to explain the written law, the Talmud, called the Mishna or "second law". Some people today tell you that they and only they have the real knowledge of the truth. They are either deceived or lost, as was Paul._____ 6) The apostle Paul continues “Was I as zealous as the other Pharisees? Why, they were the third string. I was the man, I was the one who was out killing those in what I thought were in the Jesus cult. (Paul, then Saul, consented to (cheered on) the death of the first Christian martyr Stephen-Acts 8:1) Jesus was, Paul then mistakenly thought, a blasphemer Who deserved His death). Followers of Jesus were dangerous to the Jews religion. I (Paul) was a strict follower of the self righteous law of the Jews and the Pharisees. Paul thought he was on his way to heaven.____ 7-8) Yet, I met the Lord on the road to Damascus. (I was on my way to imprison Christians). I was knocked to the ground and the Lord called me. I responded. I had been seeking the Truth. Once I had the Truth, all my power, my position, my authority, my self righteousness, was manure. I knew that the loss of them were nothing compared to what I had received in Christ and through Christ. What have you received by accepting the death on the cross. Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 4) ¶ Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5) But He [was] wounded for our transgressions, [He was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.__________________________ 9) In Christ, Jesus, I have HIS righteousness. HIS righteousness gives me eternal life. What “I” thought “I” had it, it was not righteousness, but egotism. It, “I” called righteousness: (touch not, taste not, don’t, don’t; stop, stop). “I” thought “I” was so Spiritual. “I” thought “I” was far superior to all others who just did not know as much as “I” knew, did not pray as much as “I” prayed, did not study as much as “I” studied. Yet, was “I” on my way to eternal torment in the devil’s hell? God’s righteousness comes when we admit our need of Him since “I am a sinner and not righteous.” ¶ Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. 22) Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? 23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. - Matthew 7:21-23 In what are you trusting?_______________________ 10-11) I need HIM. I need HIS righteousness. I need HIS POWER; His LOVE. The power and love that is seen in His being raised from the dead. As, I am being made like Christ and His death. My mind has been changed. I am no longer concerned about me: If I live, I live for Christ, if I die HOORAY!! IT IS FANTASTIC! I GO TO HEAVEN! YIPPEE! How do you feel about your life? For whom (Whom) are you living? _____________ 12-14) I have not already been made perfect or complete. I am not Christ Jesus. BUT, I am a follower of Christ and I am striving to follow Him, that I might capture, take and make my own the things and ways of Jesus. After all HE has taken me as HIS own. 13-14) But I am forgetting my past sinful life, as I follow and emulate the ways of Jesus. ,And I strive to win as I run after that distant goal or finish line, for the award that goes to the one who wins the prize of God, HIS final, eternal salvation. 15) Let all of us who are mature, possessing integrity, acquiring the mind of Christ, and being in the contest, the race, to win that finest bidding of God’s salvation and eternal life in heaven. If anything in the world has captivated you, other than “the goal” of God’s eternal life, God will show this to you. Then you repent!__________ 16) Moreover, if you have the down payment, (God the Holy Spirit) and are striving toward the anticipated final prize of God (eternity in heaven) let us “walk the line” (act as if heaven is our home). March in step, lawfully, by the rules; within the boundaries of God. Maintaining that perspective of Christ (or compassion of Christ) and His heavenly kingdom.___________________________ 17) And brothers if you do not believe that you can walk or behave as Christ, I ask you to follow me as I struggle and try to be HIS witness. Recognize the ones who have this desire to have eternal life. Use us as your example. Are You Able to Invite Others to Live as You Live, So That They May Attain Eternal Life? Are you living a life as an example for others? Are you living as though Christ has died for you and made a place for you in heaven, already? Were Paul & John Baptist, men? Can’t we be like them? _________________________________ 18-19) And now with tears of sorrow in my eyes, I remind you that among you are enemies of God. They are agents for and/or of the devil and are God foes, adversaries. They hate God. They will end up in hell and then eternal torment. After all they live for the pleasures they can heap on themselves, such as food and drink. There God is themselves. They glorify in things of which they should be ashamed. They worship the creation in opposition to the Creator.___________________________________ 20-21) BUT our way of behavior, (conversation was, in 1611, more than what one said, it was also the total behavior. The Greek word from which it is here translated includes: how they acted as citizens of their nation). Our conversation (behavior as a citizen) is in heaven. (We are naturalized, adopted citizens of heaven, already) We are to obey God. HE is king of heaven. We are HIS citizens. We look to the Lord Jesus Christ as our governor, boss, ruler. 21) We do this, because we KNOW that one day, God the Son will transform our earthly flesh will be like HIS eternal bodily existence. We will live with Him in heaven, forever! Hallelujah! This is according to HIS supernatural ability to put EVERYTHING under His authority, in subjection to HIM. (Every knee shall bow . . .) Isa 45:23; Rom. 14:11 When are you and your family going to admit that we are citizens of heaven, not this country. HE is your Lord, boss, ruler, governor, prime minister, and without HIM, you can do nothing? ☺ Who created the oxygen you breathe? The rain for the crops? ☻ The dirt? ☻☺☻☻ ☻☺☺☺☻ Rejoice in the Lord always! Know that God has provided everything. When man (Adam & you) sinned and deserved death, HE came and rescued us from eternal death. HE provides eternal life, healing, love, peace, joy. HE promises to feed us. Why do we resist him? Why do we fail to walk with Him and after Him? Why? Let us surrender everything to HIM, this day. Let us admit that HE is our Lord! |