Volume 1 Post/Email 4 – Philippians 3:1-8
Philippians 3:1 reads, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the LORD! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.”
As someone who teaches and preaches, I like to point out in this verse that Paul says redundancy and repetition are o.k. :)
Here Paul encourages them, and us, to rejoice in our Lord, Jesus. He says he knows this is something he has mentioned before and that it is no trouble to do so once again, because he is reminding them of this simple truth as a safeguard.
So what is the safeguard? The following verses (2-6) show that the context he is addressing has to do with finding joy in religious things other than Jesus, such as our own “spiritual resume” (so to speak). Thus, our joy becomes based on, or resulting from, a focus on ourselves and our religious activities and works and not based on Jesus and His saving (atoning) work and blessings.
This was a Jewish struggle for many converts in the 1st Century, and it is a Christian struggle for some today – seeking to be justified by law/performance rather than by grace through faith in Jesus.
In Acts 15:9 Peter explains this to the Jewish Christians who were struggling to accept the Gentile Christians who did not keep all of their “traditions”. He says, “He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?”
Likewise, we can be tempted to lose the joy of a simple but sincere trust in Jesus. We can begin to place so much emphasis and importance on our religious performance and works that we end up both worshipping God and serving others under false pretenses. Instead of a heart oriented towards Jesus that results in joy, humility, service and overall transformation and obedience, we end up practicing more of a self-worship than God-worship. The result can even be to compare ourselves, including our works, our knowledge/beliefs, and even specific worship habits, to those of others and to compare “spiritual resumes” and put our confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:2-3).
Isn’t this scary?! Religious activities can actually draw us away from God instead of closer to God! Like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14, who allowed the spiritual disciplines of praying, fasting and tithing to be about himself and focus on himself rather than on God’s presence and goodness in his life.
Isn’t this scary?! Religious activities can actually draw us away from other Christian believers instead of closer to them! We can have a sectarian spirit and actions instead of a Christ-like spirit and actions. Sadly, we could create a list of 100’s of things Christians have divided over that the Bible does not mandate dividing over.
Here is Paul’s “spiritual resume” and how he now views himself in light of Christ.
Philippians 3:4b-6 reads, “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.”
A little adlibbing … ‘Boy, aren’t I such a religious person who has everything together? I am a Christian of Christians! Well … this is what I now think and know to be true … my spiritual resume is garbage and I desperately need God’s mercy! I need Jesus, and Jesus alone is my joy and salvation!’
Philippians 3:7-8 – “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my LORD, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
As God works in and through you each day, rejoice in the LORD that you are forgiven, loved, have purpose and can be used in the kingdom despite being unholy and unworthy apart from Christ.
It is not about our religious heritage (or even a lack of a religious background). Our salvation is not a matter of how much we know or how much we do or how right we think we are compared to others. What matters is having a personal faith in Jesus and humbly seeking to glory in Him (vs. 3), without putting any confidence in ourselves (the flesh).
My prayer from this text (and perhaps yours too):
“Father, may I rejoice in Jesus each day. May my relationship with you not be one of pride and self-promotion, but one of gratitude and love for You. May I have a heart purified by faith in Jesus. May my obedience and religious activities direct me towards You and not myself.
Also, help me to love others more now than ever before. May I not judge and look down on other people of faith who do not have an exact resemblance to my spiritual views and practices, but to seek unity, peace and love based on a common faith in Christ in the midst of any other diversity.
Thank you for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thank you for Jesus. In His name, Amen.”
-Brian
