NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 83
page 2067
3:2
yPs 22:16,20
3:3
zRo 2:28,29;
Gal 6:15; Col 2:11
3:5
aLk
1:59
11:22
11:1
dAc 23:6
b2Co
cRo
3:6
eAc 8:3
fRo 10:5
3:7
gMt 13:44; Lk 14:33
3:8
hEph
4:13; 2Pe 1:2
•
P h i l i pp i a n s
3:9
3. Joy in believing
No Confidence in the Flesh
Further, my brothers and sisters, 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. 2Watch out for those dogs, y
those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, z
we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence
in the flesh — 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else t hinks they have reasons to put confidence in the f lesh, I have more:
5 circumcised a on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, b of the tribe of Benjamin, c a He
brew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; d 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; e
as for righteousness based on the law, f faultless.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss g for the sake of Christ. 8 What is
more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing h Christ
Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all t hings. I consider them garbage, that I may
gain Christ 9 and be f ound in him, not having a righteousness of my own that c omes
3
3:1 As a safeguard, Paul reviewed the basics with these believers. The
Bible provides our safeguard both morally and theologically. When we
read the Bible individually, study it in groups, and hear it taught at church,
it makes us aware of corrections we need to make in our thoughts,
attitudes, and actions. Knowing the Bible keeps us alert against false
teaching while pointing us to sound doctrine, wise choices, and most
importantly, a life-giving relationship with God.
3:2-3 These “dogs” and “evildoers . . . mutilators of the flesh” were
Judaizers—Jewish Christians who wrongly believed that it was essential
for Gentiles to follow all the Old Testament Jewish laws, especially
submission to the rite of circumcision, in order to receive salvation. Many
Judaizers were motivated by spiritual pride. Because they had invested
so much time and effort in keeping their laws, they could not accept the
fact that all their efforts couldn’t bring them a step closer to salvation.
Paul criticized the Judaizers because they looked at Christianity
backward, thinking that what they did (circumcising—cutting or mutilating the flesh) made them true believers rather than the acceptance
of the gift of grace given by Christ. What believers do to serve God is
a result of faith, not a prerequisite to faith. This had been confirmed
by the early church leaders at the Jerusalem council 11 years earlier
(Acts 15), and Paul taught earnestly about the relationship between
faith and the law in his letter to the Galatians. Who are the Judaizers
of our day? They are those who say that people must add something
else to simple faith. No person should add anything to Christ’s offer of
salvation by grace through faith.
3:2-3 It is easy to place more emphasis on human effort (“confidence
in the flesh”) than on faith, but God values the attitude of our hearts
above all else. Don’t judge people’s spirituality by their fulfillment of
duties or by their level of human activity. In addition, don’t think that you
will satisfy God by feverishly doing his work. God notices all you do for
him and will reward you for it, but only if it comes as a loving response
to his free gift of salvation.
3:3 The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, impacts all aspects of
the Christian life. Paul wrote many times about the vital role of the Holy
Spirit in the lives of believers. No one can be considered part of the new
community unless they receive the Spirit (Romans 8:9). The presence of
the Spirit in a believer’s life makes circumcision unnecessary (Galatians
3:1-5). The Spirit also aids us in our prayers (Romans 8:26) and gives gifts
to help us worship God and serve others (Ephesians 4:11-13). Through the
Spirit we have real access to God in prayer (Ephesians 2:18-21). Christian
worship is intensely s piritual—whatever outward forms are used, worship
is always inspired by the Holy Spirit. When we worship God, we should
take time to acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s role.
3:4-6 At first glance, it looks like Paul is boasting about his achievements and status. But he is actually doing the opposite, showing that
human achievements, no matter how impressive, cannot earn a person
salvation and eternal life with God. Paul had impressive credentials:
upbringing, nationality, family background, inheritance, orthodoxy,
activity, and morality (see 2 Corinthians 11 and Galatians 1:13-24 for
more of his credentials). However, his conversion to faith in Christ (Acts 9)
wasn’t based on what he had done but on God’s grace. Paul did not
depend on his deeds to please God because even the most impressive
credentials fall short of God’s holy standards. Are you depending on
Christian parents, church affiliation, or just being good to make you
right with God? Credentials, accomplishments, or reputation cannot
earn salvation. Salvation comes only through faith in Christ.
3:5 Paul belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, a heritage greatly esteemed among the Jews. From this tribe had come Israel’s first king,
Saul (1 Samuel 10:20-24), and the tribes of Benjamin and Judah were
the only two tribes to return to Israel after the Exile (Ezra 4:1). Paul was
also a Pharisee, a member of a very devout Jewish sect that scrupulously
kept their own numerous rules in addition to the laws of Moses. Paul
explains for these mostly Gentile believers that his Jewish credentials
were impeccable.
3:6 Why had Paul, a devout Jewish leader, persecuted the church?
Agreeing with the leaders of the religious establishment, Paul had
thought that Christianity was heretical and blasphemous. Because
Jesus did not meet his expectations of what the Messiah would be like,
Paul had assumed that Jesus’ claims were f alse—and therefore wicked.
In addition, he had seen Christianity as a political menace because it
threatened to disrupt the fragile harmony between the Jews and the
Roman government.
3:7 When Paul speaks of his “gains,” he is referring to his credentials,
credits, and successes. After showing that he could beat the Judaizers
at their own game (being proud of who they were and what they had
done), Paul shows that it is the wrong game. Be careful of considering
your position or past achievements so important that they get in the
way of your relationship with Christ.
3:8 After Paul considered everything he had accomplished in his life, he
decided to write it all off as “a loss” when compared with the greatness
of knowing Christ. We should value our relationship with Christ as more
important than anything else. To know Christ should be our ultimate
goal. Yet how do we know him better? (1) Study the life of Christ in the
Gospels. See how he lived and responded to people (Matthew 11:29).
(2) Study all the New Testament references to Christ (see, for example,
Colossians 1:15–2:15). (3) As you worship and pray, let the Holy Spirit
remind you of Christ’s words (John 14:26). (4) Take up Christ’s mission
to preach the gospel, and learn from his sufferings (Matthew 28:19;
Philippians 3:10).
3:9-10 Paul gave up everything—family, friendship, and freedom—in
order to know Christ and his resurrection power. We, too, have access
to this knowledge and this power, but we may have to make sacrifices to
enjoy it fully. What are you willing to give up in order to know Christ? A
crowded schedule, in order to set aside a few minutes each day for prayer
and Bible study? A friend’s approval? Some of your plans or pleasures?
Whatever you must change or give up, having Christ and becoming one
with him will be more than worth the sacrifice.
3:9 No amount of law keeping, s elf-improvement, discipline, or religious