FRAMEWORKS:
Philippians 3
v.1-14
No Confidence in the Flesh
v.15-21
Following Paul's Outlook & Example
[Chapter
3 Synopsis: Beware the circumcision party who
put their trust in circumcision, not the Cross. Their relationship
with God is unreal, whereas we have given up everything in order
to know God and be known by Him. May you be able to see this,
understand this and follow my example]
v.1-14
No Confidence in the Flesh
[Passage
Synopsis: beware the circumcision party, we are those
truly related to God, not by our merits, although I could certainly
boast about such things if need be. No, I just want to know Christ
and his righteousness, sharing in his power and resurrection.
I'm just a ‘work in progress' but I am pressing on to receive
all he has for me]
v.1
(It's good that I can
say the same things to you) 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.
v.2
(beware the circumcision
party) Watch
out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.
v.3-6
(for we're the real Jews
in Christ, serving by the Spirit not by confidence in the flesh
– but actually with my background I could do that) For
it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit,
who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else
thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have
more: 5 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 righteousness
based on the law, faultless.
v.7
(but whatever benefits
those things might be, I count them as nothing for the sake of
Christ) But
whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of
Christ.
v.8,9
(indeed I consider them
all lost in order to know him and the righteousness he conveys
to me through faith) +
What
is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing
worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost
all things. +
I consider
them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that
comes from God on the basis of faith.
v.10,11
(I want to know him and
the power of his resurrection, more than anything else) I
want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection
and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the
dead.
v.12
(I've still got this
in my sights as my goal and press on for it) Not
that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived
at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ
Jesus took hold of me.
v.13
(I've yet to get there
but I put the past aside and go for what is yet to come)
Brothers and
sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is ahead,
v.14
(yes, I press on for
God's goal for me) +
I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus. +
v.15-21
Following Paul's Outlook & Example
[Passage
Synopsis: I hope you will agree with this outlook, able
to take me as your example, not being like some who, in reality,
reject the Cross and will be destroyed. We look toward our home,
heaven, when Christ will return and ultimately transform us for
ever]
v.15
(as you grow in Christ,
may you have this same outlook) All
of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.
And if on some point you think differently, that too God will
make clear to you.
v.16
(let's go with what we've
received so far) Only
let us live up to what we have already attained.
v.17
(use us as an example)
Join together
in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you
have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
v.18
(because the trouble
is many others reject the Cross) For,
as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with
tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
v.19
(but their end will be
destruction, living in accord with fleshly desires) Their
destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their
glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
v.20,21
(but us – our home is
in heaven and we eagerly await Jesus' coming who will transform
us into his glory) But
our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from
there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him
to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly
bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Continue
to Chapter 4