Philippians

Monday, 13 February 2017

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: Philippians 3:18

As noted in the previous verse, the words of Paul seem especially directed to those who lived out their supposed Christian experience in licentiousness and in the pursuit of worldly things. This is in contrast to the Judaizers in the sense that they discounted the work of Christ and exalted the Law of Moses. They looked to a reward, but they looked to it as an earned badge of merit, not as a gift received because of the work of Another.

The people Paul speaks of here simply treat the world as the great reward, and they revel in what it offers. And yet, they claim that they are followers of Christ. This is why he now notes their “walk.” In the previous verse, he asked that those who walked in accord with his walk, meaning in a life lived to Christ, were to be emulated as a pattern. Now he says, “For many walk,” as a contrast to that. He then notes, “…of whom I have told you often.” This is not something that suddenly appeared while he was away from them. Instead, it is something that he had been warning about all along.

For this reason, it is an incipient infection. It is one that constantly needs to be warned against, and so he says, “…and now tell you even weeping.” It was such a damaging heresy that it literally brought him to tears. How could someone hear the message of Christ, claim that that they had received it and been converted, and yet continue to live in the world as if “for the world.” And in fact, they had taken the grace of Christ, and turned it into a badge of greater sin than they previously engaged in. It is a concept that he addresses in Romans 6 which begins with –

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1, 2

He warns that being in Christ means living in holiness, not in even greater sin. For those that would presume to teach this, or to follow such teachers, he says “that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” Such people are not just unknowing and uncaring about Christianity, they are actively enemies of it. Christ counts them as such. They are destined for a very bad end unless they repent, come to their senses, and call on Christ in truth.

Thus, we have a distinction between the Judaizers of the earlier verses of chapter 3 and those of the Antinomian heresy here. The Judaizers were heretical because they rejected the full atonement and justification which is found in Christ alone, and they set out to establish their own righteousness. The Antinomians now work against the other side of the cross. They claim that they are so fully justified in Christ that they have absolute freedom to work out, and engage in, any type of moral impurity they wish.

What is astonishing is that both of these groups have almost exponentially grown in size in the recent church. The modern Hebrew Roots movement has exploded in recent years, claiming that the Law of Moses must be adhered to in part or in full. At the same time, the once strong and faithful churches and denominations of even the recent past, have openly endorsed homosexuality, lesbianism, and every other type of moral perversion that they can think up. Pulpits have become the proclaimers of pervert parties. And yet, all of this could be avoided if one simply picked up the Bible and read the warnings of Paul.

Life application: There is peace to be found in Christ, but let us never use this grace to assume that we can then live in an unholy manner. We are to emulate our Lord who would never condone such worldly perversion.

Lord God, there are enemies on both sides of Christ’s cross. There are those who deny the all-sufficiency of His work, claiming they must continue to adhere to the Law of Moses in order to please You. And then there are those who say that the grace which stems from the cross is a license to sin and commit any and every moral twisting they wish. There are perverts in the pulpit who are leading their sheep down a one-way path to destruction. Help us to adhere to Your word alone, and not to get caught in either of these damnable heresies. Amen.

Sunday, 12 February 2017

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.  Philippians 3:17

Paul, having addressed the doctrinal error of the Judaizers, will now set out on another course of correction concerning doctrine. He will address those who use their freedom in Christ as license to sin. This is known as the Antinomian heresy.

For now, he begins with “Brethren.” He is addressing saved believers in Christ, and he is identifying himself with them. With this understanding, he says, “…join in following my example.” The phrase is unique in the New Testament, and it indicates being joint imitators. He is saying that he is an imitator of Christ, and he desires them to jointly follow in this imitation of the Lord. The Pulpit Commentary notes that, “He changes the singular number to the plural, modestly shrinking from proposing himself alone as their example.”

From this point, and understanding that all are to be united in imitating Christ, he next says, “and note those who so walk.” The metaphor of the race which was used in the previous verses is now changed to a walk, thus a walk of life. The conduct in this life (even if it is a race with our eyes on the goal), is to be one which is in imitation of the life of Christ. In this walk there is an example laid out for them. This is seen in the words, “…as you have us for a pattern.”

In a broad perspective, he shows that there are two types of people who are to be found in a church. Those who imitate Christ and have their minds, hearts, and affections on heavenly things, and those who are earthly and carnal. The apostles and their designated representatives had set the first example, and he desires that they follow in that. Those he will describe in the coming verses will be given as examples of what not to emulate.

Life application: In the quickly apostatizing church of today, the carnal is growing almost exponentially. It is incumbent on us to go to the word itself, and to follow it as closely as possible. This will keep us from going astray. This is what the word is for. Let us not deviate from it.

Lord God, the church today is quickly turning from the soundness of Your word, and towards ever-increasing licentiousness. Sexual sin of the most perverse kind is hailed as acceptable, and those who follow Your word are being called haters and bigoted. But Your word stands. There is one Lord and one path of truth which is found in the pages of Scripture. May we be called a thousand disparaging names by the world if it means that we are obedient to Your word. Be with us as we face this onslaught of wickedness. Amen.

Saturday, 11 February 2017

Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Philippians 3:16

The word “Nevertheless” is given to show that there are different degrees of maturity within the body. In other words, Paul said “as many as are mature” in the previous verse. But there really are none who are on exactly the same level of maturity. Some had heard Paul speak many times and were well-grounded in their understanding of the work of Christ. Some may have missed those meetings, or had come more recently to the faith. And some of them simply may have been incapable of understanding the more difficult issues which were presented to them.

Whatever the state of the individual was, and for whatever reasons, to that degree to which they were mature, he instructs, “…let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” In other words, arguments and divisions serve no valid purpose if they do not involve heresy or major doctrinal differences. When the end of life comes for an individual, it won’t be the lesser points of doctrine that people speak about at their funeral. Instead, it will be that they loved Christ Jesus, spoke out boldly for Him, and were willing to walk in harmony with others who may have disagreed, even over things that ultimately make little difference in the overall scheme of things.

When Markus Polonius is laying in his coffin, nobody with a modicum of decency would come up and say, “He believed that the church replaced Israel, and so he was a really crummy Christian.” Instead, they will speak about what united them, not about the things he was wrong on and which will be revealed to him by Christ. If this is how we speak about one another at death, is it really necessary to tear them apart in their life?

Life application: Doctrine matters. It is right for teachers to hold the line on what is proper doctrine. But when two teachers with opposing views speak to one another, it shouldn’t be for tearing one another down. Minds are not changed that way, and it is only harmful to the fellowship. Let us learn to hold our tongues at times when our lofty opinions are unwanted, or when they will only cause division.

Lord God, it is good and right to stand firm on doctrine, but it isn’t right to stand and tear others apart over minor issues. Help us to use wisdom when defending a point of doctrine and not to cause unnecessary division within the body. Unless someone is truly mishandling Your word, it is probably better that we keep our mouths shut until our opinion is asked for. You will correct faulty doctrine that we stubbornly hold on to. Until then, just give us the wisdom to understand that it is we who could be wrong and to pursue the truth of Your word always. Amen.

Friday, 10 February 2017

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Philippians 3:15

“Therefore” is given based on what he has said in verses 12 through 14. He said he was not perfected, nor had he already attained the end goal. Instead he was still in the race with all of his efforts directed toward “those things which are ahead.” He sums that up by saying, “…let us, as many as are mature, have this mind.” He is saying that those who are mature in their thoughts should conduct themselves in exactly this same manner.

Concerning the word “mature,” he uses the adjective form of the same word he used in verse 12 which was used as a verb. There, the NKJV translated it as “perfected,” but it is the same word. Because of this, there is certainly irony involved in the thought. He is contrasting himself to those who may claim that they are already perfected, which obviously they are not. Translating the words the same way will show his hint of irony –

12. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected…
13. Therefore let us, as many as are perfect…

Obviously, his intent is that being perfected is not the same as being perfect. Rather, the choice of “mature” gives the correct sense, but it loses the irony. The same word is used in 1 Corinthians 14:20; Ephesians 4:13; Hebrews 5:14, and etc., where it indicates a state of maturity. He is saying, in essence, “Those who are mature are not already perfected, but are striving forward towards that goal.” For the others then, they fall short because they are, in fact, not perfected. Instead they are not striving forward toward perfection, and thus they are immature.

He then notes this directly by saying, “…and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” For those who are not striving forward in the way noted in verses 12-14, they have a surprise coming. God will reveal to them their folly in pursuing the temporary instead of pursuing the eternal. They should have fixed their eyes on Christ, and instead they have fixed their eyes on the flesh. While they should have been concerned about circumcision of the heart, they are having parts of their body removed; a body which would corrupt and return to the earth. Whatever was not being done with the ultimate goal of Christ in mind was useless, and that would be revealed to them by God.

Note that he does not say “by Christ Jesus.” They have not kept their eyes on Him as they should have. He should be the chief desire of their heart, and so God – Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit – would reveal to them the error of their ways. God’s intent is for the Son to be exalted.

Life application: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, striving towards Him as our goal. We are to emulate Him now, endeavoring to be more and more like him until we are perfected in  Him.

Heavenly Father, Your word instructs us to fix our eyes on Jesus, to strive to be like Him, to pursue Him and His righteousness always, and to never divert our attention from this goal. Help us in this Lord, the world has many temptations, and we face many trials. But despite these things, our hearts and attention need to be directed to the eternal, not these temporary things. Be with us in this, as we conduct ourselves in accord with Your desires for us. Amen.

Thursday, 9 February 2017

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Paul now explains “reaching forward to those things which are ahead” which he referred to in the previous verse. The sum of them is “the prize” he will now mention. In order to get to this prize, he says that, “I press toward the goal.” The word for “press” indicates “to pursue with all haste.” For example, it is used when a hunter is chasing a catch. Every fiber of Paul’s being was directed toward “the goal.” This word for “goal” is skopós. It is used only this once in the New Testament. It is where the English word “scope” comes from, such as a scope on a rifle which is used for target shooting.

Paul was wholly directed toward this goal, which is the ultimate objective of the life of faith that a believer possesses. It is the state of glorification which will be granted when Christ returns for His people. To Paul, this was what his earthly life was directed toward. It is “the prize” which he now refers to. It is the word brabeíon, which is the reward granted to a victor, and specifically the noted recognition which is a result of that triumph. The only other time the word is used is by Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 –

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” 1 Corinthians 9:25

This prize then is the result of pursuing “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This phrase is rich in theological significance. The term for “call” is klḗsis. It indicates a “calling; used of God inviting all people to receive His gift of salvation – with all His blessings that go with it” (HELPS Word Studies).

In other words, the word “call” itself signifies that a voluntary act of the will is made based on what God has done in Christ Jesus. It negates the idea of being predestined as taught by Calvinists which says that one is “regenerated in order to believe.” Such an act would not require a calling. But God has done something in Christ Jesus which calls out for men to respond. This is the “upward call.” Other versions say, “the high calling,” “the heavenly calling,” etc. The word indicates “above.” In this case, it implies “heaven.” It is the shout of “Come unto Me” which draws our souls to Christ who is in the heavenlies awaiting our response.

This was Paul’s greatest desire, and it is what wholly consumed him. It did not mean that he didn’t stay active here on earth. In fact, just the opposite is true. It means that he did all he could as an apostle, a teacher, an evangelist, and a Christian brother to accomplish the work set before him. His earthly life and walk was the set-out course for this high calling. It is what would bring him to the prize resulting from his triumphant work. The crown of life is guaranteed, but that crown of life carries with it other rewards which are a result of what we do now.

Life application: We have a high calling by God in Christ Jesus. We are to respond to that call by receiving Him and His work. When that is done, we still have a course set before us in order to receive the final reward of that high calling. Too often, we want the reward without living out the race which is taking us to that reward. But the race is what gets us to our end goal. Let us keep our eyes on the prize, but not forget that rewards accompany the prize which is based on the race we run.

Lord God, there are certain truths which your word teaches. We must receive Jesus in order to be saved. When we receive Jesus, we are saved. Nothing will ever change that. The high calling has been answered, and the crown of life awaits. But, we still have this life to live out. How we live it out will determine our rewards which accompany that crown of life. Too often, we forget that our calling asks us to perform now during the race which is set before us. Grant us the wisdom to not waste this earthly life in vain pursuit, but to set our eyes on the prize and to accomplish all we can for the day when we stand before You. Amen.