Daily Writing

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

…concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Philippians 3:6

Paul gives a completion to the list of his points of earthly boasting in this verse. It is not that he is actually boasting in them, but that if he were to boast, it would be in these things. He notes, “…concerning zeal, persecuting the church.” There is an irony in this thought. As it says in Galatians 1:23 –

“He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

Paul was definitely zealous towards those things he was passionate about. Before coming to Christ, he lived as a Pharisee. In this position, he felt that the church was the aberrant sect, and that he must do everything possible in order to stamp it out.

In Romans 10:2, he shows how Israel which had not called on Jesus was in the same position –

“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

Without understanding the Person and work of Christ, there remained a zeal within the Jewish community for the Law of Moses which established them as a people. It is natural for one to be zealous about such things. However, Christ is the end of the law for all who believe. Therefore, the zeal is misdirected. In this misdirected condition, he was zealous for persecuting the church. He notes this specifically numerous times in his other letters. For example, he says this in 1 Corinthians 15:9 –

“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

He also notes this in Galatians 1:13 & 1:23, and he hints at it in 1 Timothy 1:13. Even more, the book of Acts describes his efforts in detail concerning his persecution of the church. If he were still one who held to the law as necessary, he would be able to boast more than anyone about this matter. But he goes on. He next says, “…concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

This was the righteousness of which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:23 –

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The scribes and the Pharisees were meticulous in how they observed the law, carefully following every precept. They held so fast to the law that they felt they had merited God’s favor because of it, considering themselves blameless. However, this showed that they didn’t really understand the law as well as they may have. Within the law was the mandatory Day of Atonement which they were required to observe. The fact that this was required should have shown them that they still needed mercy. As this is so, their righteousness was still lacking. This is why Jesus said that a person’s righteousness needed to exceed that of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Paul was only righteous before the law insofar as he held to every precept externally, but he needed an internal change to grant him true righteousness. This will be realized in his coming words.

Life application: When someone does something truly harmful in the name of their religion, it is because they really believe it is the right thing to do. What they need is to be shown the truth of Jesus Christ. This is why missionaries go even into Islamic nations. They are willing to put their own lives at risk in order to show these wayward souls that the path they believe is incorrect. When we can empathize with the viewpoint of others, we can then work to correct their faulty views of what God expects of each of us.

Lord God, it is truly sad that we as a species believe that we can merit Your favor and stand righteous before You by working out deeds of the law. Even in the law itself, there was a mandatory Day of Atonement. This implied that those participants needed atonement. Therefore, there is none righteous before You. Thank God for Jesus Christ who IS our atonement. In Him, there is complete and perfection reconciliation. Thank God for Jesus Christ. Amen.

Tuesday, 31 January 2017

…circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; Philippians 3:5

Paul now begins his list of things that could give him “confidence in the flesh.” First on his list is that he was “circumcised the eighth day.” It is the badge of the Jew and the rite goes all the way back to Genesis 17 at the time of Abraham. There the Lord said to Abraham –

“Every male child among you shall be circumcised; ¹¹ and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. ¹² He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. ¹³ He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.” Genesis 17:10-13

Being circumcised on the eighth day meant that he was not only in the covenant people, but that he was received into the covenant people, having been circumcised according to this ancient rite on his eighth day of life. No mere proselyte was he, but one with the lineage of Abraham himself.

Next he says that he is “of the stock of Israel.” This is an emphasis concerning what he just noted. Another person could have been born of another nation and circumcised on the eighth day, but he was of the true line of Abraham, through Isaac, and through Jacob who is Israel. He bore in his blood the royalty of the patriarchs.

Thirdly, he says that he was of “the tribe of Benjamin.” He has identified his status within the circumcision, then his status within the national lineage of Israel. Now he further defines the national identity by showing what portion of that group he belongs to, which is “the tribe of Benjamin.” This was a high honor indeed. Israel’s first king, Saul, was of the tribe of Benjamin. Further, the tribe was almost annihilated due to a case of disobedience leading to war against them by the other tribes. They were reduced to a mere 600 men (see judges 20). Members of this tribe also sided with David during his pre-ruling years. They actually supported him in opposition to the king who belonged to their own tribe (see 1 Chronicles 12). These, along with other noted accounts, could be considered a point of boasting.

Fourth, he says that he is “a Hebrew of Hebrews.” The term “Hebrew” was first used of Abraham in Genesis 14:13. It signifies one who has “crossed over.” The name is derived from Abraham’s ancestor Eber who was probably the eldest generation of those who “crossed over” the river in a move away from the area of Babel. From there, a spiritual connection was made to the physical move. They eventually “crossed over” from idolatry to worshipping the true God. Thus, they were set apart from the other nations. The term “Hebrew” is used in the Bible to show a distinction between the people groups. There are the Hebrew people, and this group is contrasted to all foreigners. Even though Paul was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, he had, like his fathers, retained this identity. They remained apart from those around them in cultural and national identity.

Finally in this verse, he notes, “concerning the law, a Pharisee.” Not only was he a Jew who lived under the Law of Moses, he was the epitome of those who held to the law. The Pharisees were known to be the strictest adherents to the faith, and they meticulously lived out every precept as perfectly as they could. They went through intense studies of the law, even from youth, and they had built up a system of life that necessitated their absolute adherence to every fine point of the law and even beyond. Theirs was the leading group of “holy men” to whom everyone else looked to for their certainly notable lives. In Acts 23:6, he notes that he was not only a Pharisee, but he was “the son of a Pharisee.” He was of this tradition, and it went back even before himself.

Life application: Paul could surely boast in these things if they were worth boasting in. He possessed the highest connections to the social and religious life of the people from whom Christ came. Surely if anyone could merit God’s favor apart from the work of Jesus, it would be this guy. But to Paul, only Christ mattered. Where is your boast? In what are you placing your hopes?

Lord God, if I possess the greatest intellect; if I have a voice even of the finest singers on the planet; if I were an actor who played his parts better than any other ever could; if I had both fame and fortune; if I owned the largest tract of land; or if I ran the largest company on the planet… how nifty; how great. But without Christ, not one of these things means diddly. All will return to the earth, and everything we revel in will pass on to another. Help us to think clearly. As believers in Christ, we have the greatest riches of all. Hallelujah for eternal riches which are found in Him alone! Amen.

Monday, 30 January 2017

…though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: Philippians 3:4

The Greek literally reads, “…even though myself having confidence.” The English translation gives the correct sense based on his later words, but at the moment, he is placing himself on the same level with the Jews and comparing himself against them. In essence, “You Jews have confidence in the flesh, well so do I!” Again, he really does not, but for the intent of what he will say to them, he is calling to mind that he is not less than them in what could be boasted on.

If he were to boast like others, it would be of his human nature of which he will give a detailed description in the coming verses. And so to bolster his certain ability to boast, he continues with, “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so…” He is setting up the “mutilation” of verse 2 (meaning those Jews who circumcise the flesh, but not the heart) for a fall. He would not begin an argument unless he was certain he could prevail in it.

Paul’s “more so” will be an astonishing resume of lineage and learning which will place him at the very top of Hebrew society. Yay for Paul! But is this what life is about? Instead, he will eventually come around to showing just what those things mean in comparison to having Christ.

Life application: What thing in your life do you think you have a right to boast in? Do you have a nice house? Do you have a lot of money? Are you handsome or beautiful? Do you have a remarkable genealogy that includes kings and zillionaries? What is it that you feel is the most valuable part of who you are? If you say anything other than “Jesus Christ,” you have your priorities completely out of whack.

Lord God, help us to consider what is of value in our lives? Our money? A big house? Fame, beauty, or color of skin? Are we proud of our genealogy? Are we confident in the position we have in our job? All of these things are temporary and pointless, aren’t they? Unless we say, “Jesus Christ is the most important part of my life!”, we have priorities that are futile and which will die with us. But in Christ, there is the greatest of honor and blessing. Help us to think rightly, and to live our lives in accord with our relationship to Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, 29 January 2017

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, Philippians 3:3

Paul, now clearly explains the “mutilation” of the last verse by stating a contrast. He says, “For we are the circumcision.” He uses the abstract term “the circumcision” to speak of those who are the truly circumcised. This was written to a Gentile church who had never been circumcised, and yet he boldly states this. If Paul was circumcised, and they were not, and yet he says “we,” then he must be referring to something not of the flesh. And this is exactly so. In Romans 2, he says –

“For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ²⁶ Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? ²⁷ And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? ²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; ²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:25-29

His words show that circumcision of the flesh means nothing unless it is accompanied by a change in the heart. And his words are not without prior confirmation. In fact, the thought goes all the way back to Moses himself. In Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6, he mentions circumcision of the heart. This is then repeated by Jeremiah hundreds of years later –

“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
And take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Lest My fury come forth like fire,
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah 4:4

Israel had made the immense mistake of assuming that they were righteous before God because of who they were and because of what they had done. This was the farthest thing from the truth. They relied on that which was fleshly and did not “worship God in the Spirit.” These words go back to what Jesus said in John 4 –

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23, 24

Jesus’ words imply that not all supposed worship is truly worship. A Jew could claim they were worshipping God by being circumcised, wearing certain clothes, and observing certain rituals. However, such is not the case. True worship comes from the heart and is directed to God in a spiritual manner, not in an external, earthly manner. To worship God in the Spirit is to “rejoice in Christ Jesus.” He has accomplished all of that which is necessary to reconcile us to God. Therefore, we are to rejoice in Him and in what He has done, “and have no confidence in the flesh.”

What this means is that for those in Christ circumcision of the flesh means nothing – absolutely nothing. It cannot bring a person any nearer to God. In fact, if a person who receives Christ later opts to be circumcised in order to obtain God’s favor, they have set aside the grace of God in Christ and have become obligated to the entire law. Paul explains this in Galatians. No person should boast in anything but Jesus Christ and what He has done.

Life application: It has become very popular today to observe certain feasts from the Law of Moses, to give up eating certain foods prohibited there, and to be circumcised in order to make God “happy.” Paul says otherwise. Circumcision schmircumcision. It is contrary to a right relationship with God, and it shows that the person does not trust that what Jesus did is sufficient for their salvation. It is stamping on His work and saying, “Nice try, but I can do better.” Reject such people as warped and foolish.

Lord God, I absolutely refuse to set aside the grace of Jesus Christ. May each of us stand on His finished work alone and put no confidence in any external ritual. Praise God for the work of Christ my Lord. Praise God for Jesus. Amen.

Saturday, 28 January 2017

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! Philippians 3:2

Paul now actually begins his words of warning and admonition which he hinted at in the preceding verse. Although his words can include other parties who are harmful to the faith, they are directed specifically at one group of people, the Judaizers. These are the Jews, or those following the Jews, who have come to reinsert the law, in part or in whole. They are those who, by one work or many, set aside the grace of Jesus Christ in order to establish a righteousness of their own.

He begins with “Beware of dogs.” The translation unfortunately leaves off an article before “dogs.” It is necessary and it makes the warning less forceful than it should be. “Beware of THE dogs.” The word “beware” in Greek is blepó, and “it carries what is seen into the non-physical (immaterial) realm so a person can take the needed action (respond, beware, be alert)” (HELPS Word Studies).

Paul is asking them to mark out and be spiritually aware of these wicked people. They are “the dogs.” The term “dog” is highly derogatory. It indicates a raging unclean animal. Dogs in the Middle East, even to this day, are not considered with the delight of folks in the west. They travel in packs, eat corpses and other dirty things, and are considered disease-ridden nuisances. This is seen in both testaments of the Bible. Paul’s words probably go beyond mere uncleanness, but also to the fact that they are snarling savages which tear and bite at those around them. This is how severely he treats those who would come in and attempt to reintroduce the law, in part or in whole. It is the greatest offense to the purity of the gospel. In Revelation 22:15, we read this about such people –

“But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”

By trampling on His grace, Jesus places these evil-doers first in a list of the worst of all offenders.

Next he says to “beware of evil workers.” Again, an article has been dropped which takes away the severity of his words. It says, “…beware of THE evil workers.” The Judaizers are the epitome of such evil workers. There are those who are caught in sin and may not even realize it, but these people willingly cut themselves off from the grace of Christ, and they actively work evil against His name. Jesus has strong words for them, again from Revelation –

“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” Revelation 3:9

A true Jew would come to Christ, understanding He is the fulfillment of all that is spoken in Scripture. A false Jew will work against Christ, demanding the law be adhered to in part or in whole. This is truly one who is the evil worker. He warns against them in several epistles. In 2 Corinthians, he identifies them and their false works with their true master –

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

He completes the verse with, “…beware of the mutilation.” This is a scathing phrase directed to the very heart of the sect of Judaizers, circumcision. He uses a word found only here in the NT. It indicates to mutilate or to spoil. A word in English which meets the irony of this word would be concision, which would then stand opposed to circumcision. Paul, in essence, is saying that those who are Jews in flesh only are simply flesh-mutilated and flesh-mutilators. They boast in the flesh, but speak against the grace of Christ. Much of the book of Galatians deals with exactly this subject. The warning there is so strong that he sums up the process of physical circumcision with these words –

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. ⁴ You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:1-4

Life application: If you wonder why Judaizers and Hebrew Roots movement people speak so vehemently against Paul, it is because they are heretics who are set on a course to hell. They willingly cut off their flesh in order to cut themselves off from Christ. They are the epitome of wickedness because they see the truth of Christ’s grace, and yet they work against it. Such will find no peace, nor will any who follow in their deeds. Stand fast on the grace of Jesus Christ alone.

Lord God, Your word has the strongest and most condemning words of all for those who would set aside the grace found in the work of Jesus Christ. Instead of trusting once and for all in His cross and His resurrection, they reinsert the law, they mandate external rights, and they hold to certain observances, as if that is what makes them holy. But you have shown that we can only be holy through the work of Christ. Help us to trust in this, and in this alone. May we never set aside His grace by attempting to merit your favor in any other way. Jesus! Only Jesus. Amen.