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Last week, Pastor Mark told us Paul’s plan was to send Timothy to Philippi. Paul sang Timothy’s praises and endorsed his ministry. He also planned on sending Epaphroditus because he was really homesick for the people. Paul encouraged the church to receive these men. This morning, Paul issues a very stern warning and uses some colorful language to do it.
I encourage you to grab your Bible and read Phil 3:1-6.
Finality is not final as Paul starts with a transition verse. This finally does not mean the end. We’re only about half way through the letter. This finally literally means to the rest or toward the rest. It means moving forward. All things he has written lead to moving forward. Moving forward, “Rejoice in the Lord.” This is a good way to move forward with anything. Rejoice means to enjoy a state of happiness and well-being. Happiness is dependent on circumstances, but joy comes from the Lord. It is a fruit of the Spirit that has been granted to all believers. Circumstances change and happiness changes with those circumstances but joy is that deep seated reality of knowing Christ.
Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord. To write these same things again is no trouble to me.” There’s been some discussion about this. This phrase does not necessarily mean he wrote something we have access to. There is no reason to believe that everything Paul ever wrote is contained in our Bible. He could be referring to something he previously said, it could be something he told Timothy or Epaphroditus to say. The point is Paul felt that what he is about to write is of such significance, he wanted to make sure they knew and understood it. We do this all the time: we remind our kids, co-workers, and friends of things frequently. Don’t forget to do your homework. Remember, we’re leaving at 6. Make sure you complete that project. Don’t forget to pick up your drycleaning. Don’t forget about your doctor’s appointment. Paul is reminding them because, “It is a safeguard for you.” Safeguard is a measure taken to protect or prevent something. All those reminders we give to people, the minute you don’t, people are quick to cry out, “Why didn’t you remind me?!”
Verse 2 begins with a word we have seen before. Beware means to be cautious and alert to risks and dangers. The warning to beware typically is written on signs in bold and often colorful letters. Beware of dogs. beware of getting shocked. Beware of falling rocks. Caution: contents may be hot. We have grown accustomed to these warnings. Paul gives three rapid fire beware statements that refer to the same group of people. Paul says, “Beware of the dogs.” He’s not talking about the four-legged kind. The use of the word dog would have an immediate negative connotation for Paul’s readers. People in the middle east generally hated dogs. Dogs wandered around looking for scraps, they were scavengers. Jews often used this term to describe Gentiles, but Paul is talking about Jews.
“Beware of evil workers.” Jews believed they were saved because they were Jewish. They were keepers of the law and their lives were lived as examples of their piety. They relied on their religion rather than on relationship. It was salvation by works which created a stumbling block because no one could keep the law they said you had to keep. “Beware of the false circumcision.” Circumcision was a big deal to the Jews. But they got that all wrong. It wasn’t the actual circumcision, but the covenant it represented. Without faith, circumcision is simply cutting skin.
Paul contrasts false vs. true circumcision. “For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” True circumcision represents genuine faith in Christ. It is spiritual circumcision which was far more important than physical circumcision. Look at Rom. 2:25-29. This is what Paul is saying. True circumcision is not a physical cutting but a spiritual matter of the heart. Paul includes himself in the true circumcision and describes it using worship, glory, and confidence. We often wrongly define worship as a particular action. Using the principle of first mention, we need to go back to Genesis to see how the term worship was first introduced. Perhaps you know the story of Abraham and Isaac in Gen. 22. In Gen. 22:5 Abraham tells his servants, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there and we will worship and return to you.” Abraham intended to do as instructed by God and sacrifice his one and only son to God. For Abraham, worship was obedience and sacrifice.
In its simplest form, worship is response to the truths of God. What we typically define as worship is not worship in and of itself, but an element of worship. Singing is an element of worship. Prayer is an element of worship. We worship God in Spirit and in truth according to Jo. 4:24. Apart from the Spirit of God, you cannot worship. Glory here simply means boast. In Rom. 15:17, Paul said, “Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.” In Gal. 6:13-14, Paul said, “For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul says, “Put no confidence in the flesh.” This is in direct contrast with what those of the circumcision do. Confidence here means to rely upon. We see misplaced confidence frequently in the church. Remember Paul is talking about true circumcision: salvation. People place their confidence in church membership, although good, does not secure your place in eternity. Position in the church, although good, does not secure your place in eternity. What your mother or father did in the church does not secure your place in eternity. What you used to do in the church does not matter. Regular church attendance, while good, does not secure your place in eternity. These are all confidences in the flesh and Paul says don’t do that.
If anyone could boast in the flesh, it would have been Paul. “Circumcised on the eighth day.” This was the requirement according to Jewish law. “Of the nation of Israel.” He was born in Israel. He was not a transplant or immigrant. Rom. 11:1 and 2 Cor. 11:22 say he was a descendent of Abraham. This set him apart from the Gentiles: he was a true Israelite by birth. That afforded him special privilege.
“Of the tribe of Benjamin.” The tribe of Benjamin descended from Joseph’s youngest son. This tribe was known for its bravery and skill on the battlefield. According to Jud. 20:16, Benjaminites were known for their ability to use a sling and could hit a hair and not miss. Notable Benjaminites were the left-handed Ehud who delivered Israel from the Moabites, Saul, the first king of Israel, Queen Esther, and of course Paul. Benjamin’s capital was Jerusalem. Paul was, “a Hebrew of Hebrews.” There is some dispute over what this means and we can’t be sure. Some say that Paul’s mother and father were Hebrew making him a Hebrew of Hebrews. Others suggest that this sets Paul apart from the Hellenist Jews that were in Tarsus where he was born. Each of these represent Paul’s heritage and his bloodline that could cause a person to boast in things he has no control over.
Paul shifts gears and says, “As to the Law, a pharisee.” Now we get into the religious side of Paul. Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the Law. There were some admirable traits they encouraged. Prayer. Worship of God. Giving. Observing the Sabbath. They were the self-appointed religious authority of the day. They demanded strict adherence to the Law especially in the areas of cleanliness and eating. They had at least some influence in the political arena. We tend to think of them as the enemy of Christ. This is not without good reason as the gospels paint many of the Pharisees in this light.
To show just how dedicated he was, Paul says, “As to zeal, a persecutor of the church.” He didn’t just talk about how much he cared about his heritage; he showed it. Zeal means fervor in advancing a cause or in rendering service. He didn’t just talk the talk; he walked the walk. He was so entrenched with the Pharisees he wanted the disciples of Christ dead. Prior to his conversion, Acts 9:2 says he, “Went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Picture this, he asked for the authority from the high priest to take followers of Christ into custody presumably to bring charges against them and have them answer to the religious authorities. In Acts 26:9-11, Paul says, “So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, after receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being put to death. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was extremely enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.” Paul is not justifying his past; he’s simply sharing his background to show how committed he was to his religion.
“As to righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.” If anyone could claim strict adherence to a legalistic religious practice, it was Saul. He had arrived and was right with the Law. He never broke the Law which is why he said “found blameless.” No one could have accused him of any transgression. This was the height of his religious life. But in his religion, Saul was missing something eternally important. Look quickly at Rom. 7:7-11. Remember he’s looking back at his life with the eyes and mind of Christ. He was blind but now he sees.
What happened to set him on a different path? He encountered a very real God. If anyone could claim some insurmountable personal history that would prevent the Lord from lavishing His grace upon them, it would be Saul of Tarsus. As he was on the way to Damascus, he met the Lord and everything changed. Next week, we will see a huge contrast set up by the word, but and cover what I believe is God’s goal for all believers.