Philippians Chapter Three
Desire to KNOW Christ
By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.
© June 4, 2010
www.godsbreath.net
Copies of this and other homilies available by sending requests to: mikefarrar@aol.com
In Philippians chapter three we find some very interesting scripture
passages and others that are rather challenging. Paul appears to be
addressing some issues in the first part of this chapter that relate to
some Jewish pressures on the Christian community. In verse two of this
chapter Paul issues a warning:
“Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.”
These harsh words are meant to describe a Jewish influence that was
attempting to “lord it over” Christians. Some overly zealous men had
the perception that Jewish heritage and religious practices were of
greater merit and value than those of the Christian faith. Apparently
the Jewish practice of circumcision was being flaunted as a mark of
religious superiority or a requirement to be accepted by God. Many Jews
often spoke of Gentiles as dogs, and here Paul is reversing the
accusation back upon them. He is stating that their attitude of
superiority is verification that they are themselves dogs, who do evil
and mutilate the flesh to assign to themselves a false religious
elitism.
In verse three Paul explains where the true merit of a relationship with God lies. He states:
“For
it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God,
who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”
He is stating that the true circumcision, or mark of true faith in God,
is the worship of God through the Spirit by those who glory in Christ
Jesus. This true faith is verified, not by a fleshly confidence in
circumcision of flesh, but by a spiritual circumcision made possible by
Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Therefore Paul is stating that
these Christians should not be influenced by these men who are
attempting to demean their commitment to Christ.
Paul does not stop here with his defense of the Christian faith. He
continues with submitting his credentials as a Jew. While this might
appear at first to be Paul “tooting his own horn,” you will see in the
verses that follow what is of ultimate value to him, and it is not his
credentials as a Jew. First, lets consider Paul’s credentials in
relationship to the Jewish faith in the following verses:
“Though
I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has
reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 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 legalistic righteousness, faultless.”
These are amazing religious qualifications according to Jewish
tradition. But while Paul had every right to boast if he wanted to,
listen to his statements regarding the value of all these accolades.
“But
whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost
all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith.”
Basically what Paul is saying is that all these great religious
achievements and qualifications that represent his dedication to God
are simply rubbish to him when compared to the relationship he has with
Jesus Christ. This makes two points to the Christians at Philippi and a
major point to us as modern-day Christians. First, to those Christians
at Philippi, they should not be intimidated by the criticism and
boasting of these Jewish religious fanatics for Paul is stating that
such credentials are no comparison to simply knowing Christ as Lord of
one’s life. Secondly, for the Believers at Philippi and Christians
today, the privilege and value of knowing Christ as Savior and Lord
should surpass anything we might lay claim to in this life. Paul
continues to describe his intense desire to know Christ by sharing the
following words in verses ten and eleven:
“I
want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
When you read such words of passion you can’t help but ask yourself the
question, “Do I have such a passion to know Christ?” What is your
answer? I am convicted, are you?
Paul continues sharing about his desire to reach the goal of knowing
Christ fully and intimately in verses twelve through fourteen. He tells
us that despite the value he places on this relationship with Jesus and
his intense efforts to pursue it, he has not fully realized all that it
can and should be.
“Not
that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus
took hold of me. Brothers, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
I believe Paul gives us a glimpse in these verses of his tenacity for
running the Christian spiritual race. First, we must understand that we
will never completely realize or experience what our relationship with
Christ can be in this life. When we get to Heaven, a whole new
dimension will be revealed to us as to what it is to “know Christ.”
Secondly, we must press onward in our quest to grow in our relationship
with Christ and to serve Him to our fullest capacity. Christ saved us
and in a sense “took hold of us” for the specific purpose of having a
relationship with us and using us in ministry. We should seek to take
hold of Christ with the same intention and passion. Thirdly, we need to
forget past failures and stumbles in our lives and press intently
towards the goal or as Paul says “prize” that God has called us to.
What is this prize? It is being conformed perfectly to the image of
Christ and of knowing Him as intimately as we possibly can. What a
challenge Paul lays before us, a challenge we can only attempt with the
help of our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Paul continues with another subtle challenge. He states in verse fifteen:
“All
of us 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.”
He is suggesting here that if you are a true mature believer you will
understand and comprehend what he has just shared, the priority of
running the Christian race in a dedicated and tenacious manner. He even
suggests in this verse that if for some reason you disagree, God will
make it plain to you that you should come in alignment with what he is
recommending for a holy lifestyle.
Paul then proceeds with further challenges. He states in verses sixteen and seventeen:
“Only
let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in
following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live
according to the pattern we gave you.”
He challenges the Christians at Philippi, and us today, to live up to
the holy calling God has placed on our lives. We are members of the
royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and are called to be holy as God is holy
(1 Peter 1:16), so we need to live up to this calling on our lives. We
should join with other Christians everywhere that are attempting to
live holy and righteous and follow Paul’s example, as well as the
example that is spoken of by all the apostles and this implies the
teachings and personal example of Jesus Christ Himself.
In the next few verses Paul contrasts the lives of those who are called
by God and are striving to live for God, with those who are rebellious
and live for their selfish appetites. He says:
“For,
as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many
live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction,
their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their
mind is on earthly things.”
Paul shares that he has tears in his eyes when he speaks of those that
rebel and are enemies of the cross. He weeps for them because he knows
what God has in store for them. They will be destroyed because they
worship the god of their selfish flesh. These individuals live for self
and strive to run a race to procure and secure the things of this world
and this will be their undoing.
The lives of God’s true servants are drastically different because we
are aliens in a strange land. We realize that we don’t really belong on
this earth and the flesh that we fight is not who we really are and
this sinful flesh will be done away with completely when we enter the
gates of heaven. We see this truth in the words of Paul as he ends this
chapter of Philippians.
“But
our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior 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.”
These verses give us a great hope for our eternal future. But for now,
as we live as servants of Christ on the earth, may we strive to run the
race before us with the endurance and strength that God grants us and
with a desire to know Christ intimately and completely.
All
relationships take work and consistent dedication and our relationship
with Jesus is no different. Are you working at your relationship with
Christ? Do you spend time talking to your Heavenly Father? Are you
dedicated to listening to the guidance given you by the Holy Spirit?
Dedicate yourself to building your relationship with the One and only
triune God and you will be amazed at the benefits that you will
receive. Persevere and you will be able to say the same words Paul said
in 2 Timothy 4:7-8,
“I
have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store
for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who
have longed for his appearing.”