TEACHING NOTES Introduction In this series we have been learning how to work out (live out) our salvation. Salvation is not a one-time event, but a life-long exercise of faithfulness to Christ. Each week we are adding to the list of ways to live out our salvation by learning from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. ‌ How to Live Out Your Salvation: ‌Phil. 1:1-11 — Partnership in the Gospel ‌Phil. 1:12-26 — Live Selflessly ‌Phil. 1:27-30 — Work Together as a Family ‌Phil. 2:1-11 — Live Like Jesus ‌Phil. 2:12-18 — Exercise Your Salvation ‌Phil. 2:19-30 — Follow Godly Examples ‌Phil. 2:1-11 — Live for Eternity ‌ Philippians 3:1–3 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— ‌ Rejoice in the Lord = Grk. chairete en kurio - be glad in the Lord. Philippians is often called “the joyful letter of Paul” because joy and rejoicing is mentioned repeatedly. To rejoice is connected to joy (re-joy-ce) meaning to have joy continually. This joy comes from being “in the Lord” or in the family of God. Joy is different from happiness because happiness is based in whatever happens. ‌ Look out for the dogs = In Paul’s day, dogs were usually not domestic pets. Dogs were scavengers and were considered to be dangerous. In the Old Testament, dogs are often associated with evildoers (Ps. 22:16, 20; Isa. 56:10-11; Rev. 22:15). ‌ Look out for the evildoers = Grk. kakous ergatas - evil workers. This category is different from the usual sinner. Evildoers are those who actively pursue evil as if it is their daily occupation. ‌ Those who mutilate the flesh = Paul is likely referring to “the Judaizers” who were trying to force the Gentile Christians to be circumcised (Acts 15; Gal. 5:1-12; 6:12-15). Essentially, these Jews were trying to add Jesus to the Torah, rather than seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of the Torah. ‌ We are the circumcision = The Jewish people referred to themselves as “the circumcision” as an identity that set them apart from the Gentiles (the nations). In the early church there were conflicts about the Gentiles becoming a part of the family of God. Paul wrote many times about this issue and his main point was that all people who are faithful to Jesus are in the family of God. Paul also taught that Christians—Jews and Gentiles—are now Israel (the people of God). This is what Paul means by “we are the circumcision.” ‌ Note: The idea that God has two separate families (Israel and Christians) is a false doctrine that did not exist until the 1830s. This doctrine originates with John Darby who taught that the Church is God’s “Plan B” or a parentheses in God’s plan, but His true people are Israel. This is completely made up by John Darby and has no basis in the Bible. God has one family made up of Jews and Gentiles who are faithful to Jesus as their Messiah. ‌ Worship by the Spirit of God = In contrast to the Judaizers, who believed that their national identity and religious rituals saved them, Christians “worship by the Spirit of God” or “worship in the Spirit of God” or “worship God in the Spirit” (John 2:24). We are not saved by the Jewish rituals, which cannot even be practiced without a temple. We are saved because the Spirit now lives in our bodies as the new temple. ‌ Glory in Christ Jesus = The Judaizers would glory in their rituals, both biblical and man-made rituals. They believed that these rituals made them holy. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for this in Matt. 23. As followers of Jesus, we glory in Him, not ourselves and not our own righteousness. ‌ Put no confidence in the flesh = The Greek word for confidence here is pepoithetes, which also means “strive to please.” Those who put confidence in the flesh are striving to please God through physical rituals like circumcision and purity rites. In contrast to the Judaizers who put their confidence in circumcision and purity rituals, the confidence of Christians is not about physical rituals. Our confidence is in the work of Christ for us and in us. ‌ Philippians 3:4–6 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ‌ I myself have reason = Paul is about to show that he followed all the ritual of the Torah, but realized that something was still missing. ‌ Circumcised on the eighth day = The Jews were commanded to circumcise their male infants on the eighth day after they were born. Circumcision is similar to baptism in that it was the first step in becoming a member of God’s family. ‌ Tribe of Benjamin = Paul’s Hebrew name Saul comes from Israel’s first king Saul who was also from the tribe of Benjamin (1 Sam. 9). Benjamin was the son of Jacob and Rachel (Gen. 35:16-18). ‌ Hebrew of Hebrews = This means that Paul had high status in Judaism. We know that Paul was trained under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 5:34; 22:3). Paul was also approved the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:54-8:3), which indicates that Paul had some kind of authority in Judaism even as a young man. ‌ Pharisee = The Pharisees were the more conservative group among Jewish leadership. The Sadducees were in charge of the temple, but they only read the Torah and rejected the rest of the Old Testament and they rejected the concept of any kind of resurrection. The Pharisees read all of the Old Testament and taught the resurrection of the dead. It was easy to become a Pharisee, so we know Paul was devout. ‌ Persecutor of the church = Before Paul became a Christian, he vehemently persecuted the church (Acts 8:1-3). Paul actually becomes a Christian while on the way to Damascus to find more Christians to imprison (Acts 9). ‌ Blameless under the law = If all people are sinners, how could Paul claim to be blameless under the Torah? Because followed what the Torah commanded about sin and repentance. Being blameless does not mean that one is perfect and never sins. Being blameless means that a person does what the Torah requires when they do sin—that is, they confess and repent. ‌ Philippians 3:7–8 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ‌ Whatever gain, I counted as loss = The Greek word for “loss” here is zemia, which means “damage or disadvantage.” Everything previously listed as “reasons to put confidence in the flesh” Paul now considers a disadvantage. In other words, all of Paul’s faithfulness to Jewish rituals did not lead him to accept Jesus as the Messiah. In fact, Paul’s Jewish commitments actually led him to reject Jesus and persecute His followers. ‌ Surpassing worth of knowing Christ = Paul considered his Jewish status as loss “for the sake of Christ” or because of Christ. Then Paul explains what this phrase means, which is that Paul believed the worth of knowing Christ surpasses any confidence in Jewish rituals. Jesus taught in John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Rituals are not eternal life. Knowing God through Christ is eternal life. ‌ Suffered loss of all things = Paul did suffer loss of all things. As a Pharisee, Paul would have been wealthy and influential. As a Roman citizen educated in Greek literature and philosophy, he would have also been influential in the Gentile world. When Paul became a Christian, he lost all of these things. ‌ Count them as rubbish = The Greek word for “rubbish” here is skybala or skybalon, which means “dung, refuse, garbage.” In comparison to knowing Christ, Paul now view all of his accomplishments as a big pile of crap. ‌ That I may gain Christ = Paul’s greatest desire was to be with Christ forever. He is referring to the reward for being faithful to Christ in this life. Those who are faithful in this life go to be with Christ in the next life. Contrary to modern Christianity’s obsession with going to a place (heaven), Paul was obsessed with going to a person. For Paul, being with Christ is heaven. ‌ Philippians 3:9 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ‌ Be found in him = According to the Greek grammar, Paul is referring to a future event where he hopes to be found faithful to Christ. This likely refers to judgment day where all people will stand before Christ. ‌ Not having righteousness of my own = Anyone can keep rituals without truly knowing God. This is how Paul understands his past as a Pharisee. Paul believed that trusting in Jewish rituals was practicing a righteousness of your own. ‌ Through faith in Christ = Grk. dia pisteos Christou - Many Greek scholars say that this phrase could be read “through faithfulness of Christ.” In this reading, our righteousness comes not from ourselves, but from the faithfulness of Christ or His obedience to God by offering His life for us (Phil. 2:8). In this reading, it is the faithfulness of Christ that provides the gift of salvation and our faithfulness to Christ is how we receive that salvation. ‌ Righteousness that depends on faith = The righteousness of the Pharisees was based on keeping the rituals of the Torah and the traditions of their elders. But our righteousness comes from our allegiance (faithfulness) to Christ. ‌ Phil 3:10-11 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ‌ That I may know him = To “know” someone in the Bible is to have a close relationship with them. In Paul’s mind, the entire mission of Christ is rescue humanity from the power of sin so we can know God closely. For Paul, this is point of following Christ—to know Him closely and be with Him forever. ‌ The power of his resurrection = Grk. dynamis autos ho anastasis - Paul believed that the resurrection of Christ was like dynamite to the entire creation. In Paul’s writings the resurrection is not merely an event on earth, but was also the moment that changed the entire cosmos. And in Paul’s mind, this is something we come to understand more and more—not simply a one-time moment of belief. ‌ Share in his sufferings = The Bible presents the sacrifice of Christ as something we are being invited into. Just as the Israelites participated in sacrifice by eating part of the sacrifice, we are invited to eat the Lord’s supper. In baptism, we participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the end, we will also be resurrected bodily just as Christ. This also means that we participate in the sufferings of Christ. What does this mean? It at least means that the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ has redefined our own suffering and death. Our suffering and death actually has meaning and purpose in Christ. ‌ Becoming like him in his death = Jesus is the example of how should handle suffering and even death. He did not fight against suffering or complain. Jesus did not fight against His enemies, but He allowed them to murder Him. He did all of this out of faithfulness and obedience to the Father’s will. This is what Paul is saying, that we should deal with suffering and even death the way Jesus did. ‌ By any means possible = Paul did not assume that his belief in Christ guaranteed his salvation. Paul believed that he had to remain faithful to Christ until the end by any means possible. Participation is the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ (being like Christ in all things) is the way of faithfulness. ‌ Attain the resurrection from the dead = In Paul’s mind, which is saturated with the Old Testament, the resurrection of the dead is the ultimate goal. In other words, Paul lived his daily life in light of eternity. ‌ Following Christ redefines life, suffering, and death by giving us the perspective and hope of eternal life. ‌ Communion (The Lord’s Supper) Celebrating the new covenant by joining (union) the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. ‌ His Body = Life and Suffering ‌His Blood = Death, Resurrection, New Covenant ‌‌ How to Respond ‌Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. ‌Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. ‌Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in you. ‌Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness. ‌