Phil 3 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 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. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Paul issues a warning in the opening verse of chapter three and in giving this warning, he indicates the use or value of repetition: Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation. To repeat what you have already said, or to review a warning previously given may seem to be tedious - both to the writer and the speaker. Paul admits that, but he goes ahead to re-state this warning - for their safety. {Repetition and review is spiritually safe.} This warning about evil workers is stated in terms familiar to us. It is like the sign you may see in front of a home or yard: Beware of Dog. In this case - not just a single dog, but many evil workers. Paul said, beware of dogs. Concerning the issue of circumcision and the claims of Jewish loyalists - Paul makes a statement about that, and this involves his own conversion from Judaism. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eight day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness of the law, blameless. Paul, before his conversion, was not just another person in the Jewish religion. If I can use the term, Paul was no laymen in Judaism. He was a leader, and this was his resume; his credentials. In the traditional, institutional Jewish religion this is what mattered: Birth, Blood, Tribe, Heritage and Militance. Paul is telling the Philippians - I had everything that mattered in Judaism. He especially had the zeal: persecuting the church, and upholding the strict human legalism of the Pharisees. This is the status that Paul enjoyed in the institutionalized Jewish religion. But, as stated with confidence in verse 7 - He gave it all up: But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. When Saul of Tarsus witnessed the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus, there was at some point in that encounter, a personal reassessment. The decision was difficult, the results of personal suffering were predictable - but in hearing the gospel he could clearly see that his advanced status in Judaism meant nothing, in comparison to the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. What he found in Christ was far greater than what he had gained among men in the Jewish religion. In his former life he attained status and the esteem of men. Now, he would attain to the resurrection from the dead. The contextual flow brings us to these words: 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 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. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Wouldnt you agree - Paul had a very clear view of his future. I do not mean that he knew the future as God knows the future. I do not mean Paul knew all the daily details of what would happen to him. When I say that Paul had a very clear view of his future I mean, Paul knew what he would do; his attitude and perspective was plain and firm. What a tremendous advantage we have If our heart contains this kind of determination. Regardless of what we may be going through today or what may happen tomorrow that we cannot see; what strength we can have now if we will try harder to have this commitment, written by Paul in Phil. 3:12-16. These four things stand out in the passage:
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 09:42:11 +0000
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