Phil 3:15-17 NASU
Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
Paul invites all of us to an attitude which was characteristic of himself and all the Saints of old, even in contemporary times. This attitude is one that will make all of us to share the common life that is in Christ. Christians are not supposed to be seen in different lights if they have this common attitude. It is a standard or rule by which all of us are measured and by which we are conformed to the likeness of Christ. Paul being aligned to this attitude calls the Philippian church and us to follow in his steps. By that he defines the believers’ life as one, common or similar lifestyle. There is a pattern by which we should be discerned or described. If we are not in that pattern or mold, we probably are not following the life that is sourced from and that leads to Christ.
There is a mindset by which believers who triumphed and will triumph in this life must have. That mindset has two branches but is one: to count all things of the flesh as a loss and to gain Christ. These two branches are what Paul expounded in this chapter and we shall study them briefly.
- To count all things of the flesh as loss:
To make this example clear, Paul in various ways emphasized the need to denounce the works of the flesh.
- Beware of dogs… vs 2 Who are these dogs? They are described as evil workers. What is the evil work they do? They promote false circumcision. They insist that unless one is circumcised in his flesh, he cannot be saved. Yet these although circumcised in the flesh break the laws of God and a true Jew is one who is inwardly, circumcised in the heart, by the Spirit, not the letter Rom 2:29. The enemies of the cross of Christ despise the work of Grace and emphasize their own efforts (works or sacrifices). They belittle grace as not enough unless some human works are added to make it complete to be approved by God. In today’s Christianity, we hear of those who claim that unless you do this or do that, you cannot be saved even though you have believed, repented and confessed Christ as Lord and Saviour. If you don’t wear earrings, you will be saved, if you wear trousers as a lady, you will go to hell. And many other things of human works are promoted as the basis for justification before the throne of grace. What a contradiction? Paul says to beware of such people. Their intention is to devour and destroy the faith of the innocent. They appear as servants of Christ but indeed they are servants of Satan. The first thing, which Paul and other godly and approved Saints of old did was to beware of men who would add to the grace of Christ for salvation to be complete.
- Worship in the Spirit of God vs 3 True worship must begin from what the Spirit of God has done in the heart of a person (Rom 2:29). It is not human effort to worship God. The worship that is acceptable to God mut be of the nature of God…in spirit, for God is spirit. A dead man cannot worship God neither will God accept the worship of one who is dead in sin. One who has not been resurrected by the Spirit of God from the dead (in sin) cannot offer to God true worship. Worship that is not in the Spirit then is false worship. It is worship that eventually praises the flesh because it is offered in the strength of the flesh. Such worship is a loss and amounts to nothing before God. Those who worship must worship in spirit and truth says the Lord through the writings of the beloved Apostle John (John 4:24).
- Glory in Christ vs 3. You either glory in Christ or glory in the flesh. But those who make progress in the things of God have learnt to make their boast solely in Christ. Christ alone is the reason we can stand before God. The Lord himself said, no one can come to the Father except through me. That is not only true of coming to Christ for the forgiveness of sins, it is true of every attempt to come before God. We must always bear in mind the reason or basis for which we are granted entrance into the courts of God is because of Christ alone. The reason we have prayers answered is Christ alone (His name); the reason we are called to serve is Christ alone; the reason we have hope of reward is Christ alone; the reason we can now stand before God and bear his name is Christ alone. This is the true grace of God in Christ Jesus. This mind must be set in each one of us otherwise, God will not be pleased with us.
- No confidence in the flesh vs 3. Nothing of the flesh is an advantage before God. Nothing that we may consider an advantage in the flesh will serve to put us on an acceptable pedestal before God for His approval. All that is of the flesh is flesh and cannot stand before God. Not your physical appearance, scholarly brain, royal background, or whatever privilege you may think you have gives you reasons to demand God’s attention. Rather, all those things (usually it is our privileges (strengths) that give us confidence not our weaknesses) give us reasons to boast are a disadvantage before God. Whatever you think you may have acquired by learning or bestowal is not to your credit before God. You must despise them and shamefully confess that they are a hindrance to your progress with God.