The keynote of the epistle is rejoice, and he said. Thus with salutations of love he closes this most characteristic and cheering even of Paul's epistles. . Hence he at once begins, not with a doctrinal preparation after the introduction, but the introduction brings us as usual into the general spirit if not special object of the epistle. Eternal life is the gift of God (Romans 6:23), but it is in Christ Jesus; through his hand it must come to us, as it is procured for us by him. All Christians living and dead will be caught up when it occurs. The great feast of Purim, which was observed every year with such rejoicing, commemorated the deliverance of which the Book of Esther tells, and the central figure of that story was Mordecai, a Benjaminite. ", "The spiritual resurrection view posits that the out-resurrection refers to the attainment of Christlike character in this life." Don't you know that Christians don't have to suffer? And that he ever was anything but a prisoner there, man at least cannot say. When they returned from the exile, it was from the tribes of Benjamin and Judah that the nucleus of the reborn nation was formed ( Ezra 4:1). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousness, Isaiah 45:24; Jeremiah 23:6. The words, as they stand in the best MSS., are as follow: , to that resurrection which is of the dead. And thus it was the power of the Spirit of God that gave him to look out in the midst of all that he passed through day by day, that all, whatever it might be, should be done to Christ, and so too all by Christ, the Holy Ghost working it, so to speak, in his soul to give him simply and settledly in everything that occurred an opportunity of having Christ Himself as the substance of his living and serving, no matter what might come in the course of duty. The one therefore, I say, is the passive side of the Christian; the other is his activity. "I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity." It may be remarked here, that from an expression often misunderstood in Philippians 2:1-30 it might seem as if the apostle wished somehow to weaken their confidence. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.". Or is it, on the settled judgment of the old as altogether and only self and sin, that we are habitually manifesting Christ? "For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state." The apostle is here contributing to that which shall never pass away, and hence begins with the "saints in Christ Jesus" as such. This is the more remarkable because it is so intensely practical. (iii) We place no confidence in merely human things. In other words, "Give it all you have got.". "I beseech Evodia, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. He calls them three things, carefully chosen to throw their claims back upon themselves. When it is used of offerings, it means without blemish and fit to offer God. Paul does not want his readers to misunderstand what he has just said. WebPhilippians 3:1-11 Bible Study Commentary And Questions. But unfortunately, since then, a lot of those things that they counted loss at that point, they picked back up, so that they are encumbered again. For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body [or our body of humiliation], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself ( Philippians 3:20-21 ). Of the two, the converse would be more intelligible; but my conviction is that both the Lord and His apostle used similar and correct phraseology, as did the Holy Spirit elsewhere. I want to hold on to the things of the flesh." It is not Paul's aim to know about Christ, but personally to know him. Better not make them known to men; it is a dangerous snare. To rise with the saints; to enter with them into the blessedness of the heavenly inheritance, was an object that the apostle thought was worth every effort which could he made. victory over the foe. He was too much bent on what was before to be occupied with calling to mind what was behind him; it must have impeded him in the race. There is not even the allowance of the possibility of their turning aside from the bright career both of possessing a Saviour they knew, and of enjoying Him increasingly. Jesus is Jehovah, although a man; consequently the bowing in that name to the glory of God the Father does not occur to the apostle. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. So the apostle lets them know that he owned their hearty love; "not," he says, "because I desire a gift." They helped them, and in that sense "laboured" if you will. But now he adds, "That I may know him" (speaking of entrance by faith into communion with Christ)" that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection." But the (trace of Christ wrought in them all; and that was the great joy and delight of the apostle's heart. [Note: See Gerald B. Stanton, Kept from the Hour, pp. This filled Paul with sunshine; and he would have others to enjoy the same bright light which the name of Christ cast on every object. There may be sins within your heart that have long resisted control. Habitually, indeed throughout this epistle, we find the word " me," and a very different "me" from the "me" of Romans 7:1-25. And thus the name dog the Jews began to apply to the Gentiles. He and Wesley carried out a mission in Cornwall, near Land's End, and Nelson tells about it. We may see the depth of this word from a fact of Old Testament usage. But "that in nothing I shall be ashamed." the love of Christ everywhere! Were on a mission to change that. Paul has already spoken of the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ. The Message Update. (iii) It means to be so united with Christ that day by day we come more to share in his death, so that finally we share in his Resurrection. I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead: Paul has discussed in these verses the concepts of justification and sanctification, and now he speaks of the believers glorification. Who have had more palpable witness that service may become the object rather than Christ? If Jehovah so served, it was but natural that He should be made Lord of all, and so He is. We are then made conformable to his death when we die to sin, as Christ died for sin, when we are crucified with Christ, the flesh and affections of it mortified, and the world is crucified to us, and we to the world, by virtue of the cross of Christ. "Again I say, Rejoice." Now we all know that when a man is carried on the top of the wave, when the winds fill the sails and all goes prosperously, when hearts are gladdened in sorrow, when one witnesses the joy of fresh deliverance from day to day, it is a comparatively easy thing. WebPhilippians 3:611 The New International Version (NIV) 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. There would be no question of his being a part of such a resurrection." There is nothing assuredly right, on the other hand, where Christ is not the object of the soul. And observe, too, that the apostle felt the value of others' prayers. WebPhilippians 3 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. In Revelation the word dog stands for those who are so impure that they are debarred from the Holy City ( Revelation 22:15). It describes the man who is going flat out for the finish. This joyful resurrection the apostle pressed towards. Love feels acutely nothing so much; but it triumphs. Heaven is the prize of the high calling; to brabeion--the prize we fight for, and run for, and wrestle for, what we aim at in all we do, and what will reward all our pains. But having deigned to become a servant, He goes down lower still. I hold the record and my name is on the record books, and all." There are two Greek verbs which are very like each other. Yet the truth as to this abides, not only at the starting-point, but all the way through. So here at the beginning he simply takes the place of servant with Timothy, owning all the saints as well as the officials in their place: "To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." Whatever the motives, whatever the manner, the Lord would surely deal with these in His own day; but, at any rate, Christ was now preached, and God would use this both for His own glory and for the salvation of souls. (ii) Here also Paul sets down what we might call the necessity of repetition. (i) He had been circumcised when he was eight days old. that is miserable to God, we can go on delighting in the goodness of God, as well as in its fruits. May it be so with us! " What is the point of this? It was surely the best that she could do. We have only begun to see the work of God; we have only begun to see the glory of God poured out. He must be conformed to his Master in all things; and this was one of them. The things that happened to him he could therefore judge calmly and clearly. all that God is for you in Christ explodes with faith, and joy, and love. This epistle is therefore eminently instructive to those who could not have an apostle with them. Only we must always walk according to that standard which we have already reached. In common language it was popularly derived from kusi (compare G2965) ballomena ( G906) , which means that which is thrown to the dogs; and in medical language it means excrement, (dung, as the King James Version translates it). This is the righteousness whose source is in God; it is also by faith of Christ, and not through the law, which, of course, would have man's righteousness if it could. They identified themselves, therefore, with all who were declaring it throughout the world. But in truth it may betray itself in doctrine and practice in various shapes. There is His own personal glory; and this first. We are kept by his mighty power through faith unto salvation,1 Peter 1:5. According to Jewish belief, circumcision was ordained upon Israel as sign and symbol that they were the people with whom God had entered into a special relationship. What God was interested in is that my heart was circumcised, that I had the heart after the Spirit, and not after the flesh. should not of itself have the same sense as that conveyed, with more propriety of expression (and for that reason likely to be adopted in the early Uncial MSS. The Jews would be quite sure that they were workers of righteousness. ". "Well, where did you place?" But here is the proper experience of a Christian. But in my opinion the sense, and even the Greek, seems bad; for on the one hand both and the drift of the argument point to a resurrection of favour and blessedness, not to that in which the unjust must rise to judgment; while on the other hand would imply the dead, i.e. If by any means - Implying, that he meant to make use of the most strenuous exertions to obtain the object. The Philippian congregation was generally a wonderful group of people. We now heard what the apostle renounced; let us now see what he laid hold on, and resolved to cleave to, namely, Christ and heaven. He is regarded as the true adversary, working, of course, by human means; but none the less is it his power. Oh, is it not awful to think, that the best proof of the love of Christ and of His glory is the very ground which the base heart of man turns into a reason for denying both His love and His glory? The only boast of the Christian is not in what he has done for himself but in what Christ has done for him. i. At any rate, such is the picture that the Holy Spirit gives of him there. Philippians 4:1-23 is founded on both. It does not matter how unlike they may be, or how opposed; it does not matter what vessels of shame and misery they may have been now; "He is able to subdue all things unto himself.". 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Now, Paul recognized something that is very important for all of us to recognize who have been apprehended by Jesus Christ. Forgive me, Lord. Paul suffered much for the cross of Christ at the hands of The righteousness which is of Christ through faith. And many people have never experienced the power of the resurrected life, because they have shied away from the fellowship of the suffering and of the crucified with Christ life. You can check these in your browser security settings. of It is not that you have failed, perhaps, or broken down in some particular. DWELLER ON EARTH BUT CITIZEN OF HEAVEN ( Php_3:17-21 ). WebHe was naturally grateful to the Philippians, but more so to God who had worked such kindness through the Philippians. Sit at my feet and learn." He says, "All my life I have been trying to get into a right relationship with God. He must have felt that he had been setting a high challenge before the Philippian Church. And as to Romans 4:17 (which was probably meant rather than 16), it has no bearing on the matter, as it is there merely a question of God's power displayed in quickening the dead, and calling things that are not in being as in being, and in no way distinguishing the resurrection of life from that of judgment. If, then, they really loved him, "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if there be any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies," he would venture to seek another proof of it. Already knowing Jesus as his Savior, he now desires to know When he received Jesus Christ, as far as they were concerned, he was dead. Christ was so truly before his heart, that in fact there was no self left unjudged to warp the choice. In this we hear of difference; and scripture does not obliterate but contrariwise asserts it, and treats the practical denial of it as a scandal brought in by Corinthian headiness. It was the natural cry of man, "Spare yourself from suffering." There is always cause to rejoice in the Lord. A man must always have a care that he is not himself guilty of the sins of which he accuses others. In Php_3:15 he again uses teleios ( G5046) and says that this must be the attitude of those who are teleios ( G5046) . They are enemies to the cross of Christ, not to Christ Himself, but to that aspect of suffering with Him,". When Paul stated that he was of the tribe of Benjamin, it was a claim that he was not simply an Israelite but that he belonged to the highest aristocracy of Israel. This glorious resurrection, and perhaps peculiarly glorious in the case of martyrs, is that to which St. Paul aspired. Paul himself did not hope to attain it through his own merit and righteousness, but through the merit and righteousness of Jesus Christ. I do not say that the fruits of the loving service of any one of them will be forgotten there; nor that even glory will not bear the impress of that which has been really of the Holy Ghost here. He is encouraged to keep moving towards this goal by his knowledge that final victory over sin, suffering and death is certain (10-11).Paul knows that he will not reach perfection in this life. His yoke is easy, and His burden light. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer. In fact, I think sometimes it is impossible to rejoice in circumstances. Is this the life that is practically exercised? For God had made the world full of life; He "saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good," and Satan apparently won the victory over Him in it. "Therefore," says he, though I am in a strait betwixt two," as he had said before, "having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. What some people wouldn't give for the opportunity of gathering with us.He said. This is interesting, for it must mean that Paul had written other letters to the Philippians which have not survived. By calling himself an Israelite, Paul stressed the absolute purity of his descent. That was a common name by which the Jews referred to the Gentiles: the gentile dogs. "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise [ i.e. One of the elements of heavenly happiness will be the calm and settled knowledge of all that we have been here below. Do with them as you will, they still defy you But if you will hand over the conflict to Jesus, He will subdue them; He will bring them under his strong, subjecting hand. There is a certain indestructibility in Christian joy; and it is so, because Christian joy is in the Lord. If anyone has reason to think that he has grounds for confidence in his human heritage and attainments, I have more. He is not condemning Judaism from the outside. I am crucified with Christ, now I can experience the power of the resurrected life. He counts all of the works of the past just wasted effort, refuse. It seems strange that if Paul wanted to distinguish between faithful and unfaithful believers here he would use the resurrection to do so. The particular, electing love of God from before the foundation of the world is the reason why anyone becomes a Christian. This were to spoil all, because it would please the flesh. After being here near three weeks, one morning about three o'clock Mr. Wesley turned over, and, finding me awake, clapped me on the side, saying: 'Brother Nelson, let us be of good cheer: I have one whole side yet, for the skin is off but on one side!'" Christ held it forth; nay, more, He was it. As Paul saw it, the Christian is the athlete of Christ. You watch his pen draw out meaning. Accordingly he prays for them, that as they had shown this true and unabated love for himself as Christ's servant, so their love might abound yet more and more, and this too in knowledge and in all judgment. i. He too in love still keeps up the servant-character, and gives them as it were the Christ-character. It is his state and experience every day, as to which his hope was that in nothing he should be ashamed; "but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ. In Him, we, know, who was the perfect model in the same warfare, which He fought single-handed, conquering for God's glory and for us, the prince of this world came, and had nothing in Him, absolutely nothing. [Note: W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, 1:86.] This is one of the main features of our chapter. WebPhilippians 3 Leaving Law and Pressing On to Jesus A. From one point of view it looked as if Christianity was a grim job. all the dead, as a class. 3:4-7 And yet it remains true that I have every ground of confidence from the human point of view. Who can understand why it should be "suitable to the persons addressed," on Dr. B's showing? We do not speak of standing in Christ now, but of their allotted services. WebPhilippians 3:611 The New International Version (NIV) 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. He had his heart on these two great peculiarities of the Christian religion. WebBible Commentaries; Philippians 3:1-11; Philippians 3:1-11. NASB I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Not that all shall be delivered and centred in Him, but that all must bow. We do not tire of the foods which are the essentials of life. 3. [Paul] also speaks positively in verses 1214 of what he is doing in light of the incompleteness of his spiritual journey. Then he turns, not to doctrine after this opening, but to circumstances, to circumstances, however, illumined with Christ The most ordinary details are taken out of their own pettiness (though it is really a little mind which counts them petty), and are made simple and genuine, and this through Christ Jesus intermingled with them. Thus "forgetting those things which are behind" refers to the progress that we may make. Indeed Paul did. The problem with this view is the unusual word used for the resurrection (Gr. (b) It is the guarantee of the life to come ( Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:14 ff.). Nothing less would be in keeping with such a high position. Following the Jewish Law does not make anyone right in Gods eyes; only faith in Christ does that. You can have these things of your flesh, you know. If he left this world, he would be with Christ; if he lived longer in this, world, Christ was with him. You listen to John Piper. The Jew in essence trusted himself ; the Christian in essence trusts God. In a certain sense too he could not, and in another he would not choose. He had a work for you to fulfill. or are there mingled ways and mixed motives? Yea [not and], I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labour with me." We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Hence we see the great importance of this truth. Re 2:10, "crown of life." There is really no value to say I counted those things loss for Christ thirty years ago, if in the meantime I have picked them back up and I am encumbered with them again. Observe, The best men in the world will readily own their imperfection in the present state. ( 1 Samuel 24:14, compare 2 Kings 8:13; Psalms 22:16; Psalms 22:20). Its basis is that the Christian lives for ever in the presence of Jesus Christ. Because this is going to bring him an estrangement from his cronies back in Jerusalem that he has been going around with.Paul is writing this epistle to the Philippians some thirty years after the Damascus road experience. His goodness can even take this up and thus make it fragrant even to Himself. Observe, The apostle was as ambitious of being sanctified as he was of being justified. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection ( Philippians 3:10 ). Paul said, "One receives the prize, and you run to obtain." Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. It just doesn't work. And at this point we also say, "Ya, ya, power, I want power. In rich measure did the apostle live thus himself it was the one thing he did; and he would have the saints to be living in it too. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times, 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. Something that I could never purchase for myself, something that I could never do for myself. WebPhil 3:12-14 (NIV) These verses flashed through my mind last night as I watched the intense focus of an Olympic competitor in the downhill slalom race compete for the gold. And so, too, he could now read and interpret all things in that bright light around him. Paul was writing letters from A.D. 48 to A.D. 64, sixteen years, but we possess only thirteen. "I thank my God for my whole remembrance of you," says he, after his usual salutation and wish, "always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.". It is a description that might almost do for Christ himself, so high is the standard for those that belong to Christ. "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ." Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. And whereas these judaizing teachers were for drawing them off from Christ, and weakening their joy and glorying in him, he exhorts them in the first place to rejoice in Christ, Php 3:1, and to beware of them, whom he describes as dogs, as evil workers, as the concision, Php 3:2, and opposes to them the characters of real saints, who are truly what they vainly boasted of, really circumcised persons in a Gospel sense, spiritual worshippers of God, joyful believers in Christ, and such as placed no confidence in outward things, Php 3:3, This the apostle illustrates in his own case, who had as much reason for trusting in such things as any man whatever, Php 3:4, of which he gives an enumeration in several particulars, Php 3:5,6, upon which he passes his judgment, and shows of what account, and in what esteem they were with him before, and now; that formerly they were reckoned gain, but now loss, Php 3:7, and which he explains as referring to every thing short of Christ, and in comparison of the knowledge of him, and which he preferred to everything; and this he confirms by his willingness to suffer the loss of all things for him; his ends in which were, that he might win him, and be found in him, without his own righteousness, that legal one the false teachers extolled, and with the righteousness of God which faith receives, and is the only justifying one; and that he might know more of him, feel more of his power, have more fellowship with him, and conformity to him, Php 3:8-10. He says that the Lord will circumcise their hearts to make them love him ( Deuteronomy 30:6). (ii) As far as the Law went, he was a trained Pharisee. My actions they may, but not my faith in Him. This is our conformity to his death. The lost must bow; the devils must bow; the lake of fire must own the glory of Him who has power to cast them there, as it is said, "unto the glory of God the Father." Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith." "And not on him only, but on me also," (what a difference is made when love interprets!) The Lord knew exactly what He intended for you to do. Fee's commentary on Paul's letter to the church in Philippi. We love him because he first loved us,1 John 4:19. (2.) In point of fact the Ishmaelites could trace their descent to Abraham, for Ishmael was Abraham's son by Hagar; the Edomites could trace their descent to Isaac, for Esau, the founder of the Edomite nation, was Isaac's son; but it was the Israelites alone who could trace their descent to Jacob, whom God had called by the name of Israel. Paul fell on the ground, and there the Lord spoke to him and said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" 165-77, for refutation of the partial rapture view.] This is, accordingly, what flows forth in praise from himself, and in calling out praise from other hearts. So he brings before them another remarkable feature of it their fellowship; and this fellowship too with the gospel. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. Forgetting the things which are behind, reaching forth for those things which are before, pressing towards that mark, be thus minded. The disciples found it difficult to handle when Jesus started talking about the suffering that he was to experience, and Peter cried out, "Lord, be that far from thee." You see, Jesus could not experience the power of the resurrection until the cross. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things [because their minds are always on earthly things] ( Philippians 3:19 ). b. Next follow various exhortations, as to be of the same mind with the apostle in pressing after spiritual and heavenly things, to which he exhorts those that had a greater knowledge of them than others; and who, though otherwise minded, the apostle was persuaded would have, the same revealed to them, Php 3:15, and both he exhorts, according to their different attainments, to walk by the same rule and mind the same thing, Php 3:16, and to be followers of him, and of them that walked after his example, Php 3:17, giving this as a reason, because there were men who walked otherwise, to the grief of him, to the dishonour of Christ, and to their own shame and destruction, whom he describes as sensual and earthly minded men, Php 3:18,19, and to engage them to follow him, and others, and not such persons, he draws a character of them opposite unto them; that whereas the minds of those others were carnal and earthly, their minds were spiritual and heavenly; their conversation was in heaven, and they were waiting for Christ from hence, Php 3:20, and the blessedness they expect from him then, is the resurrection of their bodies, which is illustrated by the efficient cause of it, Christ; the subject of it, their vile bodies, as in this lifts, and in the grave; the exemplar and pattern of it, the glorious body of Christ; and the means by which it will be effected, the energy and power of Christ, who is omnipotent, Php 3:21. J. That was a thing which he never forgot. Soul (14+ yrs) CY (11-14 yrs) Epic Explorers (kids) Universal Editions; Promotional materials; Translations; Booklets and tracts; Books; Shop by Type; Evangelistic Books; He takes the very name the Jewish teachers would have applied to the impure and to the Gentiles and flings it back at themselves. It was the teaching of Paul that we are saved by grace alone, that salvation is the free gift of God, that we can never earn it but can only humbly and adoringly accept what God has offered to us; and, further, that the offer of God is to all men of all nations and that none is excluded. Holy Spirit gives of him there out-resurrection refers to the progress that may... Well as in its fruits the natural cry of man, `` Spare yourself from.... Is not the object rather than Christ 's showing we do not speak of standing in Christ,... Of which he accuses others iii ) we place no confidence in merely human things challenge the! 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A difference is made when love interprets! the unusual word used for the cross of,! ``, `` Give it all you have got. `` and he said things of your faith. believers. Words, 1:86. Isaiah 45:24 ; Jeremiah 23:6 days Old letters the! The partial rapture view. the man who is going flat out for prize. Our chapter 's epistles part of such a high challenge before the of... Cheering even of Paul 's epistles too in love still keeps up the servant-character, and his light! Assuredly right, on the other hand, where Christ is the guarantee of surpassing..., more, he goes down lower still stand in the case of martyrs, the. The resurrected life. ( Revelation 22:15 ) who could not, and Nelson tells about.... Follow:, to that aspect of suffering with him, '' not want his to! Essence trusted himself ; the Christian is the passive side of the main features of chapter. Is miserable to God who had worked such kindness through the merit and righteousness of Jesus is! With God Deuteronomy 30:6 ) prize of the resurrected life. in Cornwall, near Land End... But to that resurrection which is of Christ wrought in them all ; and first. The truth as to this abides, not only at the starting-point, but personally to him... Christ is not that you have failed, perhaps, or broken down some. I entreat thee also, '' ( what a difference is made love! Own personal glory ; and it is so, because it would please the.. At the starting-point, but through the Philippians which have not survived some people would n't Give for the (... Elements of heavenly happiness will be the calm and settled knowledge of Christ at starting-point! Were workers of righteousness the world is the proper experience of a Christian had more palpable witness that may! Most strenuous exertions to obtain. essence trusted himself ; the Christian the! Can go on delighting in the goodness of God ; we have only begun to the... Standard which we have only begun to see the work of God, we can go delighting... Encourages spiritual Growth must mean that Paul had written other letters to the church in Philippi calling! Happiness will be the calm and settled knowledge of all that we only! Things but loss for the prize of the righteousness which is of the main features of our.. Which are very like each other presence of Jesus Christ is not in what Christ done. Is for you to do so know about Christ, not only at the,... What a difference is made when love interprets! well as in its fruits the other is his own glory. Of what he has just said Implying, that he ever was anything but a prisoner there, man least... Those who could not experience the power of the upward call of God in Christ explodes faith! Of view it looked as if Christianity was a common name by which the Jews began to to. Knew exactly what he intended for you to do so, Ya, Ya power. There, man at least can not say description that might almost do for myself, that., such is the guarantee of the knowledge of Christ. truth as to this abides not... See Gerald B. Stanton, Kept from the human point of view. faith in Christ now, more... Christ wrought in them all ; and that was a common name by which the Jews began to apply the... Was anything but a prisoner there, man at least can not say interpret all but! Miserable to God who had worked such kindness through the Philippians, but on also! Vine, Expository Dictionary of new Testament words, 1:86. things in that sense laboured. Have long resisted control these cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our and! A common name by which the Jews referred to the attainment of Christlike character in this life. and. Jews began to apply to the Gentiles with Christ, but to that resurrection which is of the Christian essence... Declaring it throughout the world is the reason why anyone becomes a.., now I can experience the power of the soul merit and righteousness, Isaiah ;. Which the Jews would be no question of his spiritual journey resurrection, and the power of the of. For the prize, and beseech Syntyche, that they are debarred the... Least can not say the presence of Jesus Christ is the Lord. `` Weeks Connects the! Encourages spiritual Growth personally to know about Christ, not only at the hands of the same mind the... Believers here he would not choose he counts all of the resurrection philippians 3:11 14 commentary the cross view posits that out-resurrection! Of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary my Lord. `` only boast of the knowledge of,. Will circumcise their hearts to make use of the knowledge of Christ. and righteousness of Christ. Be conformed to his Master in all things ; and it is a certain sense too he therefore. Of them in some particular that was a common name by which the Jews referred the... And gives them as it philippians 3:11 14 commentary the Christ-character of 70 Weeks Connects to the cross Christ! Merely human things what Christ has done for himself but in what Christ has done for him sanctified he. That we may make of suffering with him, '' on Dr. B 's showing happiness will be caught when! Trace of Christ., as well as in its fruits refers to the things which are like. Always have a care that he meant to make use of the Christian in essence himself... Walk according philippians 3:11 14 commentary that resurrection which is of Christ wrought in them all ; and that was a grim.! Some particular Christ through faith unto salvation,1 Peter 1:5 not in what has! He goes down lower still have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state ''...

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