Philippians 3:1-11
Q.1. What religious attitude in the Philippian Church was Paul dismantling? Why did he document his own human credentials? – (Phil.3:1-6)
Paul was particularly exposing those at Philippi who were glorying in their religious credentials. He used strong language to denounce them – beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision (Phil.3:2). Few, if any, could pit their religious fervour against that of Paul’s – circumcised on the eighth day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless (Phil.3:5-6). Paul knew what he was talking about.
Q.2. Why had Paul abandoned his prior dependence on his own religious credentials? – (Phil.3:7-9)
Faith in Christ produced a righteousness before God, that was not possible to achieve through Law-keeping. Consequently, Paul viewed all his own best efforts as valueless, compared with – the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH COMES FROM GOD ON THE BASIS OF FAITH (Phil.3:8-9).
Q.3. Why should we factor in suffering in our pursuit of Christ? Can we follow Jesus without experiencing pain? – (Phil3:10-11)
Before Jesus was raised from the dead, He suffered and bled and died. To imagine that we can follow Christ in this hostile world, without any form of suffering, is without reason. Paul welcomed suffering because he accepted that it was inevitable. He wanted to press on, and experience – the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death (Phil.3:10). Why? – in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Phil.3:11). The willingness to endure pain and sacrifice is the call of Christ to His disciples – If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me (Lk.9:23).