I Want to Know Christ
Philippians 3:1-14
Key Verse 10
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection
and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”
In today’s message, Paul gives warning against legalistic Judaizers who claim that salvation depends on observing the law rather than believing in Christ. Then he shared his own personal goal in his life of faith which is to know Christ more. Salvation comes by grace alone but there is goal which Paul tries to press on.
Read verses 1-3. Why does Paul repeatedly say ‘rejoice in the Lord’? (1:18; 2:17b-18; 3:1b) What kind of people does he tell the Philippians to watch out for? (2) What are Apostle Paul and his brothers and sisters and what characteristics do these people possess? (3) How do these characteristics compare with those described in verse 2?
1-1) Read verses 1-3.
“Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”
1-2) Why does Paul repeatedly say ‘rejoice in the Lord’? (1:18; 2:17b-18; 3:1b)
Because it is a safe guard for his people. To rejoice in the Lord is a safe guard for our soul. It is a one point check we can use to know we are spiritually healthy.
The point is ‘In the Lord’. Although Paul was in prison and under persecution and there are many people who spoke ill of him he could rejoice in the Lord. He could rejoice when he remembers how much the Lord loves him and how much blessings the Lord poured upon his life. Then he realized that such persecution is not trouble but privilege and thanks topics.
He also believe that ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)
According to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be joyful always and pray continually and give thanks to God in all circumstances is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.”
1-3) What kind of people does he tell the Philippians to watch out for? (2)
“2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.”
Paul’s tone suddenly becomes very harsh. It is against legalistic Judaizers who believe that man can be saved by observing the law. By their false claim they become stumbling block to many people and become enemy of God.
Paul gave warning here although we do not know there were already legalistic people there in Philippians or not. In any case he gave severe warning against them. He described them as ‘dogs’ – the harsh expression. He called them ‘evil doers’. He is saying by preaching their false doctrine they were doing evil. He called them ‘mutilators of the flesh’. It probably refers to ‘circumcision’ because circumcision cuts off skin. So these legalistic people can be also called people who believe ‘circumcision’ as a condition of salvation.
1-4) What are Apostle Paul and his brothers and sisters and what characteristics do these people possess? (3)
“3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”
1-5) How do these characteristics compare with those described in verse 2?
Compared to the circumcision group Paul claims that true believers who believe that the salvation comes from faith in Jesus alone are true circumcision – circumcision done by the Spirit in the hearts of man.
True believers in Christ are those who serve by God by his Spirit. Obviously circumcision group could have claimed that they serve God truly. But they did not serve by the Spirit of God.
Circumcision group boast of their circumcision. But Paul says ‘true believers’ are those who boast in Christ Jesus. It means they boast in what Christ Jesus has done for them.
Legalistic people put confidence in the flesh because they believe circumcision counts in salvation. But true believes put no confidence in the flesh.
Read verses 4-6. What reasons could Paul have for having confidence in the flesh? (4-6) What do you think about each of these reasons?
Read verses 4-6.
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
What reasons could Paul have for having confidence in the flesh? (4-6)
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
What do you think about each of these reasons?
5 circumcised on the eighth day: He did not miss the exact date of circumcision.
of the people of Israel: He was not a Gentile or a Gentile person who was converted to the people of Israel.
of the tribe of Benjamin: He belonged to the tribe of Benjamin which produced the first king of Israel, Saul.
a Hebrew of Hebrews: He is pure blooded Hebrew who has the language and culture of the Hebrews.
in regard to the law, a Pharisee: As far as ‘law’ goes the Pharisees were known as most zealous and meticulously law abiding people. And Paul claims that as far as law goes he was one of them.
6 as for zeal, persecuting the church: Paul had such great zeal that he could not sit down silently when he thought that Christians were cults. He persecuted the church.
as for righteousness based on the law, faultless: As far as keeping the law outwardly he did not break the law.
Read verses 7-9. Why does Paul consider such gains and everything as a loss? (7-8a) Why does Paul consider all these things garbage? (8b) Where does Paul want to be
found and what kind of righteousness does he want to have? (9)
Read verses 7-9.
“7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:1-20&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-29431a" \o "See footnote a" a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Why does Paul consider such gains and everything as a loss? (7-8a)
Because they can become stumbling block in knowing Jesus. He found that knowing Christ has supreme value and he realized that he has to let other values go away in order to pursue the supreme value. This truth is well revealed in Matthew 13:44-46.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
The value of the hidden treasure and the great pearl was so high that the man had to sell all he had or sold everything he had and then he could possess it. In another words if anyone wants to possess such a great hidden treasure and great pearl without selling everything he cannot possess it.
The same is true of Jesus. Since knowing Christ Jesus has such a tremendous value he could not possess it without regarding everything a loss or garbage.
Why does Paul consider all these things garbage? (8b)
I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. He wanted to gain Christ. That was his goal and purpose. Christ was like hidden treasure and great pearl.
Where does Paul want to be found and what kind of righteousness does he want to have? (9)
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[ HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203:1-20&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-29431a" \o "See footnote a" a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
Paul knows no one can be righteous before God by observing the law. So he wants to be found in the righteousness of God that comes from faith in Jesus. He wants to be righteous before God not by observing the law but by believing in Jesus.
If we divide salvation in three stages “justification’, ‘sanctification’ and ‘glorification’ and if such classification is right, what Paul talks about could be ‘justification’.
Read verses 10-11. What does Paul want to know and experience? (10) Why do you think he wants to know and experience this? What does he want to attain to? (11)
Read verses 10-11.
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
What does Paul want to know and experience? (10)
To know Christ and the power of Jesus’ resurrection and participation in his sufferings. In Jesus’ suffering ultimately he wants to become like Jesus in his death. It may not refer to physical death but spiritual death.
----The word know is part of the word knowledge. There are many knowledge in this world, Jesus gospel gives heavenly knowledge.
Why do you think he wants to know and experience this?
There can be many goals and purposes for Christians. But to Paul God must have helped him to know that there is no greater thing other than knowing Christ. And Paul wants to know Christ personally not only in knowledge but also in his practical life. So he wanted to participate and experience personally the suffering and death of Jesus and the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
What does he want to attain to? (11)
11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Ultimately the resurrection from the dead could refer to ‘bodily resurrection’ when Jesus comes again. But it may refer to spiritual resurrection. Paul wants to experience power of resurrection in his practical life. But such power of resurrection or to experience the power of resurrection in his life comes through death. No one comes to resurrection unless he first dies. So he seeks to participate in Jesus’ sufferings and death.
So to participate in Jesus’ suffering and death and experience the power of resurrection are all closely related.
1 Corinthians 15:31 “31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In 1982 NIV it says ‘I die every day’ for ‘I face death every day’. It is the same concept. So it seems like Paul wants to experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection in his practical life by suffering for Christ in the course of preaching the Christ and ultimately it means bodily resurrection.
According to Jewish concept ‘suffering’ is the result of sin or God’s punishment. This concept was shared by Job’s friends. But according to Paul, suffering for Christ, the suffering in the course of preaching Christ leads him to experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection in his practical life before he goes to heaven and receive resurrection body.
This practical experience of the power of resurrection through suffering and death for Jesus is great privilege of Paul and all those who really give their lives for Christ.
Read verses 12-14. What does Paul do prior to arriving at his goal? (12-13a) What does Paul do? (13b) What does Paul do toward his goal? (14)
Read verses 12-14.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
What does Paul do prior to arriving at his goal? (12-13a)
“12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.”
Although Paul was one of the most spiritually mature person in Christian history he still did not think he has obtained all this or goal. Here ‘all this’ or ‘goal’ may refer to ‘knowing Christ’ or ‘all of things Christ wants him to take hold of.” It could mission or sanctification or every and all things that Christ Jesus took hold of Paul.
He thinks he did not reach the goal yet despite his best effort and God’s grace.
What does Paul do? (13b)
“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”. “What is behind’ probably refers to past achievement. ‘what is ahead’ is what Christ wants Paul to reach. We need to remember what God has done for us in the past and be thankful all the time. But we need to forget our past achievement if we want to focus on our future goal because our past achievement can make us lazy and proud and it hinders for our effort to press on our future goal.
What does Paul do toward his goal? (14)
“14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
The word ‘press’ refers to the fact that there is opposing forces against Paul’s pressing on. But he has goal and there is a prize waiting for him from Jesus and he press on toward the goal day by day.
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