seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Philippians 3:1 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— 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.
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 Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 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.
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.
I don't understand a single word! OK... now here's the commentary.Beware of dogs: This was a harsh reference to the troublemaking legalists who attempted to deceive the Philippians. “Dogs” is exactly the term of contempt Jews would use against Gentiles. Paul said a lot by using this word against these Jewish-influenced legalists.
Muller quoting Lightfoot: “The herds of dogs which prowl about Eastern cities, without a home and without an owner, feeding on the refuse and filth of the streets, quarreling among themselves, and attacking the passer-by, explain the applications of the image.”
We bidden, therefore, to beware of men of a quarrelsome and contentious spirit, who under the guise of religion hide impure and unclean things; and who are not only defiled, but defiling in their influence.” (Meyer)
Beware of the mutilation: Here is another harsh reference to the insistence of these Jewish legalists on requiring circumcision for Gentiles who wanted to become Christians. This was all done with the idea that someone must become a Jew first before they could become a Christian.
Not that I have already attained: Paul wrote from such spiritual maturity and purity that we might expect he believed that he had conquered all spiritual difficulties and saw himself as having arrived at near perfection. Yet he assured us this was not so. There was no perfectionism in Paul.
Sadly, it is common for many Christian leaders to cultivate the attitude that they have already attained. Without saying the words, they put forth the image of constant triumph that gives the idea that they have already attained and are already perfected.
Well, thanks to the whole commentary, I've got a better idea of what Paul is getting at. I gotta say... Paul might as well have been talking Greek. Actually, I think he might have used a little Greek... since he was by birth part Greek. Maybe you have to be facing having the thingy cut to appreciate this little sermon.My online Bible calls this section "No confidence in the flesh". That might be a hint. I see, from the commentary, that he is talking about the Jews who want the Gentiles to be circumcised in order to be recognized as part of the "family".
I guess the circumcision is the "flesh" part. I think what Paul is trying to say... in his twisted long-winded way.... is that cutting the thingy is more like a tattoo than a requirement.
I think what Paul's trying to say, just because your thingy is cut, there is no guarantee that you will do the right thing.
I think Paul's trying to say... just because you got your thingy cut... you still haven't punched your ticket to Heaven.
Anyone can get their thingy cut. Elana Bobbitt would cut your thingy for free!
Not everyone will accept Jesus as their personal Savior. That's the key.... Believing.... having Faith.... Accepting Him!
Jesus forgave us from the Cross. Now... We need to forgive ourselves. We have to put what we did yesterday, or ten minutes ago, or just as I was writing this, away. We have to put our mind on Acceptance.
Once you become a Christian... Jesus has forgiven what you did.
You can now move about the country, free from whatever monkey you have been carrying around on your back.
When you accept Jesus.... All the junk you did is forgiven. You may still have human consequences, but Jesus has forgiven you... and that is really all that matters.... and you don't have to get your thingy cut to be forgiven.
OK... you learned guys out there... did I get it right? Is it about cutting the thingy and forgiveness?
