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.
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IMHO
I've been hunting for the split in the Christian Church. I've been in a lot of churches that have just gone sour. They burn Bibles that are not like theirs. They teach you have to follow certain rules to become a Christian. They want everyone to read and understand the Old Testament before they make a Confession of Faith. They teach; you can't be a Christian if you don't memorize the whole New Testament. What a bunch of hooey!
There were "legalists" in the church. There are still "legalists" in the churches today! These are the people who insist that people still have to go through circumcision.
They only eat turkey bacon... not the real thing.
I have to take the Saul away from Paul [Saul] at this point. I still don't think Jesus knocked him down. Lots of people are liars, fabricating a truth that fits their sermon. I do, however, see Paul coming around. I think Paul has seen "the Light".
Some churches are convinced that if they don't follow all the steps, swing the incense holder in the correct direction, memorize all the verses, go through surgery, and deny all the "good" things in life [like bacon], and only buy one version of the Bible, then they are worshipping God correctly. They are "Hell Bent" and won't accept it.
Some people want to buy their way into adoption. Pew Warmers pay for their spots by writing healthy checks for their tithe.
None of that matters. Church doesn't matter. Nothing the commentary says matters. Humans have absolutely nothing to say about what makes us Christian, Jew, or Pagan. God knows who we are and what we do and where we go.
God knows each and every single one of His Children.
Does God know you? Are you a Child of God?
Nothing really matters... but that.
Sure, the church may be broken. Humans break things... that what we do. The brick-and-mortar church doesn't matter. Just because your name is on the roles in this church or that, this denomination or that, you may still be "Hell Bent". None of that matters.
Does God know you? Are you a Child of God?
Nothing really matters.... but that!
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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.”
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.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss: Paul did not only count his religious pedigree as a loss; he counted all things loss — but he counted them as a loss in view of the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
And be found in Him: Because Paul was in Him, he could renounce his own righteousness and live by the righteousness which is from God by faith. The foundation for his spiritual life was in what Jesus had done for him and not in what he had done, was doing, or would do for Jesus in the future.
That I may know Him: This was the simple plea of Paul’s heart. It was a plea unknown to the legalist, who must necessarily focus on his own performance and status to find some kind of peace with God. But Paul wanted Jesus, not self.
To know Jesus is not the same as knowing His historical life; it is not the same as knowing correct doctrines regarding Jesus; it is not the same as knowing His moral example, and it is not the same as knowing His great work on our behalf.
And the power of His resurrection: Knowing Jesus means knowing this power, the new life that is imparted to us now, not when we die.
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.
But I press on: Because Paul realized that he had not arrived, there was only one option open for him. He had to press on. There was no turning back for Him.
That I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me: Paul pressed on for what Jesus wanted. His effort was put forth to do God’s will, not his own.
