Philippians 3 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
One way to look at this book is to divide 1:12-2:30 at the truth of the gospel and 3:1-4:1 as the truth against error. Then 3:1-11 may be called the gospel against the Legalists; 3:12-16 the already and the not yet; and 3:17-4:1 the gospel against the Libertines (Reformation Study Bible). The first group we might call the Legalists because they taught the way to come to Christ is through Judaism. The Legalists taught that circumcision was an absolute must for these ‘unclean’ Gentiles to be accepted by God. Yes, Christ was part of the process but not the beginning and not the end. Become a Jew which means obey God’s commands. You can add Christ – if you remember to obey the Law of God first and foremost
This was somewhat persuasive to some Gentile believers. Paul minced no words in calling the Legalists enemies of the gospel by calling them “dogs” and “evildoers.” Paul refutes them throughout his ministry. Here he counters their argument by telling his personal story. Paul could have had confidence in his human efforts to please God (the flesh). “If anyone else think he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more . . . .” (v 4). But due to the appearance of the Lord Jesus, Paul realized any human effort to justify oneself is akin to jumping on a trampoline to enter space. It was like swimming laps to build up endurance to swim from San Francisco to Honolulu. We cannot gain acceptance from God by our human efforts. Grace means we put those things we trusted in over in the loss column (v. 8).
Paul didn’t merely look to Christ for a little help in making up for areas where Paul was a bit deficient. Paul understood that righteousness from God is not “of my own that comes from the law” or by keeping certain laws. This righteousness Paul writes is “that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” v. 9 is diametrically opposed to what most people think about getting into heaven. If someone reads the Bible, one would think anyone could see this clear and well-defined truth. But our sinful nature bends God’s mercy to ourselves and our feeble, weak, and ineffective attempts to earn our own way to heaven. How blind we were prior to Christ and how that darkness still creeps in making us question Christ’s work on our behalf.
Look at the value of knowing Christ: counting all our ways of gaining acceptance to God as rubbish, willing to share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death to attain to the glorification of our bodies. Christ is everything to a believer. We need to stir our cold, dark, and lifeless souls up to red hot love of Christ, an eagerness to suffer, and a passionate pursuit of obeying, loving, and knowing the Lord Jesus. We are encouraged to press on, forgetting what lies behind v. 12. Our faith is always growing, always going deeper into Christ, always seeking for His will.
Christ is the gospel. Christ is eternal life. Christ is the One we keep our eyes on (v. 20). I have had drummed into my head that one does not want to be so heavenly minded; one is no earthly good. Have you ever met anyone like that? I have met some Christians who are quirky, unusual, or appear a bit weird (from my perspective) but no one can think of heaven too much or too often. Our citizenship is in heaven (v. 20). Think about heaven every day. Heaven, a place you have never been, is a believer’s home. And only because of the person and work of Christ, the plan and will of God the Father, and the tremendous life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.
When we die, our soul will immediately be in God’s presence. We will experience such joy, hear beautiful music, see the most majestic and glorious sights unimaginable this side of heaven, and experience no sadness, tears, or regrets. We will finally be done battling sin because we will be free from the guilt and corroding influence of sin. Just think of it! No more sin. Sin is our greatest enemy, and we will be rid of it forever. As the Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 32:1 reminds us, “ the souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies.”
Heavenly Father, Your call beckons us to Your side. Your call is effectual. No sin can keep us from You. By the unequaled power of the Holy Spirit and the incomparable person and work of Your Son, we can enjoy Your presence during suffering here on earth. You will welcome us into Your heaven, the work of Your hands because of the gospel. We try to think of heaven, but we can’t ever comprehend the majesty of heaven or Your awesome wrath in hell. May we keep seeking the things above where Christ is. Keep us from sin and close to Your Son. In His perfect name. Amen.