INTRODUCTION:
PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
From the Jamieson-Fauset Brown Commentary:
On verse 11. “If by any means” – not implying uncertainty of the issue, but the earnestness of the struggle of faith (1 COR 9:26,27), and the urgent need of jealous self-watchfulness (1 COR 10:12).
“…attain unto the resurrection of the dead…” – The oldest manuscripts read, "the resurrection from (out of) the dead," namely, the first resurrection; that of believers at Christ's coming (1 COR 15:23; 1 THESS 4:15; REV 20:5,6). The Greek word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. "The power of Christ's resurrection" (ROM 1:4), ensures the believer's attainment of the "resurrection from the (rest of the) dead" (compare PHIL 3:20,21). Compare "accounted worthy to obtain the resurrection from the dead" (LUKE 20:35). "The resurrection of the just" (LUKE 14:14).
As the apostle stated elsewhere, if there is no resurrection of the (righteous) dead, then life is miserable, having existence only in a world under the curse of sin (1 COR 15:19). But we most assuredly have this blessed hope!!
1 CORINTHIANS 15:20,42-44,51-57Death, pain, suffering, weariness and “all the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” will one day be passed away, never to return! All of life’s sorrows and heartaches are temporary and transient. For the saint of GOD, the eternality of love, joy, peace, rest, comfort and bliss are assured!
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as certainly as Christ’s own RESURRECTION IS A REALITY, so too is ours, though we look forward to the future of our personal fulfillment. I’ve witnessed fewer and fewer Christians in these last days who used to say, “It’s not like I don’t want the LORD to come back [and take us home], it’s just that I want to do (x, y and, or z) first”. More and more I’m seeing Christians saying, “Never mind about all that, I just want to go home!”
Seeing how these days are growing more and more wicked with ever increasing darkness, despair and disillusionment (2 TIM 3:13), the allure of this world has lost its hold on a growing number of Christians who are finding it more and more difficult to think of this world as home (which is as it should be! HEB 11:13; 1 PET 2:11).
We have no idea what our resurrection bodies will be like – we only know that our current models are highly susceptible to damage and decay, quite fragile and dependent on so many factors to maintain optimal performance.
Not so with our resurrected, glorified bodies! The vibrancy, buoyancy, the power, the abilities and the immortality of these upgrades are beyond imagining! And I for one am most excited about inheriting my “mansion” – especially since my “tent” is getting threadbare, patched up and worn out! See 2 COR 5:1-5. What’s most thrilling about our new spiritual bodies (1 COR 15:44) is that the sin nature will be absent – obliterated actually! No more struggles against sin and temptations! We shall experience “the abundance of peace” (PSA 37:11) both in the new world as well as within ourselves!
PHILIPPIANS 3:12
12 Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
“Nobody’s perfect” is an oft refrain we hear and we have to include ourselves in that grouping. Even the apostle Paul admitted as much – understandably: because the standard is Christ Himself, the epitome of perfection in every respect. None of us, not even the apostle could ever esteem to get remotely close to the ‘least’ of His virtues. It’s the reason why we need salvation and redemption in particular in the first place!
Some of us are more advanced in our spiritual maturity than others. That level of maturity doesn’t necessarily equate to the number of years one is saved either. I’ve known believers who exhibited spiritual maturity after being only five years in the LORD, while others could say that they’ve been saved for fifty years – but are still carnal (spiritual babies).
One can liken spiritual maturity or the lack thereof with two trees, planted in the ground at the different times, but whereas one is planted recently near a steady supply of water, in good soil, getting ample sunshine while the other, planted maybe years prior, is far distant of a water supply, in moderate to poor soil and not getting sufficient sunlight.
Basically, you get out of it what you put in: spending quality time in the Word of Life, in prayerful fellowship with the LORD and other believers, being active in the pursuit and obedience to GOD’s will. Weathering all sorts of trials and hardships while keeping one’s heart and love focused on the LORD Jesus Christ and our Abba Father. That will bring about spiritual maturity.
Yet even the apostle Paul stated plainly that he wasn’t perfect, nor did he attain perfection. Yet he was determined to “press on”, that is to pursue adamantly (in this case) in a good. It’s one of the words in the Greek that can be interpreted to mean “persecute” – which of course is an adamant pursuit of the bad kind.
But with the same tenacity that Saul of Tarsus pursued the church, afflicting and persecuting the saints, Paul the apostle pursued advancement in his Christlikeness.
His zeal and deep desire to apprehend all that he could both in the knowledge of Christ as well as his spiritual growth and fruit production mirrored that of what Christ had for him. In other words, the LORD is just as intent on your spiritual growth and success as you are in your desire to please the LORD in all things, glorifying Him by producing “much fruit” (JOHN 15:8).
Putting it another way, the LORD Jesus is rooting for you! Eager to see you run well the race that is set before us, cheering us on, providing refreshing water and encouragement as we run with patience (HEB 12:1-2a).
Spiritual growth and maturity happens as we increase in our sanctification in Christ. Those who are saved by the blood of the Lamb are already justified and that’s a finished work upon believing the Gospel. Sanctification however is a lifelong process, and we are just as dependent on the LORD for this as we are for our justification – the difference being, we are called to be active participants, yielding to Christ as we die to self and sin, and let Christ reign in and through us to greater and even greater degrees (ROM 12:1-2).
Then as we addressed already, there is glorification. I recently covered these things (and justification in particular) in a teaching I gave at the ETERNAL LIVING WORD Church. I also produced a TTUF article on it.
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
There are certain emotions and mind sets that are useless – even harmful. The big one I think is worry, coupled together with anxiety. Another is regret. Worry focuses too much on the future. Regret focuses too much on the past. Both are contrary to trusting GOD and living a life of faith. We are to live in the present – the now or today (“the day” MATT 6:34) is where we need to focus, and with our hearts settled upon the LORD Who is Himself our Prince of Peace.
This is where apostle Paul lived – not dwelling on the past but forgetting it. That is to say, he didn’t relive past successes and failures but he also didn’t sacrifice but kept the wisdom from those experiences. But what’s done is done – time to prepare our hearts and minds for the future – those “good works” that Christ has before ordained for us and by His grace, fulfill them (EPH 2:10).
In the above passage Paul uses the idea of a marathon runner – something he would be familiar with from athletic events in the Olympics of his day.
In our Christian life we are called to stand against the wiles of the devil… to withstand in the evil day” (EPH 6:11,13). We are also called to “run the race with patience” (HEB 12:1). But for the most part, we are called to “walk” (ROM 6:4; 8:1,4; 13:13; 2 COR 5:7; GAL 5:16, 25; EPH 2:10; 4:1; 5:2,8,15; COL 1:10; 4:5; 1 THESS 2:12; 4:1,12; 1 JOHN 1:7; 2 JOHN 1:6; 3 JOHN 1:4).
Standing makes you stationary, immobile. Running will cause you to miss opportunities (and tire you out quickly). Yet both have their place when properly applied. We want to stand in the liberty of Christ, stand for truth and righteousness (GAL 5:1; EPH 6:14) and not budge! And when called into action, we will run to the battle where our Commander leads us!
But the plodding walk, left, right, left, right, left, right – requires patience for the long haul. It advances us gradually so as to not miss opportunities along the way, but we won’t tire as quickly either.
We have two feet, not one (so we don’t hop!), but neither do we have three or four – just two. And in our walk we have the Word of GOD and prayer, the two staples for our life with Christ. Like having two oars, working in conjunction in a boat with sure direction. And we must always remember that we never walk alone:
JOSHUA 1:5We all have a calling from GOD – without exception. If you are a born again believer the very fact that you are Spirit-filled, a member of the body of Christ, a citizen of heaven – by that very fact means you have a calling!
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
PSALM 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
ISAIAH 43:1-2
1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
HEBREWS 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
GOD may have called you to be a godly husband and father, a Sunday School teacher, a custodian to clean the church, an evangelist, a powerful witness at your workplace, a light in the darkness of our public school system (either as a student, a teacher or an administrator), a missionary, a pastor.
But just as every member, organ, tissue in your body serves a purpose, so does every member of the body of Christ!
Like apostle Paul, we want to… “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” To win that prize – a victorious life in the calling GOD has for you – brings glory to your heavenly Father! He Who sent His Son to die for your sins and grant you eternal life as His child is worthy to behold Christ’s victory in your life! Rejoice, for you’re no longer a condemned orphan headed for destruction!
Isn’t He worthy of our all, saints? Our love, our attention and devotion, our service and worship? For He gave His all for us just because He loves us!
PHILIPPIANS 3:15
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
In the KJV the word “mature” is rendered “perfect” and this throws some people off. The NKJV has the better translation – this refers to the maturity of the spiritual life, a life that resembles the LORD Jesus’ own (certainly not to His level of actual perfection).
“…have this mind;” – this refers to the previous verse of pressing forward for the goal of glorifying GOD by a life devoted to Him. If anyone has a mind for other than this, then GOD will certainly reveal it to them and bring direction or correction to get them back on track as a disciple of Christ. Honestly, we all need a “course correction” from time to time, don’t we?
Verses that speak of spiritual maturity: 1 COR 2:6; 14:20; GAL 5:10.
PHILIPPIANS 3:16-17
16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
When I was new to the Christian walk, I was a bit in awe of those saints who were well advanced in their spirituality. The depth of their wisdom, the keenness of their insight, the noble character of Christ plainly seen in them. The patience and gentleness with which they instructed me. I remember asking some of them, “Will I ever get to be where you’re at?” And they just smiled and said, “Just keep going as you are, give it time and yes, you’ll get there! And you might just surpass me!”
Well, I highly doubted that! But where I am now in teaching new believers who are astounded at my Bible knowledge, I smile when I think of how I was once where they are at – and wonder, how many of these will likely surpass me!
But the elder are to be an example, a pattern for the younger saints. We witnessed today in our Resurrection Sunday Service at SHINE BRIGHT Church (4/05/26) four young people get water baptized and declared Christ as their LORD and Savior! I, and those elder saints that are with me, are eager and excited to share with them, instruct and encourage them, pray and support them in their walks!
Being of the “same rule and same mind” speaks of unity, namely the unity of “the faith” which is the sum total of biblical doctrines of truth.
EPHESIANS 4:11-15There is a heavy ecumenical push towards unity – seemingly at any cost. However, the cost for their sort of unity is way too high; for the price of their unity is in discounting and, or disregarding doctrine.
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
Somehow they believe that unity for its own sake is virtuous, but this is hardly the case! Suppose a guest speaker shows up at your church and during the course of his teaching, he begins spouting ideas and assertions that are not biblical.
After the sermon someone approaches you and wants your feedback on it, and you point out the biblical errors. Then they accuse you of being “divisive” and “unloving”. In truth, our unity is found in Christ Who is the embodiment of Truth, which the Holy Spirit inspired in the Holy Scriptures. This is to say that unity is established as we all agree with, adhere to and live out the truth of GOD’s Word.
If anyone deviates from “the faith”, then it’s THEY who are being divisive (whether intentionally or not) and unloving (giving to the church tainted doctrine, which is as unloving as a parent giving tainted food to their child).
Truth must be balanced with grace of course – we don’t want to (typically) bash people over the head with truth at the expense of not extending grace. But don’t ever let anyone tell you that in your desire to be biblically sound in “the faith” that you are bringing division to the body!
PHILIPPIANS 3:18-19
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
On the one hand we are called upon by Christ to “love your enemies” (MATT 5:44) thus displaying the heart of GOD Who causes blessings to flow upon the just and unjust (MATT 5:45). In regard to “the enemies of the cross of Christ”, while we are to love them still, we are to expose them for what they are, to resist and refute them and their ideologies.
It can truthfully be said that the most loving thing one can do is speak truth – especially to those who are deceived and are intent upon deceiving others. In an effort to shine light into their darkness we desire to bring them to that realization (JUDE 1:22-23) before they are condemned for their sins.
“…whose god is their belly…” or in other words, their own intellect, predilections, biases, and ideologies are their authority, rather than the Word of GOD. There are many who hold to the view that their own realizations (or they might even say, revelations) are just as valid, if not more so, than the inspired writers of the Bible (I’m not kidding!)! These are the sort that disparage the idea of absolute, objective truth, of the “pie in the sky in the great by and by” afterlife or heaven, preferring rather to champion earthly causes and social welfare: “…who set their mind on earthly things.”
This largely describes what was once called the Emergent Church Movement, which has morphed even deeper and further along the apostate trail as the Progressive Movement. For the most part, the latter has an almost all new crew of corruption (the names have been changed to protect the guilty).
What they offer is a social gospel (a Christianized social service mission for the church – which is not what Christ called us to as our primary mission) and or a green gospel – that is all about protecting our environment; and where is that commission declared in the Gospels??
If we were to meet every social ill and need with solutions so that the poor would be lifted from poverty, the sick would be cured, the hungry amply fed, the uneducated would receive schooling, etc., etc. then while they would have a relative potentially good life in their lifetime (lasting up to about 80 years give or take), where would they spend eternity?
And where would the lot of those pushing those earthly and temporally beneficial programs be when facing the Judgment of GOD (Oh, but they don’t believe GOD will judge anyone, especially them!)? These same sort believe that GOD loves everyone (true); that He accepts everyone (false) – only those who personally receive Christ are granted the privilege of becoming children of GOD (JOHN 1:12-13) and “accepted into the beloved” (EPH 1:6). Those who aren’t born again will be cast into outer darkness or as it says in our text “…whose end is destruction…”
See the following verses: ROM 8:5; 16:18; 2 COR 11:15; 1 TIM 6:5; TITUS 1:11; 2 PET 2:1.
PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
The above verses are in sharp contrast, polar opposite in fact of what was described in vss. 18-19. They mind earthly things, whereas our citizenship is in heaven. They deny the Cross of Christ whereas we eagerly wait for our Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ. Their own belly is their god, whereas our belly – along with the rest of our bodies will be transformed from our lowly estate to one of glorification. They glorify themselves, whereas we glorify GOD. We live to conform ourselves to the LORD Jesus Christ, whereas they are willingly conformed to the things of this world – something Christians are admonished NOT to do (ROM 12:2). We eagerly await the LORD’s return whereas they deny He will ever return (Or that He has already – through them!).
Every nation, kingdom, country has their own distinct culture – and the kingdom of GOD has its own as well. Our heavenly culture is centered around the Person of Christ and His multitudinous virtues. In the Sermon on the Mount the LORD Jesus presented “the greatest in the kingdom” parables – and they are a perfect description of Christ Himself and a working model for us as GOD’s saints to strive for by the Spirit of grace.
This is what our “citizenship [in heaven]” is all about: being transformed by the renewing of our minds and conformity to the Perfect Prototype, the One and Only Potentate (1 TIM 6:15).
GOD is focused right now on His continual creation a new human race. In the flesh we are all part of the (old) human race through Adam. But since he represents fallen humanity, GOD set about the mission of redemption through Christ, Who is the “Last Adam” through Whom we are all born into the family of GOD, hence an entirely new human race! Truly aliens, foreigners and strangers in this world (HEB 11:13; 1 PET 2:11).
Christ will one Blessed Day “subdue all things to Himself” by making “all things new” – everything from a new Earth, to a new Heaven, to a New Jerusalem having by then granted us His saints new and glorified bodies (devoid of devilish sin nature!).
It’s astounding when you think about it – this solid Earth that has been around for millennia, the sun, moon and stars in their orbits from time immemorial – we saints will outlive them all! Long after they are swept away into oblivion, we shall for all eternity have the joy and blessed honor of worshiping GOD and know perfect peace, rest and contentment!
We have one more chapter to complete in PHILIPPIANS (Ch. 4) before we conclude our GEPC Study by examining the epistle to the COLOSSIANS!
No comments:
Post a Comment