Philippians 3

Philippians 3:1-3

1. He cautions them against judicious pleasures, viz. 1—4. 2. Prepares his own example, and enumerates the privileges of his Jewish state which he rejected, viz. 4—8. 3. He deposes the matter of his own choice, viz. 9—14. 4. He deposes with an exhortation to beware of wicked men, and to follow his example, viz. 17—21.

2. FINALLY, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things as you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is late. 2. Beware of

dogs, beware of ’evil-workers,’ beware of the conclusion. 3. For we are ’the circumcision’ which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:

Into every church almost had the judaizing teachers crept, and caused much trouble to the great apostle. The Philippians had been set at by them, and needed a caution against their inductions.

1. He exhorte them to rejoice in the Lord. Finally, my brethren, after what I have said for your comfort, rejoice in the Lord, as your Redeemer and Saviour, assured of your interest in all the inestimable blessings of his gospel.

2. He warns them against the false teachers. To write the same things to you, which I have often spoken, and Epaphroditus has now in charge to deliver, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe to be reminded of your danger, and kept on your guard. Beware of legs; those cringing zealots, who sawn to ingratiate themselves with you, but design to introduce divisions among you, to bite and devout you; greedy, impudent, and worthless. Beware of evil workers, whose practices declare the badness of their principles. Beware, again I say, of the concision, no name being contemptible enough for them, who urging this abolished one, would rend the purse of the church, would introduce confusion, and cut off the Gentiles from the privileges of the gospel.

3. He describes true christianity. For we are the circumcision, really in covenant with God, and entitled to all the spiritual blessings and privileges; which worship God in spirit; put with the outward pomp of ceremonial rites, but with the heart, according to the gospel institutions; and rejoice, or glory, in Christ Jesus, as our only hope towards God, placing our whole dependence upon him, happy in the perfection of the salvation which he hath wrought out for us, and have no confidence in the flesh, nor expect acceptance with God on account of any privileges of detest from Abraham, or any righteousness which we fallen creatures can perform. Note, (1.) All true Christians live in the constant worship of God, private and public; and that not formally, but in spirit and in truth. (2.) We must despair of ourselves, and renounce all dependance upon our own doings and duties, before we can exercise faith in Jesus, and know the joys of his salvation.

4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5. Circumced the eight day, of the flock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharise; 6. Concerning zeal, perlocuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7. But what things were gain to me, those I counted lois for Christ. 8. Yes doubtless, and I count all things but lois, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ, 9. And he found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead: 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:4-14

None had more outward privileges than Paul; none more heartily renounced them, and fled to a better hope. His own example he proposes therefore for their imitation.

1. If any man might have confidence in outward privileges, he had as many, or more, that any of the judaizing teachers: a native Israelite; a descendant from Benjamin the son of the beloved Rachel, the tribe that clave to the house of David and the temple, when the rest revolted; on father and mother’s side a Hebrew of pure extraction; circumced according to the law; brought up after the strifeed flesh a Pharise, in the obdecessor both of the rites of the law, and the traditions of the elders; a praise for Judaism, even so far as to be a bitter perfection of Christianity; and in his outward conduct and contemplation, blameless and unexceptionable.

2. All this he renounced for Christ. But what things I deem

though were gain to me, and raised me in excellence above other men; they I counted lois for Christ, renouncing them utterly, assured if I trusted upon them for acceptance I must be undone; and therefore resting on Christ, on his blood and righteousness alone. Yes doubtless, and I count all things but lois, I remain in the same sentiments, proclaiming all dependence upon my perfect as well as past doings and duties; for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; compared with this, all besides is refuse; since I have known him as my Saviour, I want nothing more; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, which this world holds dear; and do count them but dung, contemptible vessels, fit to be cast only on the dunghill; that I may win Christ, and become partaker of the great salvation which he hath wrought out for his redeemed, and he found in him, as my city of refuge, my divine substitute and surely, my availing plea at the bar of God; not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, nor daring in this to appear before the Judge, conscious how little it would bear the scrutiny; but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith; that divine, complete, and spotless righteousness, which my Lord hath wrought out for me, which God impedes to me as my title to justification and life eternal, and which faith embraces as all my salvation. Note, (1.) Whatever we depend upon for justification, except on Christ alone, will assuredly prove to be our eternal loss. (2.) There is but one righteousness wherein a sinner can appear before God; and there never was, nor can he, another, besides that which Jesus of Nazareth completed when he died upon the cross.

3. The apostle desired to know Christ, not only as his justifying righteousness, but as the Author of all spiritual life and eternal blessedness. That I may know him, and experience the power of his resurrection, as the glorious head of vital influence to all his redeemed people; and the fellowship of his sufferings, daily experiencing the crucifixion of the old man, and willingly taking up my cross, however painful; being made conformable unto his death; dying unto sin, as Christ died for it; or ready to lay down my life for the gospel, whenever I may be called there to: if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead; raised to immortal life and glory in body as well as soul, and reaching the happy port of eternal rest, whether I deem my course. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect in holiness, as I desire to be; but I follow after, eager to be at the goal, if that I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus; holding fast by that blessed Jesus, who first laid hold on me in my way to Damascus, and trusting on his power and grace to bring me to the eternal life which he hath promised, and whereunto he hath appointed me. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, or to be arrived at the summit of perfection; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, resting in no present attainments, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, after higher measures of grace, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; with heaven in my eye I vigorously pursue my course, bending forwards eagerly as I run, and stretching out my arms to seize the crown of righteousness, which Jesus bellows, and is to be won only through the grace and strength which he supplies. Note, (1.) To know the power of Christ’s resurrection, is to experience his quickening efficacy upon our souls, and to be raised from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, as his dead body was raised from the grave to the life of glory. (2.) The greatest saints are most sensible how short they come of perfection. They who think they have grace enough, evidently shew they have none at all. (3.) Christ must apprehend us first, before we can apprehend him: his power must keep us, or we shall never reach the salvation to which he hath called us. (4.) Heaven is the prize in view; happy the soul which reaches that goal.

4. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

v. 15, 16. The apostle exhorte them to be united in love, and like-minded with him. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, and far advanced in the Christian state, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, and differ from me in sentiments, God shall reveal even this unto you, and clear up to your satisfaction whatever may yet be dark or doubtful. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule of God’s word; let us mind the same thing, wherein we are all agreed. Note, Lettre differences of opinion should make no diffusion of honor: we must wait together on God, that he may instruct us in all his holy will.

17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so, as ye have us for an entangle. 18. (For many walk, of whom I have said you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the em-

mies of the cross of Christ: 19. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly: and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. 20. For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ: 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Philippians 3:17-22

With warnings and exhortations he closes the chapter.

1. He warns them against the false teachers, whose character he describes. For many souls, of whom I have told you often, and even tell you even working, concerned deeply for them, and jealous for you, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, both in their principles and their practices; their lives being as contrary to the spirit of purity, as their dependence on circumcision and the Mosaic rites is derogatory to the grace of the gospel; unwilling to profess, or suffer for, a crucified Jesus; who is the destruction; their errors and immoralities bringing upon them eternal sons; whose God is their belly; serving and indulging their sensual appetites, as their chief happiness; and whose glory is their shame; boasting themselves in their evil ways, and proud of their privileges, which only serve to cover them with confusion, which they behave so unfoundly thereunto: who mind earthly things, and have their growling minds ever hand on the interests, pleasures, and honours of this miserable world. Note. (1.) They who make their belly their God, glory in their sins, and live after the fashion of the world, will infallibly find the end of their ways to be the destruction of both body and soul. (2.) It is a bitter grief to the faithful, when they behold any that bear the Christian name a dishonour to their holy profession.

2. He exhorts them to copy the good examples which he and others shewed them. Brethren, he ye followers together of me, as I am of Christ, and mark them which will be, as ye have us for an endowment, and adorn the gospel they profess. For an ammunition is in heaven; our traffic and concerns all lie there, and we regard ourselves as strangers upon earth, and denizens of the cathedral-city: from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come at the fast day, and bring us home to his blessed self; who shall change our vile body, that now bears the most humbling marks of weakness and infirmity, and will shortly be loathsome in the dust; that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself; when death, the last of his enemies, shall be foreknised up in vidency, and we shall rise, and shine, and reign with our exalted hand in glory everlasting.