Reaching For The Goal

INTRO

Our one word or phrase for the book of Philippians is Exalted One. In chapter 3, Paul continues to speak into the Philippians about doing the will of God. Wiersbe divides chapter 3 into three sections: Paul’s past (vv. 1–11); Paul’s present (vv. 12–16); and Paul’s future (vv. 17–21).¹

TEACHING

Philippians 3:1-11: Wiersbe describes Paul, looking at his past, as “the accountant”, with the outcome being new values.² Paul explains he was writing to look out for them—to protect them (v. 1). His concern was about the Judaizers who blended faith and works together into one view of Christianity (v. 2). Paul used three terms for them. First, Paul called them “dogs,” the same term the Jews used for Gentiles. By using the term “dogs,” Paul was “comparing these false teachers to the dirty scavengers so contemptible to decent people.”³ Wiersbe explains these false teachers “snapped at Paul’s heels and followed him from place to place ‘barking’ their false doctrines.”⁴ Second, Paul called them “evil workers” who “taught that the sinner was saved by faith plus good works, especially the work of the law.”⁵ Paul explains their good works were really evil works because it put the emphasis on what the workers did instead of what Christ did for them. Finally, Paul called them “those who mutilate the flesh.” The Judaizers taught that circumcision was required for salvation, while Jesus’ death on the cross replaced the requirement for physical circumcision with spiritual circumcision. Wiersbe sums up the problems with the Judaizers’ teaching: “The Bible has nothing good to say about ‘flesh,’ and yet most people today depend entirely on what they themselves can do to please God. Flesh only corrupts God’s way on earth. It profits nothing as far as spiritual life is concerned. It has nothing good in it. No wonder we should put no confidence in the flesh!”⁶

Paul explains that “we” (the believers) “are the circumcision” and therefore do not put any confidence in physical circumcision (v. 3). Paul went on to explain that he had once depended upon his own circumcision and his position as a Jew to be right with God (vv. 4–6). At one time, Paul could have boasted about his achievements under the law. Wiersbe states, “People who depend on religion are usually boasting about what they have done. The true Christian has nothing of which to boast. His boast in only in Christ!”⁷ Paul had been a true Jew; now he was a complete Christian, and he lived by a new standard. Wiersbe describes this change in Paul: “When he looked at himself or looked at others, Saul of Tarsus considered himself to be righteous. But one day he saw himself as compared with Jesus Christ! It was then that he changed his evaluations and values, and abandoned ‘works righteousness’ for the righteousness of Jesus Christ.”⁸

Paul then shared all he had gained through spiritual circumcision. First, Paul had received the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord—he had gained a personal relationship with Christ (v. 8a). Second, Paul had received the righteousness from God that is based on faith in Christ Jesus (v. 9). Third, Paul was now in fellowship with Christ (v. 10). There was nothing Paul could do to receive these things; it came only as a gift of grace from Jesus Christ. Paul’s goal was “to know Him and the power of His resurrection!” Paul was willing to suffer for Jesus because he knew Him personally. Like an accountant, Paul counted all the blessings he had received from Christ in the past.

Philippians 3:12–16: In these verses, Wiersbe describes Paul’s present as “the athlete” with “new vigor.”⁹ Paul explains he has not yet attained the goal of being fully mature spiritually but that he works toward that goal with every effort in Christ (v. 12). He describes himself as a runner pressing toward the finish line (v. 13). Note Paul had only ONE goal and he spent his time focusing on that one goal—“the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (v. 14). Paul encouraged the Philippians to live the same way (v. 15).

Philippians 3:17–21: In these verses, Wiersbe describes Paul’s future as “the alien” with a “new vision.”¹⁰ Paul encourages his readers to follow and imitate him, not the Judaizers (v. 18). Paul describes the enemy teachers in verse 19: “Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things.” But we as believers are citizens in heaven. We do not run to win that citizenship because it is already ours. Therefore, we are aliens here on earth, but our home is in heaven (v. 20).

CLOSING

Paul emphasized he was who he was BECAUSE of Christ:

• Paul knew he had been accepted in Christ (John 1:12; 15:15; Romans 5:1). He could renounce the lie that he was rejected, unloved, dirty, or shameful because in Christ, the truth is, that he is completely accepted by Christ.
• Paul knew he had been made secure in Christ (Romans 8:1–2, 28, 33–34). He could renounce the lie that he was guilty, unprotected, alone, or abandoned, because in Christ, he was totally secure.
• Paul knew he was significant in Christ (Matthew 5:13–14; John 15:5, 16; Acts 1:8). He could renounce the lie that he was worthless, inadequate, helpless, or hopeless, because in Christ, he was significant.

You too have been accepted by Christ. You too have been made secure in Christ. And you too are significant in Christ.