QT 31 Mar 11

Phil 3:12-14 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, 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.

NOTE:  When Paul says that he has not already obtained "this," the "this" refers to the previous paragraph of knowing Christ and becoming like Christ.  This is sanctification, the process of becoming and knowing Jesus Christ, not justification, which is our position in Christ.  In other words, the law holds no profit and is considered rubbish as far as pursuing a right relationship with Jesus Christ in this life.  One does not get to know God through the obedience to the OT law.  One gets to know God through his word and obedience to the commands of Jesus (which is not through legalistic righteousness to the OT law).  Jesus said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21 NIV, emphasis mine).  Why is it that people want to attach themselves to the OT law?  What is it about rules that draws us to them?  Why is it so hard to develop a spirit of righteousness and not an external caricature of righteousness?  Father, protect me from the danger of evaluating my walk with you on externals.  I want to have a heart relationship with you, not a fake activity engagement with you.

QT 30 Mar 11

Phil 3:4b-11 (NIV) If anyone else thinks he has 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 legalistic righteousness, faultless.

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I  consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my  Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by  faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of  sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to  the resurrection from the dead.

Note: There can be no doubt that the discussion of confidence in the flesh is based on the  heresy of the Judaizers. But it is not just an  issue of salvation, it is a way of life. It is a discussion of how to please God. It is not just positional, it is "becoming," it is "attaining." Paul has considered all aspects  of that way of life as loss and as rubbish.  Knowing Christ Jesus is a far greater thing;  as the song, "knowing You Jesus," says.  I'm not sure I completely understand verse  10, but I do agree with Paul, I want to  know Jesus even more.

QT 29 Mar 11

Phil 3:1-4 (NIV) Finally, my brothers, 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 men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

NOTE:  I really think that verse 1 precedes verse 2 with reason, and not as a totally new thought.  An attitude of rejoicing is a protection against the Judaizers.  They believed that you needed to be a Jew to be saved.  You needed to be circumcised and required to obey the law.  But the issue is not just salvation because by implication it refers to how you live your life as well.  Typically (but not always), those who emphasize the law are legalistic.  They put confidence in the flesh for the relationship with God.  They focus on the do's and don'ts of the law and not on the relational part of their faith.  They are confident in their relationship when they feel they have checked off certain activities, and so they ultimately are putting their confidence in the flesh.  And to a certain degree, that takes the joy out of our relationship with God which is not dependent upon externals but on the spirit, our heart response to Him.

QT 28 Mar 11

Phil 3:1 (NIV) Finally, my brothers, 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.

NOTE:  Three things stand out in this section of Paul's letter.  First, while there are still two chapters in length left, he is wrapping up with some final thoughts.  It takes a little effort to finish his final thoughts.  Second, his comment about writing the same things to you again is either a reference to an earlier part of the letter, or more likely a reference to a previous letter, now long lost.  But the third point is the most interesting, Paul says that rejoicing in the Lord is a safeguard for the believers.  Now, it could be a reference to the Judaizers who by their emphasis on the law take the joy out of the Christian life.  That would fit with the next verse when he tells them to watch out for the "mutilators of the flesh."  It could also be a protection against grumbling and complaining, which he just concluded in the previous section.  Clearly, an attitude of rejoicing over events (the "glad game" as Pollyanna calls it)is an effective tool to keep us from a spirit of grumbling and complaining.  So, instead of working at eliminating the grumbling and complaining, I need to work at increasing the rejoicing, so as to eliminate the latter by default. 

QT 23 Mar 11

Phil 2:12 (NIV) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ...

NOTE: I have never really understood "work out your salvation" in verse 12.  The AMP uses "work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation" which makes more sense.  The NLT says to "work hard to show the results of your salvation."  The NCV says to "keep on working to complete your salvation."   Wuest uses "carry to its ultimate conclusion [likeness to the Lord Jesus] your own salvation."  The Greek word, katergazesthe, means to do something with success and / or thoroughness, and can be translated as to accomplish, to perform successfully, and to do thoroughly.  In other words, my salvation, which is not dependent on works (based on many other verses of scripture, Eph 2:8,9 and Tit 3:5 to name two), starts by faith, but is carried to completion with work and effort.  Yes, I need the power of the HS to live the Christian life, but it doesn't just happen.  I need to make effort to seek God, to pray, to make right choices, to obey when God speaks, and other actions.  God can give me strength beyond my self to live that life, but he cannot force me to walk with God.  If he did, we would be back to the argument about being robots, and robots cannot love.  Additionally, the church today is a massive example of people who are not bringing to completion the work that God started.  They are not obeying God's word, and ultimately their witness negatively affects the gospel. 

Lord, protect me from the draw of the world.  I want to serve you and to finish my Christian life strong.

Phil 2:12 (AMP) Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

QT 22 Mar 11

Phil 2:26-30 (NIV) For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

NOTE: One issue I encounter in discussions with other brothers is that there is a distinction between suffering as the result of health issues, and suffering that is the result of service or persecution.  I've met two totally different groups within Christendom, one that believe in the health and wealth gospel, and the other from the charismatic side, who believe we should always be whole (physically, spiritually, and mentally).  The latter believe a failure to be physically whole shows a lack of trust or spirituality or fullness of the Holy Spirit.  To the former group, I will ignore, because the arguments are well founded and strong against such a position.  But to the latter group, here is a case where Paul equates an illness suffered either while traveling or upon arrival in Rome, with service for the gospel, which would then equate illness with persecution.  Paul says Epaphroditus almost died.  His living was only the mercy of God, not the result of anyone's faith or the fullness of the Spirit.  In fact, Paul's response to his potential death was not guilt over a lack of the HS, but sorrow to miss a good friend for a short period of time.  Paul says E. almost died for the work of Christ.  Paul says E. risked his life for the gospel.  If we are supposed to be whole (physically), how could anyone risk their life with an illness, that would not show risk, but rather spiritual weakness.  I think this particular passage pretty much debunks the wholeness crowd. 

QT 17 Mar 11

Phil 2:5-8 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death —

even death on a cross!

NOTE:  My attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.  So how does Paul define Jesus' attitude?  First point is that he did not need to promote his importance or status.  He was God, but he did not emphasize that equality.  Now Jesus does make it clear in scripture that he is God, but this would also explain why the verses are few in number, enough to make the point, but not to overemphasize it.    He was God, but he did not come to earth to be treated as God.  The second aspect is that he became a servant.  He took the role of a slave to others for the sake of others.  The final aspect of his attitude was obedience, even unto death, even unto great pain and humiliation.  So for an attitude check, it would seem that humility, servanthood, and obedience were the hallmarks of Jesus attitude.

Where do I fall short or maybe the better question is, where do I not fall short?  My biggest weakness is making too much of my self.  So what if a person does not know my history -- is it really that important?  Forgive me Lord for promoting myself and not you.

QT 4 Mar 11

Phil 1:9-11 (NIV) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

NOTE: I am always intrigue by the prayers that men who wrote the scriptures used.  Paul's prayer is that their love may abound more and more.  First, their love was expressed in a financial gift for Paul.  Giving is a good thing, not just for the recipient but also for the person who gives.  He also wants their love to grow in knowledge and depth of insight -- that comes through the word of God, and not just a superficial understanding of the word, but one that goes deep.  The fact that Paul makes the subject "love" suggests that knowledge and depth of insight should affect us personally, in our character and actions.  He also prays for them to be able to discern what is best.  That follows from knowledge and insight, after having applied truth.  As our mind is affected by God's word we develop godly discernment.  We are not as easily fooled by Satan's deceits.  Paul also prays that they might be pure and blameless until Jesus returns.  Sin hurts our witness and takes away from God's glory on earth.  The more we keep our lives pure from sin, the more God is glorified by us.  Righteousness is the result of a life pure and blameless.  Also, a reward is awaiting us in heaven, as well as the words, "well done, good and faithful servant."  How I hope to hear those words some day.

QT 2 Mar 11

Phil 1:3-6 (Wuest NT) I am constantly thanking my God for my whole remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making supplication for all of you with joy. I am thanking my God constantly for your joint-participation [with me] in the furtherance of the good news from the first day [when Lydia opened her home for the preaching of the Word] until this particular moment [as characterized by the gift which you have sent], having come to this settled and firm persuasion concerning this very thing, namely, that He who began in you a work which is good [their financial support of Paul] will bring it to a successful conclusion right up to the day of Christ Jesus.

NOTE: I think Wuest's translation is probably closer to the mark.  Which is not to say that God does not do good works in our lives, it is just more specific in the context, and probably more general in the application.  The work that God began in the Philippian's heart was to support Paul financially.  It was extremely encouraging to Paul.  He called it a "partnership" or "joint-participation" in the gospel.  Their giving was a good thing, and giving to missions, when God has laid it on our hearts, is a good thing today.  But God also calls us into missions, sometimes overseas, and always where we are at.  Clearly we are to live a life that is a witness for Christ, but we are also to identify with the gospel verbally in a manner that is well understood.  Father, give me boldness to share your gospel verbally with others.