Lesson for March 15, 2020
The Book of Philippians
Chapter 3:1-8
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”
Paul took two chapters to conclude the epistle to the Philippians with some very important information on the subject of ultra-super-grace. Rejoice means to share the happiness of God through the consistent study and application of Bible doctrine. It takes a lot of doctrine to have divine inner happiness. To write the same things (doctrines) again is no trouble to me means Paul was going to reinforce what he had already taught them because it would be a safeguard (certainty) for them. And they will need the certainty (firm conviction) of advanced, accurate Bible doctrine to reach ultra-super-grace.
Beware of dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision means to see, to be alert, to be wary, or to beware of the Judaizers – evangelists of evil, false teachers, apostles of apostasy. Since the Judaizers of Paul’s day fed on satanic principles and doctrines of evil, he calls them dogs (scavengers). They followed Paul and constantly tried to insert legalism where Paul had taught grace. The Judaizers passed themselves off as teachers of truth, but Paul identified them as scavengers, travelling in packs, and infecting the unsuspecting believer with their false doctrine of works. Evil is Satan’s policy. Evil workers described the Judaizers. The evil work here is the work which was in opposition to Paul’s ministry and the truth that he taught.
The final one is beware of the false circumcision is a reference to the ritual of circumcision as a means of getting to Heaven, the same way some people use water baptism today as a means of getting to Heaven. The ritual was distorted into something it was never intended to be. The teaching of these Judaizers was, “You have to be circumcised (keep the Mosaic Law) to be saved.” These were false apostles of evil that distorted grace by adding a ritual as a means of salvation. Circumcision had a legitimate function (identification of a male Jew) but not as a means of salvation and not as a means of spirituality. They made keeping the Mosaic Law a prerequisite for salvation, as well as for spirituality.
For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh refers to the royal family’s “true circumcision” (identification with Christ) as God’s possession. Those who are saved in the Church Age are Royal Family of God forever. As royalty we have been given things that never existed before in history like a completed Canon of Scripture for our spiritual growth and advance to super-grace and beyond.
Worship is a function of the Royal Priesthood. To listen to the teaching of the Word of God is the highest point of worship. The Royal Priesthood of the believer plus the fact that every believer in the Church Age is also Royal Family of God implies a unique form of worship in this dispensation. The uniqueness is worship in the Spirit of God and glory in the Spirit of Christ Jesus andrefers to believers in the Royal Family of God who worship under the filling of God the Holy Spirit. The filling of the Spirit is necessary for learning Bible doctrine and is the highest form of worship. The filling of the Spirit is also necessary in any other facet of worship like singing praises to God.
As a result of this worship we have the final phrase: glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Boasting (glory in) about Christ means love and appreciation. Put no confidence in the flesh means not to obey the sin nature through arrogance. It means to have no confidence in human abilities, Human Viewpoint Thinking or human talent or any other factor contrary to sound Bible doctrine.
Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. Paul had a greater basis for confidence in the flesh than any of his critics. He was pointing out that none of the people had attained the ability that he attained in Judaism, and yet they were trying to say that human success proves their spirituality. Paul, as Saul of Tarsus, had achieved much more than any of his critics. His critics were being used by Satan and were all caught up in the arrogance and self-righteousness of Judaism. Paul had left Judaism at a time when he was higher in Judaism than any of them, and in order to establish his point he had to first laid out his credentials when he was in Judaism, before he became a believer in Jesus Christ.
I far more:circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. Paul recognized his own human superiority over his critics in the field of Judaism. The Judaizers were looking down their nose at Paul and saying, “We are high in Judaism, and Paul, as a Christian, will never be a good Christian because he wasn’t good enough in Judaism.” Even though Paul had no confidence in the flesh, he certainly could make the case for once having such a confidence based on his rise in the ranks of Judaism. Therefore, Paul lists a number of his accomplishments as a zealous unbelieving Jew. Paul had to get these Christians to recognize the false doctrine of the Judaizers and the arrogance of Judaism and not be deterred by the false doctrine of the Judaizers.
Paul was circumcised by being born a Jew and was therefore circumcised on the eighth day which was considered the first day on which an operation was safe on a baby. Paul did not teach circumcision as necessary for salvation, for spirituality, and therefore the Judaizers were very antagonistic toward him and his message. Paul also documented his birthright as a Jew by telling everyone his tribal heritance – the tribe of Benjamin.
A Hebrew of Hebrews refers to Jewish nationalism and patriotism. It also refers to the conservative Jewish culture in contrast to the liberal Hellenistic culture. The Jews at this time in history were hopelessly divided. Some of them had become liberals and had embraced the Hellenistic culture brought in by Alexander the Great. Others stuck to the Torah, the Word of God as it existed for them, and they were conservative. It was good to be conservative, but it didn’t get one into Heaven, and this was what Paul meant here.
As to the Law, a Pharisee refers to Paul’s religious confidence. Under Judaism, Paul was trying to work his way to Heaven by keeping the Law of Moses and Jewish traditions. He went so far as to become a Pharisee, the party of the scribes in the Sanhedrin. The word Pharisee actually means a separatist, a conservative. They believed in keeping Israel separate from the other nations. The Pharisees represented religious confidence in legalism. Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was the worst sinner who ever lived because he was the most religious of the Pharisees. (I Timothy 1:15)
As to zeal, a persecutor of the church means Paul was more zealous in his persecution of the Church than any of his peers. Until the very moment of his salvation Paul had a tremendous desire, and that was to kill all Christians in existence. This was his obsession. Whereas the Judaizers opposed Paul and only persecuted grace-oriented believers, Paul persecuted all kinds of believers when he was a Judaizer.
As to the righteousness, which is in the Law, found blameless. Paul kept the Law of Moses as instructed by his Jewish teachers in his mind to the point of perfection. This reminds us of the Rich Young Ruler that came to Jesus wanting to know what he must do to have eternal life. Paul, like the rich ruler, could never have been justified by keeping the Law of Moses. As an unbelieving Jew, Paul was always arrogant and self-righteous. He kept the Mosaic Law and as he did his arrogance and self-righteous increased.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Things is a reference to human gain as a rising star in Judaism. Paul, as a spiritually mature believer took a look back at his life as Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee held in high regard by his mentors and realized that it was all rubbish in comparison to what he had gained as believer in Christ. This was the attitude of a believer who was occupied with Christ.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ means Paul was speaking as a super-grace believer on his way to ultra-super-grace. The loss he referred to, was the loss of human achievement, fame and recognition by the corrupt religious Jews. Count them but rubbish is a very strong word in Greek meaning refuse or human waste.
So that I may gain Christ means to continue to advance in his spiritual life until he reaches ultra-super-grace. Paul would not be detracted or deterred in any way from Bible doctrine by the great achievements he had as an unbeliever.
Ultra-Supergrace
Ultra-supergrace is the most advanced stage of spiritual maturity related to time on earth, history, and the Angelic Conflict. Once the believer breaks the spiritual maturity barrier through the consistent intake and application of Bible doctrine, he moves into a period where he receives the greatest attacks and testing from Satan and his world system. In ultra-supergrace, the believer receives maximum opposition from all the satanic forces of evil. This opposition is the highest honor a believer can receive from God. Passing these tests results in great future blessings/rewards in eternity. The principle of ultra-supergrace is deliverance from evil forces and eternal glory. (II Timothy 2:10) The spiritually mature believer in ultra-supergrace must get used to the idea that blessing doesn’t always mean lack of pressure. (I Peter 4:12-14) The concept of ultra-supergrace is found in Matthew 5:11. The advance to ultra-supergrace is taught in Philippians 3:12-16. The eternal decorations of the ultra-supergrace believer are the crown of life according to James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10, the crown of righteousness found in II Timothy 4:7-8 and the crown of glory for pastors in I Thessalonians 2:19-20, I Peter 5:4 and Philippians 4:1. Ultra-supergrace is preservation and deliverance from anything that life brings your way. (II Timothy 3:8-12)