June 9, 2013
Evening Service

·         We are reviewing the Scriptures that speak concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We began with Luke telling us his account of the Lord being taken up into the clouds, and the angels that stood by, said, He would come back in like manner.  So we wondered how the Apostles used this in their teaching.  So, we started with Peter, and now we are with the Apostle Paul.  Last Sunday morning we looked at the resurrection chapter, which is ICor. 15.  The thing we must not do is go beyond what is Thus Saith the Lord, and allow speculation to guide our thinking.  We must stay with what has been given us for every subject, and topic.  ICor. 15 is the most revealing portion of Scripture we have to describe the end time.  Another good one is IThess. 4:13-18.

 

This evening we want to look at what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi.  Philippi is located in the northern section of Greece, in Macedonia.  This is where Paul first went after seeing the vision of a man saying come over to us.  This is where Apoll0nia, Berea, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Athens are located. 

 

Php 3:1-21  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.  (2)  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 

·         Dogs;  They are held as unclean, and to call one a dog is a much stronger expression of contempt there than with us; 1Sa_17:43; 2Ki_8:13. The Jews called the pagan dogs, and the Muslims call Jews and Christians by the same name. The term dog also is used to denote a person that is shameless, impudent, malignant, snarling, dissatisfied, and contentious, and is evidently so employed here.

·         Evil workers;  The admonition from Paul is to shun the very appearance of evil.

·         In reference to the concision;  The reference here is, doubtless, to Judaizing teachers, and the idea is, that they were contentious, troublesome, dissatisfied, and would produce disturbance.

(3) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

·         Here Paul separates the ones that tried to please God by keeping the law, and those that had accepted the atoning work of Christ on calvary.  Christians.  We  walk by faith and not by sight.

(4)  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh ( or works ). If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 

ALL THE FOLLOWING MEANT A LOT TO THE JEWS;

(5)  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  (6)  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  (7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

·         All the prestige that he had worked for to be the best Pharisee he could be, he is throwing under the bus.  Turning his back on all that was counted dear by him, and his people.  He has found something far greater.  NO ONE, OR NO THING WILL TAKE AWAY WHAT HE EXPERIENCED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS.

(8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss 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, 

·         Paul told the Colossians;  “you are complete in Him.”  Do you realize how conclusive that is?  Once I get into Christ, I am complete in the eyes of God.  How do I get into Christ?  We are baptized into Christ by the one Christian baptism.  Eph. 4.

·         Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

 

Once I gain Christ then I want to;

(9)  And be 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: 

·         Paul’s letter to the Romans is probably the best letter to read concerning faith.  But it is all through his letters.

·         Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  So the righteousness of God by faith is something that I hope for, but not seen.  Jesus is my righteousness, I am complete in Him.  1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

(10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

·         Intimate, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.  A friend that sticks closer than a brother.  We get this type of a relationship through much prayer, and Bible study.

(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:

·         Paul is setting the record straight concerning a false teaching that had been going around in the churches.  Some were saying that the resurrection had already happened.  2Ti 2:18  who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and who overthrow the faith of some.

·         I can see by the Apostle’s teaching on baptism, that it is a death, burial, and resurrection for us, that some might take it wrong.

·         Then he admits his imperfections.  Two things;  We are perfect in Christ, but our heavenly perfection won’t come until this ole body will be changed like unto His glorious body.

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:

·         I’m not there yet, but.

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. 

·         Like any dedicated athlete he is doing everything possible to reach the final goal.  Paul said it like this in the Ephesian letter;  Paul was speaking concerning the ministry that God placed in the church;  Eph 4:13  And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

 

(15)  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. 

·         Here again the Apostle cries out for unity from us all.

(17)  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  (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 mind earthly things.) 

·         All Paul’s life God was grooming him to be the Apostle to the gentiles.  All his learning, and knowledge concerning Judaism, was directed by God.  His persecution of the church, God allowed to happen.  His watching Stephen, the first martyr of the church, die, God used this to prick his heart, for a tenderness toward Jesus of Nazareth.  Then, his conversion on the road to Damascus, Syria, and his time spent with Ananias, his receiving the Holy Ghost, and being baptized.  GOD WAS IN CONTROL ALL THE TIME.  EVERYTHING WAS COMPLETED RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.

(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.