[Linux4christians] Philippians‭ 3‬:1-11 (Thursday)

[Pastor David]

*Philippians‭ 3‬:1-11 (Thursday)*

*Commentary*

Paul warns the Philippians again of the false teachers, whom 
he labels as filthy dogs and evil workers, as there is 
nothing so bad as to lead people astray from Christ.

He notes one of the key problems is the Judaisers, though he 
does not name them as such, but instead refers to the 
chronic bad doctrine - insisting on the legalistic Old 
Testament requirement for physical circumcision of new 
believers as a condition of salvation when the 
"circumcision" God desires is a spiritual one - separating 
us from the world.

Paul notes that those who assert legitimacy for their false 
teaching through their worldly credentials would fall well 
short of his credentials - so even by that standard his 
teaching should be respected.  But he notes that all of his 
credentials should mean nothing to believers as in 
comparison to "knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" he considered 
the rest as "dung".

Paul concludes that his "aim" is to know Christ, to be 
empowered for eternity by His resurrection, to join His 
ministry by suffering to serve His cause, to die with 
certainty of purpose and promise then to be raised from the 
dead for eternity.  [Note:  Paul uses the phrase "... 
somehow to attain to the resurrection from the 	dead.", not 
intending to suggest that he did not know how or why he 
would be resurrected but to observe that there was a certain 
God-only-comprehends-perfectly "mystery" at the heart of 
resurrection.]

*Interaction*

*Consider* that the problem of false teachers is not new, it 
began in the Garden, persisted throughout the OT, and 
continued in the New Testament.  The Bible teaches that the 
enemy will come disguised as an "angel of light" - Paul 
warns us that some of those "angels" will even falsely claim 
to be ministers of the Word.

*Discuss* the way that Paul defines all things that 
interfere with knowledge of Christ, or that compete with our 
relationship with Him in any way, are "dung".

*Reflect* upon the meaning to you of Paul's stated life 
goal‭ to know Christ, to be empowered for eternity by His 
resurrection, to join His ministry by suffering to serve His 
cause, to die with certainty of purpose and promise then to 
be raised from the dead for eternity.

*Share* an example from your life where you "died" to the 
world in order to acquire a closer walk with Christ Jesus.

*Truth in Action*

‭Today I am choosing to identify a place in my life where an 
attitude, belief, habit, or tradition ‬interferes with my 
knowledge of Christ, or that competes with my relationship 
with Him in any way, and will give them no more comparative 
value than "dung".  I will ask a fellow believer to pray in 
agreement with me to alter my priorities to make Christ 
Jesus first in all things and all ways.

*Be Specific*  _______________________________________


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Friday's text will be: Philippians‭ 3‬:12-21
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Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
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