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Philippians 3:1-11. Bible Note

That I May Gain Christ

Key Verses 08: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”.

V. 1-3 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. ² Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

What should be our goal for our spiritual life? Christain life is to seek Christ and know Christ. To know the value and worth of knowing Christ and participating in his suffering. And the joy of knowing Christ may overflow our lives and we can live joyful and powerful life. We can learn the fundamental life for Christian life.

What does the apostle Paul exhort the brothers in Philippi (1a)? What does ‘rejoice in the Lord’ mean, and why is it so important (1b)?

Q1 A. What does the apostle Paul exhort the brothers in Philippi (1a)?

Rejoice in the Lord. It is not just to rejoice but rejoice “in the Lord”. It is easy to be sorrowful and gloomy in the sufferings of life for Christians.

Q1B. What does ‘rejoice in the Lord’ mean, and why is it so important (1b)?

“In the Lord” means by believing in Jesus and remembering Jesus and what he has done for us.

It is safe for them. Safe from what? From Satan’s work such as complaining, doubting, being bitter, accusing, condemning, and being down.

But the Holy Spirit wants us to rejoice. We can rejoice only in the Lord. When Jesus Christ is in us we can rejoice all the time.

Additional note for question 1.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Additional question: What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord, and why is it important? When Paul thinks something is important, he repeatedly says. So in many different places in his letters, he always emphasized “rejoice” in the Lord. He wrote the same things to the Philippians for their safety.

One person said one day her nun teacher came to the class late. Then the teacher said her oldest nun died that morning. And her all the nuns and her friends sang her favorite hymns together for a while, and that was why she was late for her class. In addition, she said, “We die for good”.

Paul knew that believers, including Philippians, go through many challenges and difficulties. Outside in Jesus, we cannot rejoice because there was a lot of persecution and hardship. There is a lot of discouragement, troubles, and many negative things for Christians. So it is for Christians to be discouraged.

“In the Lord” means “in what Christ has done for us”. All the things God did through Jesus Christ. When we think about what God has done and what he has given to us through Jesus, we can rejoice all the time. God gave us so many things. If we do not value those things, we cannot be joyful. It is a problem. For God gave us all things necessary for our joy and happiness. So in Christ Jesus, we have enough reason to be joyful. God wants us to be joyful, remembering all the things he gave us through Jesus Christ.

The things we have in Christ Jesus are perfect salvation, eternal life, sin forgiveness, God as our Father, the promise of the Holy Spirit, the promise to take care of us, and provide us with all our needs. We have everything in Christ.

Additional question: Why did Paul want them to rejoice? What is it important to rejoice?

People do not like sorrowful people. In order to rejoice, we need to think about Jesus. One person said she was unfairly blamed a lot. Then she felt bad. When she remembered Jesus, who was unfairly blamed on the cross, she could find peace, and her emotions came calm.

Another person says if a person is rejoicing, he or she can overcome 80% of sickness.

Joy makes us strong and powerful. Joy in Christ helps us to overcome all challenges and hardships. It even helps our physical health. It helps us spiritually. 80% of our sickness comes from stress. One person’s mother sang her favorite 3 songs all the time. When she was young, she hated her mother’s songs. But she found she had the same gene. Her joyful mother does not have Alzheimer although she is well over 90.

To rejoice is safe for Christians. It protects them from Satan’s attack. We can easily be sad, sorrowful, and hopeless. Then, immediately, Satan attacks us and shoots flaming arrows of doubts, bitterness, and fear. But when we rejoice in the Lord, we can be victorious against all of Satan’s attacks.

“Rejoice in the Lord” is really a secret for us to be strong and victorious. If we are doubtful, sorrowful, we need to come to Jesus and think about Jesus and what he has done for us and how much he has done for us.

Who does Paul tell the Philippians to look out for and who are they (2)? Why does Paul give warning to look out for those who mutilate the flesh?

Q2 A. Who does Paul tell the Philippians to look out for and who are they (2)?

The dogs, the evildoers, those who mutilate the flesh. They refer to the circumcision group, people who put confidence in the circumcision. They believe Jewish Christians should be circumcised to be saved.

Q2 B. Why does Paul give warning to look out for those who mutilate the flesh?

Because he did not want the Philippians to be influenced by their teaching and lose their salvation by having confidence in the flesh rather than confidence in what Jesus did for them.

Who is the true circumcision (3; Rom 2:29)? How is circumcision of the flesh different from the true circumcision? Why might it be difficult to switch to the true circumcision?

Q3 A. Who is the true circumcision (3; Rom 2:29)?

The true circumcision is those who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Paul taught that circumcision is a matter of the heart by the Spirit, not by the letter. The circumcision in the flesh by human hands does not count before God. God would not praise those who are physically circumcised but not inwardly in their hearts by the Spirit of God.

Romans 2:29 “²⁹ But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”

Q3 B. How is circumcision of the flesh different from the true circumcision?

The circumcision of the flesh is done on the human body by human hands. It does not change anything in the heart of men.

The true circumcision is the circumcision of the heart by the Holy Spirit. There is a real repentance and change of heart for those who are circumcised. Their practical lives will be changed.

Q3 C. Why might it be difficult to switch to the true circumcision?

Because the true circumcision involves true repentance and true change of the heart, cutting off one’s sin in true repentance, and bearing the fruit of repentance.

Additional notes for questions 2 and 3.

² Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

“Dogs” refer to Judaisers in the church. They were Jewish Christians in the church. They argue that for our salvation, Jesus Christ is not enough. To make one’s salvation complete, he or she needs to follow all the Old Testament traditions, including circumcision. They did not say Jesus is not the Son of God. But on top of Jesus, they claimed to follow all the laws in OT. Because of their claims, Gentile Christians were forced to undergo circumcision and follow Jewish traditions. That was what was happening. So Paul gave them a very strong warning against them.

He called them “dogs”, “evil doers”, and “mutilators of the flesh”. In OT, “dogs” were despised animals, and false prophets were called ‘dogs’. Paul saw that circumcision is mutilating the flesh. There is no value. It is useless. In Jesus Christ, circumcision is useless and empty.

Why did he use such harsh words as “dogs” to Judaisers? Why did he call them “dogs’ and “evil doers”?

³ For we are the circumcision. Here “we” refers to those who believe in Christ alone.

who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

“Glory in Christ Jesus’ means Jesus’ salvation and his grace. Jesus is the righteousness. He is forgiveness. God gave all through Jesus Christ.

Those who worship God by the Holy Spirit and glory in Christ Jesus.

Paul identified Judaizers as those who put confidence in the flesh. They believed in their own strength, effort, and merit instead of relying on Jesus and what he has done. So Paul called them “dogs”, “evil doers”, and “mutilaters of flesh”

Additional questions: What can we learn from this? Why did Paul call them in harsh words, and true circumcision is no confidence in the flesh?

Because Judaiser’s claim makes what Jesus has done useless and invalid. Their claim makes crucifixion nothing. I found that this kind of tendency is in me, and it comes up in my thoughts all the time. For example, we can easily rely on what we do (achieve) in our practical life as the basis for our confidence instead of what Jesus has done for us. When others do not honor us or accuse us, we can easily be angry. Why? It is because we put my confidence in what we did rather than what Jesus did for us.

Paul said their claim is so evil. Until Judaiser appeared in the Philippian church, the Gentile believers were so joyful and thankful by putting their trust in Jesus alone. Then Judaisers came and said, “Oh, it is not enough for your salvation. You should do all the Jewish traditions as well.” Then the Gentile believers began to defend on traditions such as circumcision. It is easy for us to rely on visible things such as our actions or what we have achieved. Jesus and what he has done are invisible. But circumcision is visible. So it is easy to rely on what we see instead of what we do not see, including the words of God.

By letting Jesus out, the Judaisers took away the gospel. They put a heavy burden of the law on Gentile believers. The Gentile believers lost their freedom in Christ, and they were bounded by Jewish laws, and they became like Jews.

Before legalism came, Christians in Philippi served God out of love. Now due to Judaisers’ bad influence, Christians were doing out of obligation, and now they took what they did as their own credit (confidence in the flesh).

“Glory in Christ Jesus” means God’s glory is revealed in Christ. We can say such glory is ‘grace’ given to Jesus. “Glory in Christ Jesus” means His mercy, forgiveness, and his righteousness. We serve God based on all of that God has given us in Christ Jesus. Worship God in spirit and truth. “Truth” refers to the gospel truth - what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

The true worshippers really worship God, relying on God’s grace. Judaisers really misled people. So they were evil before God. The Philippian church is the Gentile church. Then, Jewish people joined the Philippian church and argued that they should be circumcized.

True circumcision is the circumcision in our hearts. True circumcision refers to those who worship God and glory in Christ. “Glory in Christ Jesus” means to honor Christ and praise on what Jesus has done. We were saved from “the curse of the law”

How do we serve God in the glory of Christ Jesus? Am I serving God, relying on the Holy Spirit and glory in Christ Jesus? We need to ask ourselves.

V. 4-8

⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Why does Paul have more reasons to have confidence in flesh if he chooses to trust in the flesh? (4-6)

Q4 A. Why does Paul have more reasons to have confidence in flesh if he chooses to trust in the flesh? (4-6)

Because he was excelling in many ways to put confidence in the flesh more than anyone else.

Why did Paul count whatever he had gained as a loss? (7b-8a) In what ways is knowing Christ Jesus the surpassing worth? (Col. 2:2-3; John 17:3) Why do you think it is needed to lose all things and count them as rubbish in order to gain Christ? (8b)

Q5 A. Why did Paul count whatever he had gained as a loss? (7b-8a)

Because they can be a hindrance and stumbling block for him to know Christ, or for the sake of Christ.

Q5 B. In what ways is knowing Christ Jesus the surpassing worth? (Col. 2:2-3; John 17:3)

It is God’s will for us to be conformed to Christ, even to be predestined. (Rom 8:29) “²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Rom 8:29)

Knowing Christ is the eternal life, and we can know the Father through knowing Christ. As if there is nothing more precious than Christ so also was there nothing more precious than knowing Christ.

^“2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col 2:2-3)

^“3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

Q5 C. Why do you think it is needed to lose all things and count them as rubbish in order to gain Christ? (8b)

Because he wanted to know Christ, and all other things can be obstacles in

knowing Christ.

Additional note for questions 4 & 5.

Although Paul followed Jesus, he was better than anyone else in terms of confidenceence in the flesh. If Paul did not have this kind of confidence in the flesh, Judaisers could say, “Oh, you say this because you do not have it.” But Paul said he was circumcised on the eighth day. Of the people of Israel who did not have any mixed blood. The tribe of Benjamin - To the Israelites, after Solomon’s kingdom was divided only Benjamin and Judah kept their purity and did not have blood mixed. A Hebrew of Hebrews - He was a really authentic Jew. Hebrews all follow Jewish tradition. Pharisee - who observed the law so strictly. Persecutor of the church - he had a great zeal for Judaism. Paul was advancing in Judaism among all Judaisers. Righteousness under the law, blameless - he kept all the law. So no one could boast before him.

⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

He made a great effort to achieve things (confidence in the flesh). But now he wants to throw away all of them. How can a person change 180 degrees? They must have some impactful things happened to him. He was proud of all of his achievements. It was a dramatic change.

In verses 7 and 8, he explained why he threw away all of these things.

In order to gain Christ, he regarded them as rubbish (dung). No one wants to keep dung. We want to throw it away as soon as possible.

Additional question: What can you learn from this?

Our mind cannot keep two things as a priority. Until Paul met Christ, he valued these things. To him, his confidence in the flesh was the biggest value. That was why he made every effort and devoted his whole life to achieving these things. Because they were most valuable to him. After achieving these things, he was proud of them. They also put him in a high position in his society. But after meeting Christ, he found all he had was like trash, nothing.

Because things in Jesus Christ have surpassing worth. Paul decided to throw away all these things not because others had pushed him, but it happened naturally.

When someone’s value system is changed, it is not because someone pushes but it happens naturally. That is why to him, when he saw Judaisers who were holding such things, he was saying, “You are so foolish. You are holding trash.”
“Count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ.” Those things were a hindrance to Paul. So he couldn’t hold both. So he has to throw it away. The parable of the great pearl shows the same truth. He decided to sell everything he had and purchased the pearl. Paul did the same thing.

“Because everything we need” is “in Christ”. They include salvation and whatever makes us happy. Paul found everything in Christ. So he did not need to seek anything else. Some Christians forgot about gaining Christ as their life goal and became bitter. When Christ is set aside, they can be bitter.

To Paul, those who have Christ have everything because all other things are nothing compared to Christ. But they say, “I need these things too” in addition to Christ. Those who know the value of Christ know all other things are rubbish.

To Paul, Christ is everything. So he was ready to throw away everything, including recognition from others. To him, having Christ is all. His focus and goal for Christian life is to gain Christ. To gain Christ he threw away all things. Those who gain Christ become richer and richer before God.

The rich young man could not give up his great wealth when he had to give up everything in order to follow Jesus. He implied to Jesus, “I want to follow you. But I cannot have give up all other things.”

Paul really encouraged the Philippians to gain Christ instead of holding all other things. You are foolish if you hold them because they become a hindrance to gaining Christ.

V.9-11

⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

What does it mean to be found in Jesus? (9a) Where does our righteousness come from and how do we obtain it? (9) How does knowing where our righteousness come from prevent us from putting confidence in our flesh?

Q6 A. What does it mean to be found in Jesus? (9a)

It means to be found in Jesus not having the righteousness that comes from the law but the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.

Q6 B. Where does our righteousness come from and how do we obtain it? (9)

Our righteousness comes from Christ (what he has done for us), and we can obtain it only through believing what he has done.

Q6 C. How does knowing where our righteousness come from prevent us from putting confidence in our flesh?

It will help us to know what our foundation is. It will lead us not to put confidence in our flesh. Ultimately, we cannot put our confidence in two places but only one place.

What does it mean to know the power of Jesus' resurrection? (10a) Why does Paul want to become like Jesus in his death, what he is ultimately trying to obtain? (10b,11)

Q7 A. What does it mean to know the power of Jesus' resurrection? (10a)

To experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection in one’s personal life.

Q7 B. Why does Paul want to become like Jesus in his death, what he is ultimately trying to obtain? (10b,11)

Resurrection from the dead. He suffered to attain to the resurrection from the dead. It was to know Christ.

Additional notes for questions 6 & 7

“Be found in him” - We identify ourselves in Jesus Christ.

not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - two kinds of righteousness. Our own righteousness and the righteousness from God or the righteousness given by God. The first is my own righteousness. It comes from the law (observing the law). Through obedience to the law, we get credit because we build up our own righteousness. It is the righteousness we achieve.

For “the righteousness from the law” we should achieve it.

“Righteousness from God” - It is the righteousness given by God. We receive it through our faith. We obtain it through our faith. This righteousness from God does not involve our work. It is given to us from God 100%. All credit goes to God because he gives it to us.

The difference between our own righteousness and righteousness from God. Our own “righteousness from law” is not perfect. No one can be perfectly righteous based on their own righteousness. Law found our sin, and we found our condemnation through the law. The righteousness from the law is limited and poor.

“Righteousness from God” is perfect righteousness and eternal. This perfect righteousness comes from God. We receive it only through faith in Jesus Christ. To get this perfect righteousness from God, we just need faith in Christ Jesus alone.

“The greatest blessing from Christ” is the perfect righteousness from God. We need to rely on the righteousness of God. It shows we really need to live by faith from the beginning to the end.

The Gentile Christians were enjoying perfect righteousness from God without any burden. But these Judaisers bound them with laws.

For our Christian life, we really need to rely on righteousness from God and enjoy freedom.

⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Additional questions: Verse 10 shows the picture of Christian life, and how they live. Any thoughts or ideas? What does it mean to know Jesus’ resurrection, and why is it related to his suffering and death?

Verses 10 and 11 show a real picture of Christians who want to know Christ more. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection”.

Additional question: How can we know the power of his resurrection?

One person leared the power of resurrection through her husband. Her husband went to one of the best high schools and graduated. But he failed in mediocre college with a GPA of 2.0. He could not even go to nursing school. But he went to “Resurrection University Nursing” and graduated with a GPA in 3.0 over one year. In his work, out of his bitterness and distress, he experienced the resurrection power and experienced victory on Jesus every day in his work in ICU.

The power of the resurrection of Jesus destroyed the power of death and sin. The power of Jesus’ resurrection is working in us through the power of the Holy Spirit in our present time.

So believers can experience the power of resurrection in three ways.

First of all, Christians can overcome the power of sin and death.

Secondly, Christians can experience life from God. They can experience new life, which makse them alive.

Thirdly, the power of Jesus’ resurrection has transforming power. By dying and rising again, he transformed us. All through our lives, we can live a life with the resurrection power. Even in terrible circumstances, we can be victorious through the power of Jesus' resurrection because the power of life is working in Christians, and the power of transformation is working for Christians.

Because of the power of the resurrection, Christians can live a victorious life. We Christians should be able to live a very powerful, victorious and fruitful life. The power of resurrection of Jesus is different from our own power, the power from us.

Paul lived for future resurrection. To attain resurrection from the dead. Paul participated in the death of Jesus to achieve the resurrection from death.

Paul shows that a real Christian lives by faith in God. Paul really wanted to know the power of resurrection every day by participating in the suffering of Jesus. So we can really make our clear goal, which is to gain Christ and know Christ more and more through our faith and knowing the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

Then Christian’s life will be filled with joy of knowing Christ more and more. A Christians life is a very joyful life.

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