PHILIPPIANS LESSON 5


     We will begin this lesson in Philippians 3:1 "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."

     The word, "finally", here, indicates that this is summing up the
things he had said to them in the last chapter. He sent Aphroditus,
and wanted to send Timothy to them to keep them instructed in the ways
he had started them in.  He is saying, this letter of instruction is
not hard to write, because he loves them and they know that he loves
them. Anything he would say, would be well received, because they know
what he would say would be in the way of instruction, not to criticize
them, but to help them.

     Philippians 3:2 "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware
of the concision."

     "Dogs" is not speaking of an animal, but of the lost Gentile
world. The main thing that Paul is warning them against in this, is
the Judaizers who were trying to put them back under the law. They
appear in the natural to be believers in Christ, when, in fact, they
have not given up Judaism. Paul is saying, do not get back into the
flesh religion. Christianity is of the spirit, not the flesh.

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

     The circumcision of Christians is of the heart. This circumcision
is not of the flesh, but the cutting away of the lust of the flesh
from around the heart. God is a Spirit, and those that worship Him
must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Flesh religion is pertaining
to the ordinances of the law. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is
the maid child. Jesus fulfilled the law completely, when He gave His
body and blood on the cross in full payment. We are no longer under
the law. Christians are living in the grace of God. Christ in us is
our hope of glory. The only rejoicing a Christian has is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.

     Philippians 3:4 "Though I might also have confidence in the
flesh.  If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust
in the flesh, I more:"

     Paul had been a man of the law. He had been a Pharisee of the
Pharisees. He had confidence in the fact that he had been circumcised
the eighth day, and had lived by the law of Moses. God brought a
greater than Moses, when He brought His only Son to bring us grace
from the law. The law is not done away with, just fulfilled. Paul is
saying here, if the flesh could save you, I would have been saved by
the flesh. He learned better on the road to Damascus. Galatians 2:21 I
do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the
law, then Christ is dead in vain. Hebrews 10:1 "For the law having a
shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things,
can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year
continually make the comers thereunto perfect." The law was fulfilled
in Jesus' crucifixion.

     Philippians 3:5 "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;"

     Paul is telling them that he had been more of a Jew than any of
them, but he realized that was not the way to salvation. All of the
things Paul said in verse 5 were true, but that was still not the way
to heaven.

     Philippians 3:6 "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

     Paul had kept the very letter of the Mosaic law. He thought he
was doing God a favor when he persecuted the Christians. Paul was so
sincere in what he was doing, that Jesus appeared to Paul in a very
bright Light, so that Paul would believe Him. Paul believed and
changed completely. Now, he is saying that these who were promoting
Judaism must change too, if they desire to be saved. The old way is
not the true way to God.

     Philippians 3:7 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted
loss for Christ."

     Paul is saying, here, that he gave all of his position and former
beliefs up to follow Christ. At one time, Paul had thought all of
those things to be important, but now he has learned a better way.

     Philippians 3:8 "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 was willing to turn his back on all the things he had been
taught as a youth. He did not count anything in this world valuable
enough to keep him from Christ. The Light of the world had shined in
the heart of Paul, and he would never be the same again. Things of
this world meant absolutely nothing to Paul, in comparison with
Christ. The greatest possession any person can have, is Jesus Christ.
Paul appreciated the greatness of being allowed to know Jesus Christ
in reality.

     Philippians 3:9 "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:"

     Until Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he depended on his
keeping the law to make him righteous before God. When the great Light
of Jesus Christ shined on Paul, it made him see more clearly that he
would never be righteous enough in himself to please God. Paul
received the righteousness of Christ as a free gift. The righteousness
of Christ, through the washing in the blood of Jesus Christ, is the
only righteousness that will put us in right standing with the Father
God. Jesus took our sin and clothed us in His righteousness, if we are
truly Christians.

     Philippians 3:10 "That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death;"

     The eyes of his understanding had been opened, and he could see
clearly the Lord Jesus Christ. To know Him is to believe in Him. The
following Scriptures is how we must know Him.  "Romans 10:9 That if
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved." Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
With His blood, He has saved us and with His power He has raised us.
Because Jesus rose from the grave, we will rise , if we believe. Very
few know the fellowship of His suffering. Paul thought it a privilege
to suffer for Christ. To be able to share in His resurrection, we must
share in His death. The flesh must die for the Spirit to live. Jesus
is the Quickening Spirit, which makes all believers alive.

     Philippians 3:11 "If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead."

     Paul is humbly stating that his hope, as the hope of all
believers, is the resurrection. Because Jesus lives, we shall live
also.

     Philippians 3:12 "Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that
for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."

     Paul, now, realizes that by his own efforts, he could not reach
heaven. Everlasting life is a gift bestowed on all who believe. We see
in the next Scripture what Paul is attempting to do. II Peter 3:18
"But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever.  Amen."

     Philippians 3:13 "Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are
before,"

     Paul was like many of us. When he looked back to what he had done
against the Christians, and in turn against Christ, it was a great
sorrow to him. He had to forget about the past and do all he could do
good in the future. Not any of us can change the past. It is useless
to look back, unless we use it as a lesson. Start with this day and
live for Jesus. We can look forward and try to do all we can that it
is good. The Lord Jesus wiped the slate clean, when He forgave us of
all of our sins. It is as if that part of our life never was. We
become a new creature in Christ. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son
of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

     Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

     God is calling everyone to a better life in the heavens. The
calling of God, here, is speaking of the work Paul would do to bring
the gospel of the Lord to the Gentile world. We are like Paul, in the
fact that we can not fulfill the call on our life within ourself. The
only way we can live the life God would have us to live is let the
Lord Jesus live through us. Christ in us is the hope of glory. The
Holy Spirit must lead and guide us for this to become a reality.

     Philippians 3:15 "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."

     We were reading in the verse above how Paul would grow in the
Lord. This, then is saying, if he is to be a mature {perfect}
Christian, he must be guided by the mind of Christ. Jesus {the Light}
will brighten the path that we are to walk for us. He will lead us
down this path that leads to everlasting life. If we stumble and fall,
He will help us up, and we will walk again. If you are truly
interested in serving God, He will show you the way. Seek, and you
shall find God. Ask, and it shall be given unto you. Knock, and it
shall be opened unto you. Jesus is the door we must go through to
reach our heavenly home.

     Philippians 3:16 "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,
let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing."

     In just a few words, this is saying, walk in the salvation you
have received. Walk the narrow path of righteousness.

     Philippians 3:17 "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark
them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample."

     Paul tells them, here, that he is walking that path. If they need
someone to go with, just follow him.

     Philippians 3:18 "(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:"

     There are two very different paths a person may choose to walk in
this life. The straight and narrow path leads to everlasting life in
God. The broad path leads to destruction. The sad thing is that many
who profess to know Christ walk too broad a path.

     Philippians 3:19 "Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is
their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly
things.)"

     The broad path that leads to destruction, is a path pleasing to
the flesh of man. The flesh of man must be crucified, so that the
spirit of man can follow God on the narrow path. In these lessons, I
have explained what I believe about mankind. We are a spirit which
dwells in a house of flesh. Our soul will either be ruled by the flesh
and its desires, or it will be ruled by our spirit which wants to
worship God. Romans 8:13 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall
die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye
shall live."

     Philippians 3:20 "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence
also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

     The true Christian cares very little for the things of the earth.
He is laying up treasures in heaven. This is just saying that
believers in Christ are to live a heavenly minded life here on the
earth. We watch the eastern sky for the coming of our Saviour Jesus
Christ our Lord.

     Philippians 3:21 "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."

     Thank goodness, we shed this old body of flesh which has caused
us so much trouble, and take on a heavenly body. The best explanation
of this I can give is in the following Scripture. I Corinthians 15:44
"It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a
natural body, and there is a spiritual body."  Praise God this natural
body will return to the dust that it came from and we will have a new
heavenly body. Read all the rest of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 beginning
with the 35th verse to get the full picture.





















                        Philippians 5 Questions


1.  Finally, my brethren, __________ in the Lord.
2.  What does "finally" in verse 1 indicate?
3.  Why had Paul wanted to send Timothy to these Philippians?
4.  In verse 2, who did he warn them to beware of?
5.  Who are the "dogs" in verse 2?
6.  What was the real thing Paul was telling them to beware of?
7.  Who are the true circumcision?
8.  The circumcision of a Christian is of the ________.
9.  Who is the maid child?
10. What is our hope of glory?
11. The law is not done away with, but _____________.
12. When did Paul learn better than to depend on the flesh?
13. Quote Galatians chapter 2 verse 21.
14. The law was fulfilled in Jesus' _______________.
15. Give the description of Paul from verse 5.
16. Had Paul kept the Mosaic law?
17. What showed his zeal?
18. What did Paul give his position and former beliefs up for?
19. What had happened to Paul, so he would never be the same again?
20. What is the only righteousness God will accept?
21. Quote Philippians chapter 3 verse 10.
22. Quote Romans chapter 10 verse 10.
23. What is the hope of the believers?
24. Quote 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 18.
25. When we receive Jesus, the sin in our life is gone, as if it had
    never ________.
26. Quote Galatians chapter 2 verse 20.
27. How is the only way to be perfect?
28. What is verse 16 saying?
29. What are the two different paths a person may choose to walk?
30. The ______ _________ cares very little for the things of this
    earth.
31. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 44.