 Verses 3:1-3…  There was good cause for the Philippians to “rejoice in the Lord.”  Other important admonitions were needed by these faithful saints in addition to those already given earlier in the epistle.  He decided to repeat some of the “same things” he had told them either at an earlier time or earlier in this letter he was now writing to them. Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:1-3…  Peter also thought it right to “stir up” the minds of brethren about certain truths, even though they knew them and were “established” in them (2Pet. 1:12-15).  The Philippians should give extreme caution about Judaizing teachers who had already come or who might yet come into their midst with the troubling doctrine that sought the subjection of Gentiles to the Law of Moses. Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:1-3…  These false brethren could be characterized as:  Dogs  Evil workers  The mutilation Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:1-3…  The surest defense against a false circumcision was an understanding of the true circumcision.  These spiritual Jews had three characteristics…  They worshipped God in the Spirit  They rejoiced in Christ Jesus  They had no confidence in the flesh Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:4-11…  No one should charge Paul with insincerity in his stand against trusting in the flesh.  Several characteristics qualified Paul as a “pureblooded” Jew:  He was circumcised when eight days old according to the covenant God made with Abraham prior to the giving of the Law.  He was of the tribe of Benjamin Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:4-11…  No one should charge Paul with insincerity in his stand against trusting in the flesh.  Several characteristics qualified Paul as a “pureblooded” Jew:  He was a Hebrew of [the] Hebrews.  He was a Pharisee.  He was zealous for the Law and persecuted the church in its behalf. Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:4-11…  No one should charge Paul with insincerity in his stand against trusting in the flesh.  Several characteristics qualified Paul as a “pureblooded” Jew:  He was “blameless” when it came to keeping the Law.  They were “gain” to him religiously, politically, and socially among his countrymen. Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:4-11…  However, the converted Saul soon saw that every “gain” in the Jews’ religion was really a “loss” in the religion of Christ.  What he had once seen as “gain” was now nothing more than “rubbish.”  “Gain” for Paul was now in Christ rather than in the things he had formerly valued. Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:4-11…  Gaining Christ would result in “being found” in Christ.  He would demonstrate his attachment to Christ by displaying in his life the righteousness outlined in the gospel he now preached rather than in the Law upon which he had once depended for righteousness. Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6

 Verses 3:4-11…  His new righteousness through faith would bring a rich reward…  He would know Christ.  He would know the power of the resurrection  He would know the fellowship of His sufferings  He would attain to the resurrection from the dead Philippians – Christ In The Church Lesson 6