OUR FATHER WHOM WE WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT

The Apostle Paul begins to conclude his letter to the Phillippians in chapter 3 verses 1 - 11.

He lets them know that even though he is writting the same things to them repeatedly, it is not tedious for him because he knows it is an important safety measure for them.

He cautions them to be alert for those he referred to as dogs (those who return to their vomit and re-instate what they should have already abandoned) for example those who wanted to return to the law of circumcision as a marker of righteousness.  Paul explains that in Christ, the circumcision is a spiritual separation from the flesh by those who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in the Lord Jesus and have discarded the affairs of the flesh. 

Paul tells his readers that if following the law of Moses were the standard to follow, he would be at the top of the class because he had fulfilled all the elements of the law a jew who was born from the tribe of Benjamin and circumcised in the flesh when he was eight day old as the law prescribed. He was faultless under the law and yet he, in the light of the glory of Christ, considered all these works of law as rubbish. 

If Paul, a perfect practitioner of the law of Moses was glad to dump the standard of law of Moses for the knowledge of the excellencies of Jesus Christ the Lord, how much more should we, who do not have the pedigree and record of attainment in the matters of the law, do the same.

1 Finally (Some translations say ˋFurtherˋ), my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 

Paul, having his own righteousness rooted in the law, was glad to lose everything so that he could be found in Christ with his righteousness being gained through faith in Christ because he could know Him and the power of His ressurection and share with Jesus in suffering even to death so that he would hiself attain the ressurection from the dead in Christ.

Amen.

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