JASON MARTIN
PHILIPPIANS / Philippians 3
Read Philippians 3:1.
• Paul is saying that He’s repeating himself for their own good. To emphasize something important.
Read Philippians 3:2.
• The Judiazers are at it again. (dogs, evil-doers, mutilators)
• They claimed faith in Jesus - but taught that Gentiles had to also follow the Jewish Laws and customs in order to be saved. (The ‘Jerusalem Council’ in Acts 15 addressed this exact thing.)
• They would say you need faith in Jesus - but ALSO circumcision, food laws, etc....
Read Philippians 3:3.
• Circumcision was the sign of the covenant that YHWH made with Abraham.
• It’s what set the Hebrews apart from the rest of the nations long before the Law of Moses.
• But it was always a symbol of something more than cutting flesh.
• True circumcision is of the heart, even during the days of Moses.
• Deuteronomy 30:6 “6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.”
• Jesus called this the greatest commandment in (Matthew 22:38, 36-40)
• Living a life according to the statutes of what God decides is either right or wrong has always been the call.
• We didn’t purchase the relationship, He did. He bought us with His own blood. Obedience is the fruit of our relationship with the LORD - not the purchase price.
• But these people kept wanting a list of boxes they could check to earn salvation.
• People still try to check a bunch of boxes for salvation; Did you;
• Get circumcised?
• Follow the correct Sabbath rituals?
• Give the correct amount of money?
• Take part in the correct ceremonies together?
• But salvation isn’t earned - it’s given......... By Grace......, Through Faith.......
• Then we prove it by our walk......
• Scripture says God wants to cut the useless things from our heart and we will love Him - and that relationship - is what gives life.
• Paul has no confidence that he will be saved because of the good things he’s done and boxes that he’s checked. He goes on to say - if it were about checking boxes, I'd check more than all of them.
Read Philippians 3:4-6. Spreadsheet.
• Paul checked all the boxes..
Read Philippians 3:7-9
• Some day every one of us will take our last breath. Then we will give an account for the things we have done in this life. Perfection is the standard we will be judged against;
• If we rely on the boxes we’ve checked, rather than the righteousness of Christ - knowing and following Him - we become like the Judaizers.
• This is not a small thing that ended during Paul’s time.
• The temptation of the Judaizers is remains to this day. We can drift towards trying to earn assurance by checking boxes.
• Faith is the root of our salvation, our works (our walk) is the fruit of our salvation.
• Is our life proof that we believe the things we say - or do we just check things off the list to cover ourselves?
• Our righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not anything we did. Paul didn’t leave behind a life of rebellion and worldly living.....he left his confidence in what he accomplished through his religion
Read Philippians 3:10-11.
• Not just know about Him..
• Not just knowing doctrine...
• Not just knowing rules...
• What does the knowing include?
• the power of His resurrection
• sharing in His sufferings
• becoming like Him in death
• Most people want the resurrection power
• Not many want the sharing in sufferings...
• If we truly follow Christ, we will become more and more like Him...
• The power that raised Him from the dead is at work in us to
• overcome sin...
• endure suffering....
• remain faithful in obedience....
• The Christian life isn’t just avoiding hell - it’s union with Christ
• The world rejected Him and will also reject those who follow Him.
• Paul doesn’t want to suffer - he wants to follow Jesus even if it involves suffering
• His hope is not in this life and it’s ups and downs
• He is always looking forward at the prize -
• the resurrection
• eternity
• the Kingdom to come
• So Paul gives us himself an example of running the race...
• The goal is taking part in Christ’s resurrection and living with Him in the age to come.
• The prize is the call itself!
• Imitate Christ and those that also imitate Him. We aren’t perfect, but we should be a good example. A good role model for others.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1 “1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
• This chapter started with Paul addressing the legalism of the Judaizers - now he’s addressing the other end of the spectrum - Those who lived for earthly things and put this life first.
• Paul calls these the enemy of the cross of Christ - and it’s breaking Paul’s heart...
• Legalist = I need to follow this exactly to the letter to earn my salvation.
• Enemy of the Cross = since Christ died for my sins, I can do whatever I want.
• Roman citizenship was extremely valuable - sort of like American citizenship today
• Paul is saying that a much better citizenship for us is actually in the Kingdom of God.
• Citizens of that kingdom will receive a new body like that of Jesus - therefore our focus should be on that kingdom more than this one.
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 9:32 AM June 26, 2026.