Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 2-1-19

Devote All To Christ PHILIPPIANS 3:7–14 (KJV)
cable credentials that gave him standing in the Jewish hierarchy, he gave it all up when he encountered the Master. Paul was able to speak with authority con- cerning the worthlessness of something that he once val- ued highly.
He told the Philippians about his own heritage and accomplishments (vv. 5–6). So devoted was he to his way of life that he gladly and ea- gerly persecuted those in the church. Obviously a man of great intellectual ability, Paul came to realize that no legal- istic training or adherence could save anyone. He will- ingly walked away from a treasured lifestyle, held in high esteem by his family and community. What he now counted as loss was not a former state of wickedness, but of goodness. Yet what- ever advantages Paul had in his former life were nothing in light of the salvation he was now granted through the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Therefore, our righteous- ness can only come through our faith in Christ. Paul wanted to know Christ and the power of His resurrec- tion. In order to live with
Christ, we must die with Him. We cannot go back to the cross of Golgotha; how- ever, the Christ who was vic- torious there can come to us and allow us to be conformed to Him and His ways Warning Against
False Perfection (vv. 12–14)
After warning them about placing confidence in the self, Paul proceeded to warn the Philippians about the dan- gers of perfectionism. Al- though Paul strove with all that he had to attain this righteousness, he made no claim to having already achieved it. He emphatically rejected any claim to perfec- tion.
Apparently some at the Philippian church had de- luded themselves with the notion that they were perfect. Paul emphasized that resur- rection from the dead was not the only goal ahead. Even the goal that may be achieved in this life still lay ahead. Paul’s goal is to attain the goal that Christ has set for him. Though unattained, perfection (completion) is his goal. He has begun the race, and is committed to finishing the course.
In the meantime, he is
concerned with avoiding the illusion of having actually at- tained the goal. Since Christ grasped or took hold of Paul, he, in turn, wanted to grab hold of the perfection (com- pleteness) that is Christ’s goal for him. Conversion it- self represents the beginning, not the completion of the goal.
The King James transla- tion to the word “perfect” in verse 15 appears to contra- dict Paul’s insistence that he is not perfect. But what Paul meant here was that the mental attitude described in the previous sentences is the perfect attitude willing to admit shortcomings, open to correction, and willing to be re-created in Christ Jesus.
Paul advocates for com- pleteness (perfection) in Christ, or ultimate fulfillment to put it another way. The Philippians were admon- ished to remain true to this point of view so that they could make further progress. They must neither forget the goal, nor suffer under the il- lusion that they have already attained it.
Just as there was a danger in assuming perfection had been attained, Paul was well aware and equally concerned about those who treated the goal with total disregard.
Lesson Learned
Our capitalist society con- ditions us to prioritize money and material success over all else and can cause us to ig- nore our relationships with God and one another. The system itself is not concerned with justice or just relation- ships and conditions, but productivity.
Jesus cautioned us not to put up our treasures in places where moths eat and thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19–20). The material things of this world are under the control of the world’s whims and are temporary and unfulfilling. Instead of our quest for things, a pur- suit for Christ and His will in our lives and communities can yield true abundance in this life and the life to come.
The Scriptures
Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowl- edge 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,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteous- ness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteous- ness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resur- rection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had al- ready attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am ap- prehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, for- getting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The Lesson
All Gain Is Through
Christ (Philippians 3:7–11)
If ever a person had rea- son to have confidence in himself and his intellectual abilities, it was Paul. Yet, even though Paul had impec-
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL-BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2019