A Walk through the Book of Philippians
July 10, 2024
Repeat, reiterate, again and again
Philippians 3:1-11
One of the definitions of the word reiterate is to repeat once or even several times.
There are many things you and I repeat in our lives. As adults, we get up each weekday, go to work, come home, eat dinner, hopefully have some rest and interaction time, and then go to bed. And almost every day, we do the same thing all over again.
I can remember when I was in elementary school. We studied specific subjects, like math, history, or science, at certain times every day. We went to lunch at 12 noon every day, and school ended every day at 4 p.m.
We are creatures of habit and repeat certain things in our lives at certain times on any given day. We also reiterate things.
This means we repeat certain things verbally many times over. For example, we may tell our children to make their beds every day. Perhaps our boss reiterates a point he or she has made to us to ensure we understand.
There is generally a good reason why we reiterate something to someone.
In today’s devotion, the Apostle Paul tells the Philippians that he has no problem repeating certain information to them because he feels it’s essential.
***********************The Point*********************
Let’s read what Paul believes is so important that he tells the Philippians he has no problem repeating it.
“Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the Circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:1-11
In the first paragraph, Paul talks about (as I mentioned in my preface) repeating himself repeatedly. At times, Paul believes that this is important to keep believers safe. So, he reiterates crucial points, especially about false teachings, multiple times.
He goes on to talk about Circumcision. In the first paragraph of today’s reading, when Paul says:
“Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.”
He’s talking about Judaizers.
“The Judaizers were extremely proud of their “Jewishness” and the fact that they lived according to Jewish customs.”
(People’s Bible Commentary, Philippians, Harlyn J. Kuschesl, Pp. 67.)
One of the pieces of misinformation the Judaizers promoted was Circumcision. As Christians, we believe Circumcision is no longer required by God because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Paul firmly believed the Judaizer’s goal was to destroy Christ’s church.
Paul goes on in the second paragraph to describe his own Circumcision and how devout a Jew he was.
“Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
Based on his credentials, Paul was the perfect Jew and, in the eyes of most Jews, at the head of the line for heavenly glory.
Finally, in paragraph three, Paul renounces his Jewish “perfection.” In fact, Paul considers his Jewish “perfection” garbage. As a follower of Christ, Paul understands that he is now righteous in the eyes of God.
Paul declares that righteousness is not found in the law because it can only be found in Jesus Christ.
“but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul’s words in the final lines of this passage are pretty profound. Righteousness comes from God based on our faith. And our faith is that Jesus, God’s Son, was sent as a living sacrifice for our sins. Sins that were, and still are, forgiven because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and resurrection.
Paul packed a lot of information into just a few paragraphs. He understood that eternal life only comes through God’s Grace, based on our Faith in His Son and what He did for us.
This really is something worth repeating to others, over and over.
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