Rejoice in the Lord. A. Have you ever heard a preacher in his sermon say, Now in conclusion. 1. So you reach for the song book but he continues on and on and on 2. Paul begins this chapter with the words Finally, my brethren” – and continues on for two more chapters B. Greek scholars suggest that the word “finally” (loipon) can be a transition word, a word that introduces a new thought. C. This section of scripture has a very important message: Rejoice in the Lord, always. DISCUSSION. A. REMINDER. 1. The need to rejoice is a recurring theme in this epistle (1:18; 2:17, 18, 28). a. The word “rejoice” is in the present tense and suggests a continual rejoicing. b. Here in Philippians 3:1, Paul makes a significant addition – Rejoice IN THE LORD. c. Perhaps Paul’s point was, that no matter what tragedy might befall them, the Philippians were in the Lord and therefore always had reason to rejoice. 2. You may lose your possessions or your money. a. Your mate may desert you, or your children may disappoint you. b. Your health may fail, or your steps may falter c. You are still “in the Lord” – so rejoice. 3. One preacher wrote, “One cannot always rejoice in payday and fair weather, but the Christian can always ‘rejoice in the Lord. 4. All of us need to be reminded to “rejoice in the Lord. B. REPETITION. 1. Philippians 3:1b. 2. We learn a very valuable lesson from this: Repetition of basic truths is not bad. a. Repetition can be overdone, but some is needed. b. Every educator knows repetition is how one learns. 3. Repetition is a safeguard. a. 2 Peter 1:11-12. b. Marshall Keeble – His mom making lye soap. 4. Sadly, some complain, “Don’t keep telling us the old truths! We want something new and different. a. Paul anticipated that this would happen 2 Timothy 4:3-4 b. Many present day audiences, reversing Paul’s thought, find lack of novelty and continued repetition grievous and irksome c. If the gospel is to be communicated, novelty is not the concern – the vital question is not, Is it new? But is it true? 5. We must never succumb to the pressure of preaching a different gospel a. Galatians 1:6-10 b. We must never grow weary of sharing basic truths for this will strengthen and safeguard our listeners c. Paul told the young preacher to- 1) 2 Timothy 4:2 2) Marshall – “in season and out of season” – when they want it and when they don’t C. RENUNCIATION 1. Philippians 3:2. 2. Paul has been focusing on people who he loved, but next he turns his attention to those who would harm them. 3. Who was threatening the spiritual safety of Paul’s beloved Philippians? a. It was probably the Judaizing teachers. b. When Paul was discussing Judaizing teachers in 2 Corinthians, he used similar terms to the ones he uses in our present text of study (2 Cor. 11:13). c. Judaizing teachers were Jews who had become Christians but still held on the law of Moses and taught that Christians needed to embrace Judaism. d. Acts 15:1, 5. e. Paul had reason to believe that this heresy posed a danger to the church in Philippi. f. To understand just how serious this warning was we need to put our self in the mindset of a Jew. 4. Paul said, “Beware of dogs. a. Don’t think of dogs as pampered pets, but a dogs which prowl about eastern cities, without a home and without an owner, feeding on the refuse and filth of the streets, quarreling among themselves, and attacking the passer by. b. The term dogs is always used in a derogatory sense in the scriptures. c. For example, Psalm 22:16. d. There is a touch of irony here. The rabbis said the Gentile world were like dogs but Paul said these Judaizing teachers were like dogs. 5. Paul said, Beware of evil workers. a. The Judaizing teachers doubtless thought of themselves as workers of good, but the apostle said they were just the opposite. b. Why? They were guilty of adding to the word of God. c. Revelation 22:18. 6. Paul said, Beware of the concision. a. Beware of the false circumcision (NAS) look out for those who mutilate the flesh (RSV). b. They had taken the rite of circumcision and made it nothing more than bodily mutilation c. Nothing is wrong with circumcision as an optional medical practice, but when people tried to bind it on Christians as a required religious ceremony, Paul labeled it as mutilation. d. Galatians 5:6. 7. Most of us have seen warning signs – “Warning, Bridge out” – etc. We ignore such signs at our own risk. a. Paul is giving the Philippians warnings. b. The Bible gives us many warnings as well and we must give serious heed. D. REVELATION. 1. Philippians 3:3. 2. Paul is saying, in effect, Today Christians are the true Jews, the true children of God. a. Romans 2:28-29. b. Circumcision was a sign of a covenant relationship under the old law – today Christians are God’s covenant people. 3. After asserting that Christians are God’s covenant people, Paul lists three characteristics of the “true circumcision. a. Worship by the Spirit of God or worship God in the spirit (KJV) 1) Worship as revealed by the Spirit (Bible). 2) Worship in the spirit – correct attitude. 3) Both are taught in John 4:24. b. Glory in Christ Jesus. 1) The false teacher gloried in the rites and rituals. 2) But we are to glory in the Lord – not in ourselves. c. Have no confidence in the flesh. 1) In the context, the meaning is not to put any confidence in the fleshly ceremony of circumcision. 2) Through application, we must not put any confidence in what we have done – do not brag about what we have done. 3) Nothing is more unbecoming than a bragging Christian. CONCLUSION A. From this lesson I hope that we learn that no matter what happens, we must do as Paul said, Rejoice in the Lord. B. True rejoicing in the Lord can only come if we are Christians. From Moses Obioma Nnakwu.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:21:59 +0000
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