CHAPTER 3

1-3
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not
grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and
have no confidence in the flesh.

Paul, I believe was the first preacher to use the word "finally" as a way of drawing to a
conclusion.
It actually isn't a conclusion - it just means the preacher got his 2nd wind!

Probably what happened is Paul was about to close, but God interrupted him with another
important message. (See 2Tim. 3:16)
The interruption of this thought is to bring WARNING.
A warning against "Judaizers."

Judaizers were Jews who tried to get Christians to conform to the law.
Paul refers to them in three specific terms: "dogs", "evil workers", and "concision."
The reference is NOT to 3 different sets of people.
It is to the SAME people in THREE different ways.

"Dogs" were what Gentiles were called by Jews for centuries.
Paul just REVERSES the term!
"Evil workers" explains their intent to subvert the real meaning of Christianity.
"Concision" is actually the Greek word katatome, which means MUTILATORS!

(Note: Paul did NOT use the Greek word peritome which is usually translated as
circumcision. The word Paul uses here is "cuttings" in the Old Testament. Those cuttings
were OUTLAWED by God in Lev. 19:28, Lev. 21:5. It meant to take OUT part of God's Word!)

In verse 4, Paul says the REAL "circumcision" are those who "worship God in the
spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

(Note: The following are verses left OUT of the NIV translation: Mathew 23:14, Matthew 17:21, Matthew 18:11.
Mark 7:16, Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 11:26, Mark 15:28.
Luke 17:36.
John 5:4.
Acts 8:37, Acts 15:34, Acts 24:7, Acts 28:29.
Romans 16:24.)

Don't allow people to CUT OUT the truth from the Bible!
It is NOT a salvation by WORKS!
It is works BECAUSE of salvation!

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof
he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the
Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

(A man was caught attempting to syphon gas from a motorhome on a Seattle street.
He accidently plugged his syphon hose into the sewage tank!
The owner didn't press charges.
He said it was the best laugh he ever had!)

People try to seduce Christians away from truth in Christ by getting them to find satisfaction
in achievement.

Paul uses an example here to show that circumcision is NOT necessary for salvation!
He was a genuine Jew, and was circumcised on the 8th day of his life.
He was not like the Ishmaelites who weren't circumcised until they were 13.
He was of the "tribe of Benjamin" who gave Israel their first king.

But, when Paul met Jesus, he "counted" all THOSE things as "LOSS!"
ACHIEVEMENT was no longer his FOCUS!
His focus now was KNOWING and DOING Christ's will in his life!

Salvation is not wrought by circumcision, or even physical baptism in any specific manner!
Salvation is wrought by the sealing of God's Holy Spirit, UPON our SURRENDER
to Jesus as LORD of our lives!

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge 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 righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, 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 already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting 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.

Christians have NO righteousness in and of themselves! (Ps. 14:3, Is. 64:6, Rom. 3:10)
Christ GIVES righteousness, as a spiritual factor, when we surrender to Him as Lord.

The EXPERIENTIAL knowledge of Christ brings about several things which are mentioned here:
1) It makes us KNOW we can receive no righteous "by the law."
2) The Christian's righeousness is called "the righteousness which is of FAITH."
3) KNOWING Christ also make the Christian to be "FOUND in HIM (Christ)!"
4) KNOWING Jesus is to know "the POWER of His resurrection!"

The power that raised Jesus from the tomb is the same power that lives WITHIN the Christian:
the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD!
That is the DOWN PAYMENT of the "purchased possesion" of our soul!
Having HIM within, the Christian has ASSURANCE of a final resurrection!

ALSO, a Christian is PART of that resurrection NOW: BECAUSE he/she is "quickened",
or made ALIVE in the Spirit from being "dead in sins!" (Eph. 2:1 & Eph. 2:5)
Death means separation from the living.
Sin's death is separation from the living God.
Being "quickened" by God's Holy Spirit, means Christians are CLOSE to Him; and
NOT separated from Him!

Paul relates that his goal is to CONTINUE to "press toward the mark of the high calling
of God IN Christ Jesus."
Yes, it entails duty to Jesus who loved me and died for me.
But it is JOY because He is working IN me.
And, the fact of Him working IN me assures me that I SHALL "attain the resurrection
of the dead!"

Therefore, turning loose of those things in the past, I FOCUS upon the future of loving and
serving my Lord! (vs 13)
((I remember Grandpa McGee, when I was about 6 showing me how to plow with a mule.
He said, "You see that tree up yonder at the end of the field? Keep your FOCUS on THAT!
And that'll keep your plowing rown straight.))

That's the lesson Paul is teaching under the guidance of God's Holy Spirit.
Like a runner in the 100 yard dash -- keep your FOCUS on the FINISH LINE!

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise
minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the
same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind
earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to
the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

A phrase catches my eye here: "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect...."
WHAT?
HOW?
I am not perfect. Neither is anyone else.
However, the one who is "in Christ" is perfected in God's sight BY Christ!
WOW!

And, (vs 16), having gained some ground toward the goal does NOT allow STOPPING!
God's QUICKENING by His Holy Spirit NEVER stops!
And, that PROPELS us forward, seeking to IMPROVE!

I'm afraid that I must say, there are many in the church who are not seeking to improve.
Many who come to church come out of CONVENIENCE -- whenever they WANT to.
They are "enemies of the cross of Christ!"
When they attend, they come with a FEED ME attitude, so I can feel good--self-pleasure!
We should attend with a FILL ME attitude, so we can go out and share with others!

The word "conversation" is derived from the Greek politeuma.
It applies to community citzenship.
So, our DAILY walk should equal our Christianity talk!

ONE DAY!!! One GREAT day....Jesus is going to CHANGE this ole sinful body to
be like His "glorious body."

KEEP pressing onward, upward toward THAT goal!!