There are times, as a pastor, when I sit down to write a blog to you and nothing comes to me, at least not immediately. It is typically those times when the Spirit says, “Take a step back and consider where I’ve taken all of you.” It is then that I realize what He wants me to write about. In today’s case, it occurred to me as I was reading Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. So, let’s walk this passage of Holy Scripture together which mirrors much of what’s been coming from this ministry over the past month or so.

For the sake of context, in Philippians 3 Paul is writing “in the defense and confirmation of the gospel” (Philippians 1:7) in opposition to those intent on perverting it, as he often did throughout the New Testament. The Judaizers were suggesting that religious works were necessary for salvation (generically, that a person has some work to perform in order to be saved).

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
-Philippians 3:1-6

Paul is essentially saying, “Big deal, physical circumcision means nothing. I, too, am physically circumcised, so I can say this: what’s truly important is that God has circumcised our hearts!”

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
-Philippians 3:7-11

Paul, like the rest of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, was humbled by the supernatural work manifest in him through his faith in Christ. He knew that it was “by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) he was saved, not due to anything he’d ever done (unlike what the Judaizers were suggesting, for example).

We mustn’t ever forget where we came from. It is God “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9). Paul constantly reminded the saints in the churches, “even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:5).

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
-Titus 3:4-7

Let us not forget, OK? God saves.

Let’s press on in our primary passage, where Paul continued to exhort the saints at Philippi with his own testimony. He admitted that he wasn’t completely sanctified (no one is here on Earth); however, he was following his Master’s command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
-Philippians 3:12-17

Paul is humble and motivated to press on “because Christ Jesus has made [him] his own” (v12). This sense of gratitude was at the root of all Paul’s teachings. Paul, though admittedly imperfect, never lost his perspective. He shared it often, encouraging others to imitate his faith (the source of said perspective). And remember, Paul wrote this letter from prison! Yet his gratitude still overflowed because his eyes remained fixed on Christ.

Faith gives us perspective. Witnessing faith in others is a tremendous form of encouragement, which is why the devil is hell-bent on discrediting, maligning, and discouraging under-shepherds, like Paul. If he is successful (and sometimes he is), he severs you from a source of spiritual nourishment and encouragement gifted to you by God. Resist the devil, my friend. Do not fear man’s opinion of you or what he might do to you!

Be fearless, as Paul was. Be courageous (courage is nothing more than applied faith, right?).

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
-Hebrews 13:6-7

Find your courage in Holy Scripture and find it in the Spirit of Christ, where Paul did. Pray to God for more faith and therefore more courage! Listen to those whose God-given gift is to teach you God’s Word, to lead you to green pastures. God’s purpose for you isn’t to stand alone as an island in this world. Lean on the resources He’s given you for they are truly blessings.

God designed the Body of Christ to be knit together in the sphere of love. The Word of God is the object of our fellowship. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16a).

And he gave the apostles [e.g., Paul], the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
-Ephesians 4:11-16

God loves you. I love you. Your brothers and sisters in Christ love you. Don’t give the devil an opportunity to spoil this precious gift which exists between members of God’s family.

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
-Colossians 3:14

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins