THE BIBLICAL ILLUSTRATOR PHIL 3CHAPTER III.Vers. 1-11. Finally, my trethren. — Prideless pride : — 1. What were the thing*not irksome and safe ? (1) Counsels in some lost Epistles. (2) Messages delivered byword of mouth through his delegates. (3) Earlier verbal communications. (4)Something in the Epistle. The latter probably referring — (a) to the main topic of the letter — rejoicing, or making their boast in Christ; or (b) to their dissentions, areference in the making of which he was interrupted. Each supplies a good sense.In the first case he proposes to dwell once more on that which will be the sureantidote to false pride, in the other he will add some further counsels respectingtheir dissensions. 2. Since the apostle seems to be about to conclude, whatoccasioned the interruption ? Probably some outbreak of Jewish proselytism re-specting which he warns the Philippians in plain language. At the word " con-cision " he enters on a fresh line of thought which occupies the rest of the chapter.I. He atfibms that he and his Gentile brethren have the most valid claim toWHAT THE Jews bo dearly prized. " We are the circumcision." He justifies hisassertion by describing — 1. The nature of their worship. The one essential thingin worship is its spirit. The kind of worship the proselytizers offered rested largelyon forms. If the form were only according to their pattern it was enough. Theapostle, on the contrary, takes his stand on the requirement of our Lord : •' Godis a spirit," &c. Heart, not hand, lip, knee worship was the main thing, and inthis respect they and he were more in harmony with the purpose of circumcisionthan those who submitted to the rite. 2. The ground of their trust. They restedin position rather than privilege. Circumcision was the sum of Jewish privilege.It was the main thing about which the Jews boasted. Bat their high privilege hadnot led them to a hi^h morality, but had been made a cloak for sin. In contrastwith this Paul puts Christian conduct. Christians rejoiced, or made their boast, inChrist Jesus, and had no confidence in the flesh. They looked to Him as the ful-filler of all righteousness for us and the example of all righteousness in us. Theirswas a pridelcf^s pride. II. He argues with the Jew on his own ground. Theground of their boasting might well be his as regards — 1. Inherited privileges. (1)The Jews make much of circumcision and the time of its performance. If beforethe eighth day it is nothing ; if after, of less value. That, then, which the strictestJews demand is true of me. (2) They also talk of the old stock. I belong to it.(3) They pride themselves on their tribe. What will compare with mine ? (4)ay, more ; scattered among the Gentiles, exposed to taint, to loss of language andcustom, yet my ancestors remained pure in every sense. I am a Hebrew of theHebrews. 2. Personal acts. (1) What of the law ? I belonged by choice to the sepa-
rated sect. (2) What of zeal ? These men are making much of that; but did not Ipersecute the Church ? (3) And as for righteousness, when was I a defaulter ? S.Here surely was ground for boasting had he been so disposed. But — III. The wholeOF THESE most COVETED THIGS HE OW COUTS LOSS. He relinquishedthem all towin Christ. He changes the figure. He had been speaking of gain and loss ; henow speaks of entering on a race. 1. He divests himself of all self-righteous robes.He felt himself disqualified for the contest in any such dress. 2. He desires to layfirmest hold of Christ. 3. He seeks to feel the full meaning of the resurrectionpower, the propulsion to a higher and nobler purpose. 4. He asks to share the suf-ferings of Christ. ote this, inasmuch as many talk as though the sufferings of Christ had dispensed with their own. 5. He would be fashioned to the likeness of His death. 6. And so he would reach the goal — resurrection, i.e., complete newnessof life through Christ Jesus. Conclusion : This delineation has its practical bearingon ourselves. 1. It puts privileges in their true place. They increase our obliga-tion to serve God. 2. External religiousness is put in its right place. 3. We areshown where we shall only find the true safeguard against modern delusions onreligious questions — in Christ. (J. J. Goadby.) Rejoice In the Lord. — Groundsof Christian rejoicing : — He who would rejoice in the Lord must — L Bewabb orEREOB (vers. 1-3). II. Eenouxce all and trust in Christ only (vers. 4-S). III.Embrace the fulness of Christ (vers. 9-11). (J. Lyth, D.D.) I. Rejoice mTHE Lord is the text of the whole chapter. After a long chapter on the suppressionof self and the absorption of every faculty in the service of Christ, here seems to bethe reward. Observe — 1. It is " in the Lord." There are two estates of men, " inthe flegh," and "in the Lord." To be in the latter estate is to possess all thatcan minister to happiness. So we are here reminded that we can command oxutCHAf. in.] PHILIPPIAS. 167own bappineFS. It is enforced as a duty. Joy is a feeling that ranges overall life and time. It remembers from wbat it bas been rescued ; it rejoices in pre-sent security ; it hopes for more tban it can conceive in the future. 2, But if theChristian is seduced from Christ the joy departs, and gives place to a deeper deso-lation than the soul has ever known. It was this danger that the apostle dreaded,arising from two errors ; one doctrinal, which would teach them to cease to trust inChrist alone ; another practical, which would make them selfish and carnal, and soenemies of the Cross. II. Cukistian rejoicing defended against its judaizinoEEMIES. The apostle bids the Philippians beware of the dogs, evil-workers, con-cision, suggestive phrases, the last implying that circumcision having served itspurpose had become dishonoured as well as disused ; the word was now but a
synonym of a Christian profession (Col. ii. 11 ; Rom. ii. 20). Those were thetrue circumcision who — 1. Worship God in the spirit, i.e., they offer a worshipwhich is ordered, prompted, released from ceremony and made acceptable by theSpirit of God. (1) The Holy Ghost is the Master of all Christian worship. (2)The object of that worship or service is included in the term and not expressed(Eom. ix. 4 ; Acts xxvi. 7 ; Rom. xii. 1). (3) The worship presented is " in spiritand in truth," because the communism of man's spirit with God through the in-dwelling spirit (Rom. viii. 26 ; Jude 20) is His own temple. But this must beexternal also. The word "circumcision" iudicates the fellowship of those who,by this symbolic rite, were dedicated to God. And Christian public worship is thecommon spiritual homage of men who are serving God in their spirits while theyare serving Him in His house. (4) But the Spirit unites no humau spirit to Godwhich is not holy ; and so the cutting off of sin was what circumcision alwayssignified (Rom. ii. 29). 2. Rejoice in Christ Jesus, i.e., confide or glory. They havelearned that circumcision has given place to baptism ; buttlieyput trust in neither.They trust only in Cbrist, and as they trust they glory. 3. Have no confidence inthe flesh. (1) In the fleshly ordinance which cannot be retained without dishonour-ing Christ. (2) In the " fleshly," i.e., personal and national prerogatives of thecircumcised members of the old covenant. They renounced Judaism with all itsadvantages. (3) In anything that human nature can do to win the Divine favour.(W. B. I'ope, D.D.) It is God's will that we should rejoice in Him: — I. What isrr TO REJOICE ? Delight is the soul's acquiescence, or resting itself, in what itappre-hends to be good. There is a two-fold delight. 1. Bodily or sensitive calledpleasure, which proceeds from some impression made by a suitable object upon thesenses. Of which note — (1) This in itself is not sinful, because both the sense andthe object and the suitableness of them were all made by God. (2) Hence it ispermitted by God (Eccles. iii. 22 ; v. 19). (3) But corrupt man is too apt to sin inthese sensitive pleasures, either — (a) in the unlawful object (Psa. Ixii. 4), (b) orin the manner by excessiveness (Jude 12). 2. Rational or spiritual joy, seated in thesoul itself. II. What is it to rejoice in the Lord. 1. God was pleased at firstto order the soul of man so that it had a natural tendency and suitableness to thenature of God. 2. But the soul being disordered by sin is apt to rejoice in nothingbut externals. 3. It is therefore God's will that we labour after our primitive per-fections and joys, so as to delight ourselves — (1) In Him as God and our God (Psa.xxviii. 7 ; Deut. xii. 12, 18). (2) In His— (a) works (Psa. civ. 31) ; (b) Word (Psa. i. 2,oxix. 103); (c) properties ; goodness (Luke xviii. 19); mercy; justice ; power (Psa.Ixiii. 5-7) ; wisdom ; truth ; omnipresence. III. How doth it appear that we oughtAD MAY THUS REJOICE 7 1, From Scripture. (1) God commands it (Psa. xxxii.11 ; PhiL iv. 4). (2) Christ prays for it (John xvii. 13). (3) This is one great endof His promises (Rom. xv. 4). (4) It is one great end of the ministry (lea. liL 7 ;Bom. z. 15 ; 2 Cor. i. 24). (5) It is the end of Christ's sending the Spirit (Johu
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