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Rejoice in the Lord Philippians
3: 1-9
Finally, my brothers, is a good
indication that he has quite a bit more to say. Back when I was
listening more and speaking less I worried when a preacher said
“Finally”. I knew that this would be followed by “In
conclusion” and then, “To sum up”
Paul’s concluding remarks will go
on for two more chapters. However he is not announcing that he is
nearly finished writing this letter. “Finally” refers back
to what he has just written. Because the Christians in Philippi
had “Let the mind of Christ” dwell in them and had
proceeded to work out in their own experience what God had worked into
their lives through the death and resurrection of Jesus Paul is
encouraging them to discover what it means to rejoice in the Lord.
1. Rejoice in the Lord.
This is a recurring theme. He has been
here before and he will be here again. Some things are well worth
repeating. According to this text there had been previous letters from
Paul to the Philippians. For our benefit, and the generations of
Christians between the first readers and now, the Holy Spirit chose
this particular letter to be included in the Canon of Scripture as the
inspired Word of God. Paul knew that basic Bible truth and teaching
needs to be repeatedly enforced by repetition. The encouragement to
rejoice in the Lord is just as necessary today as it was when first
written because Christians today, perhaps more than those who have gone
before, often look elsewhere for things which they can enjoy. The
Christian who lives at all times and in all circumstances in the
presence of the Lord Jesus Christ will never lose the joy of Salvation.
Psalm 16:11 is one of my
favourite verses. You will show me the path of life; in your presence
is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for
evermore.
2. Do not rejoice in man-made religion.
The benefits of the way of life described
in the Torah had long been forgotten and had been replaced by a
man-made system of rules and regulations. Those who sought to enforce
this version of Judaism were the implacable enemies of the gospel and
the Apostle Paul. He warns those who are rejoicing in the Lord to watch
out for these Judaisers whom he describes as
“dogs, evildoers, and those who mutilate their bodies hoping for
spiritual benefit”.
People change: problems remain.
There are always religious people who
have an axe to grind with genuine believers. Paul was hounded by these
people and is scathing in his condemnation of them. He points out the
things that are important to them in their search for a right
relationship with God are things that he inherited from his parents.
3. Do not rejoice in an accident of
birth.
Consider Paul’s pedigree.
He explains at some length his Jewish
heritage and the things that he had personally embraced. None of these
things gave him a satisfying life or a right relationship with God. All
these things paled into insignificance in one blinding flash of
revelation when Jesus met him on the Damascus
road. Now he counts all those things that had been a source of great
pride to him as worse than rubbish when it came to bringing him into a
right relationship with God. There are no second hand
Christians. Christianity is not inherited. Everyone needs a personal
meeting with the Lord Jesus.
4. Do not rejoice in human achievements.
Paul had discovered that a right
relationship with God is not based on keeping the Law, but on faith in
Jesus Christ.
It is not achieved by any man; it is a
gift given by God. It is not won by works, it is accepted by faith.
I
will not boast in anything,
No
gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But
I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His
death and resurrection.
Why
should I gain from His reward?
I
cannot give an answer,
But
this I know with all my heart,
His
wounds have paid my ransom.
Paul, out of his experience, tells them
that neither religion nor good works, no matter how good they may think
they are, will ever bring them into a right relationship with God. You
will never reach Heaven by your own works or on your own merits. You
will not rejoice in the Lord by any amount of human effort. You will
rejoice in the Lord as you allow the Holy Spirit total control of all
that you have and all that you are.
Paul is encouraging these Christians, in
the midst of life’s trials and difficulties, to “Rejoice in
the Lord”, as he shares with them how triumphantly adequate he
had found the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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