Class Notes, John 20, Easter

Buying burial items -- late on Saturday (Western)

Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.

Matt 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

• Probably different from the other passage since they bought spices in the evening(apparently unaware that Joseph and Nicodemus had properly buried the body in the sort time on Friday)

Matt 28:2-4 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

• This happened prior to the women arriving.  We know because the angel sat on the stone.  But in Luke 24:3-4, we find the angel (possibly two) inside the tomb

John 20:1-2 (NIV) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

Matt 28:5-8 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

• The honor of the message of his resurrection (from the angels) goes first to the women
• The honor of being the first eyewitnesses of the empty tomb goes to the two Mary's, Joanna, and possibly Salome
• Did the women believe?  It does not say that they didn't, but there are at least three women and probably more.  It seems that Mary (not sure which one, possibly Magdalene?) runs back immediately to report the body stolen.  But the other two (or more) women  stay long enough to hear the angels tell them that he is alive.  Matt 28:8 says that they ran back filled with joy

John 20:3-9 (NIV) So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Luke 24:9–12 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

• Do the men believe? No, none of them believe.  But, at a minimum John and Peter run to check out the situation
• They believed, but they did not understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead
• The other disciples do not believe

• It appears that either Mary stayed the whole time or probably return with Peter and John (not running)

John 20:10-18 (NIV) Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

16 Jesus said to her, "Mary."

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

• Apparently the two angels are back.  They are not there to be seen by the two men, but are now seen by Mary.  This is a different discussion than the earlier discussion
• There is also a third person, who is not recognizable by Mary -- why? New body

• But he is immediately recognized when he says Mary's name, why? The person is recognized socially, but not physically (although Jesus does have some physical reminders on his body)

• So a women is the first person to who the risen savior speaks and the first person to whom the risen savior appears, Mary Magdalene
• And the first person to spread the good news of the risen savior is Mary Magdalene
• Another passage suggests that Jesus also spoke to women (plural).  This could have been the same incident (where one passage only mentions Mary, or a separate incident closely related in time to this one)

Mark 16:12-13 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

• This occurs during the day, the disciples are unnamed and given the later report, not one of the 11

1 Cor 15:3-8 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

• It is possible that he appear to Peter sometime during this first day.  It is not clear exactly Paul's point.  I think he is validating all the people who saw Jesus in an order, but not necessarily every encounter.  So when he says 12, it could be a later appearance after Matthias is added to the group.  In which case, he does not appear to Peter first, but rather to the eleven as Mark states.

John 20:19-20 (NIV) On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

• I think after the Emmaus encounter, this is the evening of that day (second day by Hebrew counting).  He appears to the ten (minus Thomas)

Mark 16:14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

• Now he appears to all eleven, and it is not just Thomas who is rebuked.  If Paul is being literal with his 12 there is at least one more encounter -- or it is the same, the breakfast on the sea of Tiberias
• Finally he appears to more than five hundred at the ascension, and then later to James, and then to all the apostles (suggesting a larger group than the 12), and finally to Paul

APPLICATION: Even the eyewitnesses had a difficult time believing.  Ultimately, it is not proof that saves us, but it is faith.  The story is too amazing to be concocted.  The story puts the men, the leaders of this new movement, in a very poor light.  And I think we struggle with the same unbelief at times.  Yes, we all verbally say that Jesus rose from the dead, but do we really live it.  When disaster strike or hard times come, do we still believe that the power that raised Jesus from the dead is living in us too?

Class Notes, Col 1:1-20

• Background:
• Once an important town, but no longer
• Most traffic is carried through nearby towns of Laodicea and Heirapolis
• Antiochus the Great relocated many Jewish families from Mesopotamia to this region
• Jews more liberal, i.e., Hellenistic, than those in nearby Galatia
• A very unimportant town from a human perspective.  Least important of all towns with letters.  But not necessarily in God's eyes
Col 1:1-8 (NIV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
• What do we learn of Paul's relationship to the Colossians?
• Never knew them
• Never ministered there
• How did they come to know about Christ?
• Epaphras' ministry
• Col 4:12-16 (NIV) Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. // 16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
• Apparently there is a church at Laodicea and possibly also Hierapolis
• Philemon mentions all the same characters, and even suggests that Epaphras was a fellow prisoner (although that may be a metaphorical comment)
• How does Paul describe the work of the gospel?
• Bearing fruit & growing
• Suggests two things for a real work of God
• Spiritual multiplication
• Spiritual change in people
• Why might Paul be writing this letter?
• In response to some need Epaphras has mentioned
• Allusion to Hellenestic philosophy (2:8)
• Allusion to Judaistic ritualism or traditionalism (at odds with previous point) (2:11-19)
• Allusion to ascetic self-denial (2:20-23)
• Allusion to Gnosticism, special teaching required to achieve maturity (1:28; 2:18, 3:11)
• Danger of syncretism -- trying to harmonize many different schools of thought -- great tolerance debate of today that there is no difference in any religion -- but there is a great difference in the religions
• An opportunity to teach (from afar) another body of believers.  If you only had one letter, what would you write to someone about how  to live the Christian life?
Col 1:9-14 (NIV) For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
• If Paul is trying to emphasize some important points of the Christian faith to a group he has never visit, how does he start off?
• By implication, prayer, since he is praying for them (sets an example)
• Filled with the knowledge of God's will.  Why is that important?
• Now that I am a believer, what is it God wants to do with my life
• How do we understand his will?
• Paul prays for spiritual wisdom and understanding -- comes through the word of God
• Live life worth of the Lord, please him (Jn 14:21)
• This is obedience or application of the word to your life (Jm 1:22)
• Bear fruit in every good work
• Obedience results in a changed life, which is some of the fruit of walking with God
• Growing in the knowledge of God
• Reading the word and obeying the word is how we grow in our relationship with God
• Strengthened in power
• Learning to rely on the Holy Spirit's power (we choose to obey and God gives us the strength to follow through)
• Great endurance and patience
• At some point in our Christian life, we will face trials and we need to have a solid foundation
• Joyfully giving thanks
• One of the keys in our Christian growth is a change in attitude.  The day when we start joyfully giving thanks for hard times is when we really believe that God cares for us and is working to bring his best into our lives (this is the definition of walking faith)
• Paul then emphasizes three works of God
• God qualified us to share in the inheritance (the qualification is our faith in Jesus)
• God rescued us from the dominion of darkness (we are no longer slaves to sin)
• God has brought us into the kingdom of his son (we have a new citizenship and we are now aliens and foreigners here -- Heb 11:13-16)
• APPLICATION:  Paul gives a nutshell description of what it means to walk with God in his prayer for the Colossians.  How am I doing in these areas?
Col 1:15-20 (NIV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
• Paul now deals with a key philosophical point, and one of the major differences of Christianity with all other religions
• What does it mean to be an image?
• Constable suggests three things (2010, p. 13)
• Likeness -- Christ is the exact likeness or the mirror image (Heb 1:3)
• Representation -- Christ represents God to us (In Islam God is transcendent and cannot be known)
• Manifestation -- Christ makes God known to us (Jn 1:18)
• Man is made in the image of God, but Jesus is the image of God.  Unlike some teaching in Mormonism, Jesus is not the same as us, he is different.  We can attain likeness to Jesus, but not the exact image, because we can never be God
• Who is Jesus?  From the perspective of the world?
• Firstborn over all creation.  The word, prototokos, may denote either priority in time or supremacy in rank (Constable, 2010)
• It does not mean as Jehovah Witnesses teach that Christ was the first created being, since verses 16-18 state his existence before all things and his role as the creator (Constable, 2010)
• Vs 16, He is the creator, everything, period, dot.  He cannot create himself, therefore he is not created.  He is also the agent of creation (by him) and the purpose of creation (for him)
• Vs 17, He precedes creation.  He sustains creation
• Who is Jesus?  From the perspective of the church?
• Again, he is the head, the beginning, and the firstborn
• In this case firstborn, while also meaning supremacy does apply to his priority in time.  He was the first to rise from the dead in his new body
• He is supreme over creation and over the church
• In later Gnostic literature, angels mediated between God and man
• All divine power resides in Jesus (vs 19-20)
• Not temporarily as Christian Science religion teaches
• God's ultimate purpose is reconciliation
• We are enemies
• God has always loved us, but we have been in enmity with him
• Christ' death give us the opportunity to reconcile ourselves to God, but we have to accept what he has done on the cross for us

Class Notes, Phil 4:1-23

Phil 4:1 (NIV) Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
• So how should we stand firm?
• "that is (NIV)" refers to previous discussion and not to new discussion
• But other versions could be interpreted differently to say that how you stand firm is explained by the imperatives that follow.  In which case, the following summarizes chapter 3, and chapter 4 deals specifically with how to stand firm
• Stay away from the Judaizers
• Make your faith a relationship, not a list of do's and don’t's
• Realize that this world is not our home
• Our citizenship is in heaven
• Live in the hope of the rapture
• We don't miss out on anything -- we don't believe that but it is true
• Follow the pattern of others
Phil 4:2-3 (NIV) I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
• Obviously, not everything is perfect in Philippi.  There is disagreement between two women.  How does Paul deal with the disagreement?
• He pleads individually -- he does not impose or force or suggest for someone else to
• He asks them to agree in the Lord.  What does the Lord want in the situation, not what do I want
• He asks for others to help them
• He asks for others, by implication, to honor them because they contended at his side with the gospel (more joint partnership as described in chapter 1).  In other words, they have both served faithfully and we must not dismiss their contributions
Phil 4:4-7 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Why the emphasis on rejoicing?
• There is a lot to be thankful for
• Rejoicing takes the edge off of controversies
• Rejoicing helps us to see a larger picture
• How does gentleness fit into the equation?
• QT ENTRY:
NOTE: I'm pretty sure I'm going too far with this verse 3, but here it goes -- a summary of chapter 3.  In chapter 3 Paul starts out with the exhortation to rejoice, which is he also calls a safeguard.  He then warns the Philippians of the Judaizers, spending a lot of time explaining why outward things are rubbish, and finishes with a discussion on the hope of the resurrection, which is best understood as experiencing the rapture.  In these verses, he summarizes the beginning and the ending of chapter 3 with a one extra tidbit.  The extra item is: let your gentleness be evident to all.  To me, this is the part of our Christian witness that marks maturity in Christ (and contrasts with the lives of the Judaizers).  People aren't attracted to the faith by our ability to follow some set of rules or checklists or rituals (although, some people are but for the wrong reasons).  What attracts a person to Jesus, and makes a Christian attractive is love, evidenced by a gentle spirit.  As I imagine Jesus' life, this character quality is what stands out most to me, his loving and gentle spirit.  He would have been a good earthly friend (and he is a good friend now!).  Someone who cared about a person's struggle.  Someone who did not immediately judge you or tell you what you were doing wrong.  Someone who listened.  Someone who gently led you back to truth.  Someone who did not get angry for mistreatment but whose anger arose in defense of others or of God.  And even that anger would be controlled and gentle, firm and resolute.  Those are the people who please God, not the ones who have the rule book down flat.
• Prayer is an essential aspect to gentleness, why?
• Worry and gentleness do not go together.  Gentleness is defined by a relaxed spirit.  Worry is defined by an agitated spirit
• Additionally, spiritual maturity as evidenced by gentleness, is attained by a life of prayer.  Why? Because in chapter 3, that is how one gains Christ, how one gets to know Christ, at least as evidenced by Paul
• What is the result of prayer?
• Chapter 3, where prayer is implied, argues for a deep relationship with God
• Peace of God
• Transcends understanding means that something cannot be understood
• It can be experienced because it is a result of prayer
• Protection of our hearts and minds in Christ
• The world draws our hearts and minds away from the Savior
• Prayer draws us back to the savior
• Howard Hendricks called verses 2-6 "a five-part recipe for conflict resolution: (1) 'Rejoice in the Lord,' that is, get beyond yourselves and look to the Lord. (2) 'Let your gentleness be evident to all.' In other words speak with kindness to each other. (3) 'Do not be anxious.' Relax, and give it all to God. (4) 'Be thankful.' The simple act of expressing gratitude for our blessings takes the heat out of infection. (5) Present your requests to God. Prayer realigns us and restores peace . . ." (Hendricks, "Color Outside the Lines," p. 96)
Phil 4:8-9 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
• If "stand firm" refers to chapter 4, then this is the fourth imperative on how to stand firm (rejoice, agree together, pray, and think on good things)
• One other protection for us besides rejoicing and a relationship with God through prayer, is what we spend our thoughts upon (Constable, 2010)
• "True" (alethe) means valid, honest, and reliable (cf. Rom. 3:4)
• "Honorable" or "noble" (semna) means worthy of respect (cf. Prov. 8:6; 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Titus 2:2)
• "Right" (dikaia) refers to what is just and upright
• "Pure" (hagna) denotes cleanness and connotes moral purity
• "Lovely" (prosphile) means what is amiable, agreeable, or pleasing
• "Of good repute" or "admirable" (euphema) refers to what is
Praiseworthy because it measures up to the highest standards
• APPLICATION: How might this list change some of our movie recommendations?  Actually, I suppose there would be few movies we could ever go to, but it does challenge us to consider carefully the things we expose our mind to
• I would add one more imperative, what is it?
• Application (what you have learned … put into practice)
• As we think on good thing, and God's word is one of the best things, we will be challenged by truth and by a need to change something in our own lives.  But we can't just look into the mirror and forget what we see, we must act (James 1:22)
• What is the promise of application?
• The God of peace will be with you. Obviously God is always with us, but when we obey his word to us, we experience his presence and enjoy the peace that comes when we walk in fellowship with God (Constable, 2010)
Phil 4:10-19 (NIV) I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
• I want to focus on two things in this last section, both related to money
• ONE: Paul says that he has learned a secret -- what is it?
• To be content in every circumstance (in plenty or in want)
• What does it mean to be content "in plenty?"
• Riches never satisfy, people always want more
• Learning to give joyfully
• Learning not to get something you want even though you can easily afford it
• Waiting on God in prayer
• What does it mean to be content "in want?"
• Waiting on God in prayer to supply
• Sometimes, for Paul, that meant opening back up his tent business
• Sometimes we can be a better witness by not being full-time but being part of the work force
• We can reach people, a pastor can never reach
• Most people see a huge disconnect from a pastor and a normal person (not realizing that a pastor is really no different)
• It is emotionally hard to be "in want," but it is spiritually harder to be "in plenty."  Why?
• Because we forget God when things are going good
• TWO: We talked about the "joint partnership in the Gospel" in the beginning of the letter.  Why is Paul so excited about their partnership, that is, there giving to support his efforts?
• Clue: it wasn't the money -- although that was appreciated
• IT WAS THEIR BENEFIT.  It was "what was credited to their account"
• Giving has transformational powers
• It is an indication of spiritual maturity
• It is for our good, and it is amazing how many neglect the spiritual blessing that comes from giving
• It pleases God!  (in contrast to the Judaizers tithe requirement, God wants the heart)

Class Notes, Phil 3:1-21

Phil 3:1-6 (NIV) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
• What is suggested in verse 1?
• One, finally suggests that he wants to finish his thoughts about Timothy and Epaphropditus
• Reminder that Epaphroditus is an argument against the health & wealth gospel, as well as the wholeness gospel
• Two with two possibilities, the first is that this wasn't the first letter Paul had written to the Philippians; or that emphasizing joy and rejoicing in the Lord, by writing it again, is never a bad thing
• Third, rejoicing in the Lord is a safeguard
• Rejoicing in the Lord is a safeguard, but against what?  Who are the dogs in verse 2?
• Dogs refers to opponents of God's truth
• Wild dogs referred to vicious animals that threatened the safety of everyone (Constable, 2010)
• Also, and somewhat tongue in cheek, Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs (Matt 15:21-28), but here the reference is to the Judaizers (Jews).  We know that from the context where circumcision is the key issue
• In this case, the Gentiles are clean, and the Judaizers are the dogs.  Yet the Judaizers are trying to make the Gentiles clean through circumcision
• Were the Gentiles circumcised, i.e. verse 3?  Then why does Paul call them the true circumcision?
• This is a case where the context does not make sense taken literally.  The "common sense" approach to any phrase that doesn't make sense literally, is to understand it metaphorically
• The Gentiles were the true circumcision, not because of physical circumcision, but because of a spiritual circumcision of the heart
• True believers are in the church, but he is not saying the church is the "new Israel" (Constable, 2010)
• Paul used three terms to describe the Judaizers
• Dogs
• Men who do evil
• Mutilators of the flesh
• Paul used three terms to describe the true church
• We worship God in spirit (as opposed to the physical rituals and ceremonies defined in the law)
• We glory in Christ Jesus.  We look to Jesus as the one who makes us acceptable to God and not upon our works (or how closely we follow the law)
• We put no confidence in the flesh (for our acceptance before God)
• While the Judaizers believed one had to be a Jew in order to be justified by Christ, it was not limited to circumcision prior to belief, but it defined a way of life after belief in Christ as well.  This is not just an argument about justification, but it is an argument about sanctification, the process whereby we are becoming more like Jesus Christ.  At the return of Christ is glorification (the final phase in our salvation) where we receive our new bodies and become like Christ
• Paul explains that if anyone had reason to take pride in his adherence to the requirements of the law it is him
• Circumcised on the eight day (at the prescribed time from birth, not later as some were)
• Of the people of Israel (not a proselyte)
• Of the tribe of Benjamin (many reasons to be proud for the uniqueness of Benjamin among Jews)
• A Hebrew of Hebrews (both parents were Jews)
• In regard to the law, a Pharisee (the most orthodox sect of Judaism in his day; he was also a disciple of Gamaliel)
• As for zeal, persecuting the church (he was a zealous promoter of Judaism above all things)
• As for legalistic righteousness, faultless (he followed ALL of the laws of Judaism, even the most trivial)
Phil 3:7-14 (NIV) But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
• How does Paul relate his previous position, in regards to the law, with his thinking now?
• All that stuff he now considers "loss"
• He calls it "rubbish"
• His new goal in life was not obedience to the OT law, but rather …
• gaining Christ
• knowing Christ
• having a righteousness that is NOT based on the law, but is totally through faith
• Note that he is not just referring to justification (a one time event) but also sanctification because he says "… through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith"
• "by faith" seems to imply a continuing process
• In verse 10, he expands on knowing Christ by adding two more things …
• Paul wants to know the power of his resurrection
• It would not make sense for Paul to suggest that he wanted to be resurrected since he would at the end of times.  I think Paul wanted to experience the power of the resurrected Christ in his life
• Paul wants to know the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings
• Paul has nothing to add to Jesus' suffering for us.  Our sins are completely paid by Christ alone.  So this fellowship, is that he is willing to suffer for the sake of Christ
• He is willing to give up his life to suffer for Christ's sake, even to the point of death
• Again verse 11 does not make sense or fit with Paul's other teachings if we assume he is not sure about his resurrection from the dead.  Therefor there is another sense to his statement
• The phrase is a very unusual phrase.  Constable had the best thought on this verse.  The dead would be the spiritually dead.  The resurrection would be the rapture of Christians from among the spiritually dead.  In other words, Paul hoped to experience the rapture, and believed it could happen before he died
• This is an important point.  We should all live as if the rapture was going to happen at any day.  Our witness will be critical to those who are left behind in order for them to understand what really happened.  The fact of the matter is that most churches will still be populated after the rapture, and the message of the rapture will be loss'ed to those
• Verses 12-14 emphasize that Paul was not just referring to his position in Christ (without the need for the law), but his everyday life of becoming like Christ (which also does not rely on the law)
• What does Paul say is his focus now?
• Forgets the past
• Looks forward to the future
• Presses forward to win the prize
• What is the prize?
• It is the reward that we will receive at the end of life for how we lived our life as believers
• "Each believer is on the track; each has a special lane in which to run; and each has a goal to achieve. If we reach the goal the way God has planned, then we receive a reward. If we fail, we lose the reward, but we do not lose our citizenship." (Wiersbe, The Bible …, 2:88)
Phil 3:15-21 (NIV) All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
• If you are spiritually mature, you will understand that what Paul says is true.  If a person has the right attitude, God will make that clear to them as well
• Verse 16 is probably directed toward the immature.  What we have attained is what God has revealed to us.  Living up to it, is applying those truths in our life
• The great difference between the spiritually mature and spiritually immature, is that the mature apply God's truth to their lives and the immature do not
• Paul uses himself, as well as Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples.  This is the essential aspect of discipleship.  While no one is perfect, we do well by following those who live according to the pattern of scripture
• Paul warns them at the end, as he had at the beginning, that there are enemies
• He could be referring to the Judaizers.  In which case the destruction is not eternal destruction, but physical destruction (death or discipline), as also described repeatedly in Hebrews
• These enemies have certain characteristics
• Their focus in on the stomach (could be appetite, could be ceremonial foods)
• They glory in their shame (they take pride in things that they should be ashamed of)
• They have an earthly perspective (they are focused on physical and material things)
• Constable suggests that ritualistic observances take precedence of God's place in their life
• In contrast
• Our citizenship is in heaven (not Roman, not Jewish)
• We eagerly await our savior (the rapture)
• We look forward to glorification, when our earthly bodies will be transformed to be like his glorious body