COMMENTARY ON PHILIPPIANS
LESSON #31

T E X T

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:3, KJV).

INTRODUCTION

The Spirit has warned the Philippians about the presence of false teachers. They are destructive and ravishing, and do not spare the flock of God. Such a revelation could strike fear into the hearts of some. Thus, time is taken to identify the real nature of the people of God. We have been brought into a marvelous position in Christ Jesus. What we are in Him is to be grasped by our hearts and minds. Until you have confidence concerning who you are in Christ, you will be vulnerable to the devices of the evil one. False teachers prey on those whose hearts are unsure, and whose faith is weak. Peter said they “entice unstable souls” (2 Pet 2:14). That is why a great emphasis is given to the strengthening of the saints. Edification (building up), nourishment (feeding), and comfort (encouraging), are imperative if believers are to survive. One of the key means to accomplishing these things is the affirmation of what we are in Christ–simply stating the truth. A great emphasis is placed on this in the Apostolic writings. Such a declaration is found in this very text–a refreshing statement of who we are in Jesus.

WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION

“For we are the true circumcision” (NASB). Early believers contended with false teachers who taught, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). Such teachers placed an inordinately high value on the flesh–on external procedures and appearance. Now the Spirit comes to the heart of the matter–what we are in Christ Jesus. Circumcision has been elevated to a spiritual experience.

Moses prophesied of a new kind of circumcision. “And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live”(Deut 30:6). Notice the result of this circumcision. God would be loved with all the heart and soul–something essential to spiritual life. Outside of Christ, the heart is uncircumcised. Sin causes a sort of growth over the heart that renders it insensitive to God and impervious to His Word. Jeremiah referred to this condition as “the foreskins of your heart” (Jer 4:4). The situation is the similar to having “hardness of heart” (Matt 19:8; Mk 3:5; Rom 2:5). Such a heart is described by Jeremiah as “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer 17:9). Salvation addresses this unacceptable situation.

Real circumcision, or the circumcision God recognizes as valid, is in the heart, not the flesh. “ . . . nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh . . . circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Rom 2:28-29). The heart is the real person–the very center of our being. It is where change must take place if we are to be saved. We are not called to merely make some changes in our appearance, or to engage in certain routines or works. Our hearts must be changed–made sensitive to God and Christ. Men must be stripped of their insensitivity to God and made tender in their hearts. That is what real circumcision does. Note, this is not something need, but something we have!

This is a circumcision Christ Himself performs. It is called “the circumcision of Christ,” and is related to our baptism into Him. Our baptism itself is not the circumcision, but rather is when it occurred. It is described as“the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Col 2:11-12). This is nothing less than the separation of the whole sinful nature from our essential persons–like cutting away what has been defiled. Romans 6:6 also refers to this as “the body of sin” (Rom 6:6). By this, the Spirit does not mean the “sinful body,” but the whole remains of sin–everything rejected by the Lord. It involves the forgiveness of sin (Col 2:13), cleansing of the conscience (Heb 9:14), and justification (Rom 5:1). The separation of this “body” from us frees us from enslavement to sin (Rom 6:18-22). It results in life toward the Living God (Rom 6:11). It is not something we SHOULD have, but what we DO have!

This circumcision is not something believers aspire to, it is something they presently possess. They are “the circumcision!” Regeneration has made them tender toward God. It has made sin repulsive and glory attractive. They do not need self-acclaimed teachers telling them how to be acceptable with God. They have been “made acceptable in the Beloved” (Eph 1:6). This is not what we should be, but what we ARE: “the circumciusion!”

WORSHIP GOD AND REJOICE IN CHRIST JESUS

“ . . . who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus . . . ”(NKJV). There has been a great emphasis in our day on the worship of God. Worship services and worship leaders abound in the land. While there is much to commend what is happening, it is not a sign of unusual spiritual advance.

Regeneration addresses everything sin defiled. Notice, our text does not say we OUGHT to worship God. Rather, those in Christ “WORSHIP God.” That is what they DO, not what they OUGHT to do! This is a revolutionary thought! In this regard, the emphasis is placed upon the person, not what they do. Jesus said it this way, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him” (John 4:23). Observe that He does not say “true worship,” but “true WORSHIPERS.” It is “worshipers” the Lord is seeking, not merely worship! That puts the accent on fellowship, co-laboring, and unity–all of which is accomplished in Christ Jesus.

“True worshipers” are REAL worshipers–those whose hearts are genuinely involved in their service. They prefer the Lord, delight in His Word, and find great pleasure in doing His will. Unlike Israel of old, they do not honor the Lord with their lips while their heart if far from Him (Isa 29:18; Matt 15:8). Their hearts and the lips are coordinated.

Their worship is “in the Spirit.” This does not mean such worship is unintelligent, but that is in harmony with “the mind of the Spirit” (Rom 8:27). The saints “worship” in strict accord with the “fellowship of the Spirit,” Who bears witness with their spirit, that they are the “children of God” (Phil 2:1; Rom 8:16). Their worship is in a higher realm, where they are aware of the Person and provisions of the Living God. The truth of God is the domain in which their worship takes place. They are constrained by what they have been given to see. Such “worship” cannot be initiated or orchestrated by men.

“Worship,” in this text, means “do service.” It does not refer to a religious routine, but to heartily serving the Lord. In His rejection of Satan’s temptation, Jesus referred to this aspect of worship. “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve” (Matt 4:10). The word “serve,”in that text, is the same word as “worship” in Philippians 3:3. Paul referred to himself worshiping, or serving, the Lord (Acts 24:14; 27:23). More technically, the word means serving God in an attitude of reverence and veneration. It is precisely the thought expressed in Colossians 3:17:“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Where people do not “live unto the Lord” (Rom 14:8; 6:11), acceptable worship is absolutely impossible.

By “rejoice in Christ Jesus,” the Spirit emphasizes the believer’s perception of the personal nature of salvation (Gal 2:20). It is what Jesus has accomplished in redemption that so delights the saved. Their gladness is not found in routine, or in human accomplishment, but in the Captain of their salvation. If you want their joy to be full, tell them of their Savior. Tell them what He has done, and how He is “alive for evermore.” This also shows us how the Spirit, through Whom we worship, directs our affections.

AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH

“ . . . and have no confidence in the flesh.” Here is a trait of saints that is rarely lauded. They “put no confidence in the flesh” (NASB), even religious flesh. “Flesh,” in this case, stands for everything that is natural–everything that has not been regenerated–everything that came from Adam. Speaking of this aspect of our persons, Jesus said the following. “The flesh is weak . . . not born [again] of the will of the flesh . . . That which is born of flesh is flesh . . . the flesh profiteth nothing” (Matt 26:41; John 1:13; 3:6; 6:63). The Spirit affirms that the law of sin is served “with the flesh”(Rom 7:25). Those who are not condemned are declared to “walk not after the flesh” (Rom 8:1,4). Those who “mind,” or pay attention, “the flesh” are contrasted with those who are “after the Spirit” and mind “the things of the Spirit” (Rom 8:5). With great power it is declared, “those who are in the flesh cannot please God,” and “if you live according to the flesh you will die”(Rom 8:8,13). There is certainly no vagueness in Scripture on this matter.

To have “confidence in the flesh” is to trust to nature, to rely on human abilities and achievements, and to be convinced there is inherent value in what can only be traced back to Adam. The prevalence of this kind of thinking in the professed church is staggering. Such confidence is exhibited in trusting in external rites like circumcision. It is also made known in relying upon a religious pedigree, like being a Jew–or in some form of achievement, like being a Pharisee of the Pharisees. It is made known when men rely on the wisdom of this world, fleshly disciplines, or a form of godliness that is void of the power of God. It is ever true, “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away”(1 Pet 1:24). You can dignify the flesh, educate it, polish it, and adorn it beautifully–but it remains “the flesh.” To borrow from a hackneyed expression, The flesh by any other name is still the flesh.

Those who are in Christ Jesus do NOT have SOME confidence, or reliance, in the flesh, but “NO confidence in the flesh.” They do not trust that facet of their being, realizing it is a liability, and never an asset. They have learned how fickle it is, and how consistent its inclinations to sin are. They do not “judge after the flesh” (John 8:15), walk “after the flesh” (Rom 8:1), or“war after the flesh” (2 Cor 10:3). They refuse to “glory after the flesh,” or make “provision” to “fulfill” its lusts (2 Cor 11:18; Rom 13:14).

Wherever religious people glory in appearance or rely on fleshly achievements, a chasm is being formed between them and Christ. The Spirit makes no allowance for nature to dominate. If it can only be traced back to Adam, it cannot be trusted! Wherever approval is sought from “the flesh” a dissatisfaction with Jesus is revealed. The person trusting in the fallen nature, whether it is educated and refined or not, will find it like trusting in Egypt: “it will go into his hand and pierce it” (2 Kgs 18:21).

Again, observe this is not something believers SHOULD do. This is what they DO–“have no confidence in the flesh!” Regeneration has really changed them! They place no trust in human opinions, philosophies, or achievements. They are not impressed by appearance or boastful words. The “worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NO confidence in the flesh.”

HoMeScHoOlInG qUeStIoNs--Philippians3:3

1. Our text reads, “We are the _________________, which worship _________ in the ______________, and _____________ in Christ ______________, and have _____ confidence in the __________”

2. Moses said the Lord would circumcise the _____________ of His people (page 2, paragraph 2). He went on to say that, because of this, God’s people would ___________ the Lord their God with ______ of their _________, and with all of their ____________.

3. In your own words, tell what “the circumcision of Christ” means (Page 2, paragraph 4) ____________________________________

_____________________________________________________

4. Is worshiping God something Christian’s SHOULD do, or something they DO without being told? (Page 3, paragraph 2-3) _____________________________________________________

5. What does it mean to worship God “in the Spirit?” (Page 3, paragraph 4). __________________________________________

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6. What are your thoughts about rejoicing in Christ Jesus? ______

______________________________________________________

7. Explain the phrase, “have no confidence in the flesh” (Page 4, paragraphs 2-3) ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

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HoMeScHoOlInG qUeStIoNs--Philippians3:3

1. Our text reads, “We are the _________________, which worship _________ in the ______________, and _____________ in Christ ______________, and have _____ confidence in the __________”

3. In your own words, tell what “the circumcision of Christ” means (Page 2, paragraph 4) ____________________________________

_____________________________________________________

4. Is worshiping God something Christian’s SHOULD do, or something they DO without being told? (Page 3, paragraph 2-3) _____________________________________________________

5. What does it mean to worship God “in the Spirit?” (Page 3, paragraph 4). __________________________________________

______________________________________________________

6. What are your thoughts about rejoicing in Christ Jesus? ______

______________________________________________________

7. Explain the phrase, “have no confidence in the flesh” (Page 4, paragraphs 2-3) ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

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