05 An Advancing Gospel Community: Enjoys Authentic Christianity (Philippians 3:1-11)

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

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 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: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 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 9 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—

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:1–11, ESV)

Jesus once told a parable designed to challenge those who "trusted in themselves that they were righteous" (Luke 18:9-14). In his parable there were two men—a Pharisee and a tax collector—who went to God's temple to pray. The Pharisee had a high regard for Scripture but an even higher regard for his interpretations of it. When he prayed, he was really only talking to himself when he thanked God that he wasn't like other evil people, even the nearby tax collector. His heart was filled with pride and self-assurance, but when the tax collector prayed, he couldn't even look up to the heavens. Instead, he pounded his chest and pleaded with God for mercy. His heart was humble and needy before God. Jesus said it was the second man who went home in right standing with God, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 18:14).

Jesus' parable stands as a perfect introduction to the passage before us, a passage detailing authentic Christianity because while the Pharisee had an altogether counterfeit relationship with God, the tax collector had an authentic one. And, as Paul gazed out at the budding problems of disunity and selfishness in the Philippian church, he saw their need for true and authentic Christianity. Fortunately, Paul had enjoyed an authentic Christianity for thirty years at the point he wrote this letter, and since his life had once been a pharisaical counterfeit, he was the perfect man to describe a true walk with Christ to the Philippians, and it is this authentic Christianity that will be the focus of our text today.

This passage is helpful because authentic Christianity is a great need in our time as well. Cultural Christianity, social Christianity, political Christianity, legalistic Christianity, liberal Christianity, or any other Christianity detract us from authentic Christianity and must be rejected. Paul knew Philippi needed the church there to practice the real thing, just as he would know that the greater Monterey Peninsula area needs us to practice the real thing today.

But authentic Christianity isn't only good for our world; it is also good for us. There is nothing worse than a plastic or wooden relationship with God. The Bible talks of God being the potter while we are the clay (Is. 64:8). The Bible talks of God being a fire while we are a metal being purified in his holy presence (Mal. 3:2-3). The Bible talks of God entering into us by his Spirit, giving us a new heart, and transforming us from the inside out (Ezek. 36:26-27, 2 Cor. 3:18). In the gospels, encounters with Christ left people radically altered. In Acts, the gospel left entire cities and continents radically altered. In the epistles, gospel doctrine is shown to help all of us become radically altered. And in Revelation, at the end of the age, the good news is that Jesus' return will leave our entire universe radically altered. Authentic Christianity is full of real and vital impact.

All this to say, authentic Christianity is our great need and delight, and Paul's biographical account in this passage helps us see its beauty. So our question today is straightforward: what does authentic Christianity look like?

1. Rejoices in Jesus (1).

First, authentic Christianity rejoices in Jesus. Paul turned the attention of his readers to a further development of his argument when he said, "Finally, brothers, rejoice in the Lord" (3:1). He had already written these same things, but knew it would only help them if he wrote them again because he wanted them to find their deepest satisfaction and meaning in Jesus (3:1).

Joy (or rejoicing) is found all over this letter (12 times!). This, of course, is astounding whenever we pause to consider that the one writing about joy was imprisoned and awaiting potential death. But it is the source of joy that is most powerful—Paul wanted them to rejoice "in the Lord." Paul did not have joy from chains or hardships, but in pain and hardships, because he found his joy in Jesus.

Authentic Christianity is not distracted from Christ but instead rejoices in Jesus. There is, of course, much more to biblical revelation than Jesus, but he is the pinnacle of biblical revelation, and sometimes, we bring other issues and topics up to the same level as Christ, which detracts from God's loudest message. But authentic Christianity begins with Christ—his incarnation, his perfect and holy life, his sacrificial death, his glorious resurrection, his ascension, his commissioning of his church—and goes from there.

For instance, many of you likely have a hundred questions about the Bible. It is probable that each one has been answered a thousand times over by really smart people, but the point I want to make here is that we should keep Christ front and center. You don't have to figure out Old Testament violence, eternal judgment, or other thorny subjects before you rejoice in the Lord. Instead, celebrate Jesus and his gospel first—rejoice in Jesus—and then find out what he says about the Old Testament, what he thinks about eternal judgment, what he says about humanity, and so forth. Rejoice in Jesus.

In John 12, Lazarus's sister, Mary, recognized what no one else did. She perceived Jesus was about to die, so during dinner, she took a costly jar of fragrant oil, broke the seal, and anointed Jesus' head and feet with it. Though others didn't understand, it was her way of preparing his body for burial, a way for her to celebrate, praise, and rejoice in Jesus. This is authentic Christianity—it cherishes and finds its center in Jesus.

2. Knows the source of true transformation (2-3).

Second, authentic Christianity knows the source of true transformation. Paul gave them a stern warning in triplicate when he told them to look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh (3:2). Each phrase is a rejection of false missionaries—evildoers could be translated evil workers—who told the Philippians they had to add Judaism to Paul's gospel. Paul thought them true dogs—this was a way to return the insult some in the Jewish community made towards the nations back onto them. As they messaged that new believers should adopt Judaism, a big emphasis for them was that Gentile men who became Christians must be circumcised like Jewish men.

Paul was fed up with these doctrinal battles, and knew their message couldn't provide true change, which is why he claimed authentic Christianity is the real circumcision (3:3). As he said elsewhere, "circumcision is a matter of the heart" (Rom. 2:29). Paul knew that only the Spirit of God could change people, which is why he put no confidence in the flesh (3:3).

Authentic Christianity is not distracted with showiness but instead craves true, inward change, knowing it is possible because of what Christ did for us. Because he came, lived, died, and rose, we can become recipients of his Spirit who lives within us and changes us from the inside out. The Old Testament prophets hoped for this reality. Jeremiah looked forward to a New Covenant that would be far different from the covenant Moses delivered (Jer. 31:31-34). It would not be external, written on tablets of stone, but internal, written on our hearts. Ezekiel looked forward to a time when stone-hard hearts would turn into softened hearts before God (Ezek 11:19), a time when God's people would receive an altogether new heart and spirit (Ezek. 36:26-27). It would be a time when the Holy Spirit of God empowered people from within, changing and transforming them into God's image. Joel looked forward to a time when God would pour out his Spirit on all types of people—young, old, male, and female—leading them into lives of service for God (Joel 2:28-32). And Paul knew those promises had come to pass in Jesus, that the Spirit is the One who provides true transformation! Do you?

In Luke 19, an unpopular businessman named Zacchaeus humbled himself by doing two things great men in his culture would be embarrassed to do. He ran ahead of the crowds and climbed a tree to see Jesus. His heart was open, and when Jesus saw him, he invited himself to Zacchaeus's home. And, with Jesus in his home, Zacchaeus was transformed. He had been greedy, but he became generous. He had been fraudulent, but he became just. He had been a sinner, but he became new. He had tapped into the source of true transformation.

3. Is confident in Christ alone (4-7).

Third, authentic Christianity is confident in Christ alone. After saying that he did not put confidence in the flesh, or in his own inherent, internal goodness like so many others do, Paul detailed what it would look like if he did put his confidence in the flesh. Paul recounted a long list of elements that he might have trusted in. They are all rooted in Judaism, so they have a decidedly Jewish bent to them, which makes sense against the backdrop of the Old Testament and the fact that God sent the Savior through Israel, but they do have some modern parallels.

• The false teachers in Paul's day trusted in circumcision to complete the salvation process, and Paul was circumcised, just as the law dictated, on the eighth day of his life (3:5). People today do something similar when they lean on external religious ceremonies as a path to salvation.
• Paul was of the people of Israel, meaning he had an ancestral connection to great heroes of the faith like Abraham (3:5). Some people today use their overlap with faithful believers—having Christian friends, going to church, having relatives who are in the ministry, supporting a friend who is a missionary—to try to validate their own acceptance before God.
• Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin, a small remnant tribe sometimes used by God to rescue his people (3:5). Many today view themselves as part of the good and acceptable remnant because they are part of a group with what they consider to be good and acceptable views who must convert the world.
• Paul was a a Hebrews of Hebrews, meaning he did not just have Jewish blood but was raised within the Jewish culture and language (3:5). Many today pride themselves on speaking the accepted language and being part of the accepted culture.
• Paul had been a Pharisee when it came to the Old Testament law, meaning he was extremely devoted to the rules the Pharisees had extracted from their understanding of Scripture (3:5). Many today consider themselves good people because of the code to which they ascribe.
• Before Christ, Paul had been zealous as a persecutor of the church—he hated Christ's church (3:6). Many today put themselves in the "good" column, while the church is in the "evil" column, which justifies mistreatment or silencing of the church.
• And Paul had been blameless (or without unaddressed error) when it came to righteousness under the law—he thought he was doing everything to please God (3:6). Many today also consider themselves "really good people" who do not need a Savior of any kind. Maybe others need a Savior, but not them.

But authentic Christianity rejects all that in favor of being confident in Christ alone. Paul said he counted all that as loss for the sake of Christ (3:7). Paul had come to discover that nothing in his performance could make him right and good. He needed Jesus' righteousness to be deposited into his account (Rom. 4:5).

When Jesus died on the cross, he was flanked by two robbers who were crucified next to him. They both mocked him right along with the crowds, at least until one of them recognized the error of his ways and the beauty of Jesus. He saw that Jesus had done nothing wrong, and he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Jesus famously replied, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). That thief on the cross had nothing to lean on. He had no performance to give. All he had was a simple confidence that Christ could somehow transfer him into his kingdom. His confidence was in Christ alone.

4. Discards and devalues everything that gets in the way of knowing Jesus more (8).

Fourth, authentic Christianity discards and devalues everything that gets in the way of knowing Jesus more. Paul came to the place where he had to count all his past credentials as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (3:8). So, for the sake of gaining Christ, Paul intentionally discarded them all as of any significance to God. He called them rubbish, literally "dung," "refuse," or "trash." This is not Paul's way of saying the Old Testament or Judaism was of no consequence, but his way of saying his heritage or works were not adequate to make him approved by God, and he would not allow them to hinder his connection to Jesus. The most valuable, worthwhile thing to Paul was knowing Christ Jesus (3:8).

It is important to note that the things Paul counted as rubbish were not bad things in and of themselves, but they had become means of his own self-assurance. He had become smug because he thought his credentials made him approved. Authentic Christianity realizes that sometimes even good things sneak in to replace our relationship with Jesus. Soon, we are focused on fine and decent things, but to the detriment of our walks with Christ. Sometimes, we need to pause to relinquish things we once held close, all so that we can experience and know more of Jesus.

This could look like a young man who leaves a girlfriend who has become a distraction to his pursuit of holiness, but it could also look like a seasoned saint who relinquishes the news because it has distracted their own pursuit of holiness. This could look like someone who lets go of the popular notions of the new morality in favor of what Christ endorses, but it could also look like someone who begins to recognize that church attendance or service has become the basis of their walk with God. Or this could look like a young woman who realizes she can no longer lean upon the faith of her parents and has not yet pursued Christ for herself, but it could also look like a middle-aged person walking away from the belief system they'd concocted for many years to surrender to Jesus. What I'm trying to point out is that it is an ongoing process to count all things as loss when they hinder our walk with Christ.

What about you? What things might be getting in the way of you making progress in Christ? What might be competing with your allegiance to Jesus? Perhaps you are struggling to imagine it would be worth it to forsake those things—to count them as rubbish—to know Christ. In the Old Testament, there is the story of a young widow named Ruth. She made a decision to leave everything she knew to go to God's country and be with God's people. Her decision immediately thrust her into poverty, but she stayed faithful, and soon, her entire life was upended by God's favor and grace. Because she had left everything, counting her old life as rubbish, she was abundantly blessed. I believe the same happens to us when we discard and devalue anything that gets in the way of knowing Jesus more.

5. Gets its rightness from God through faith in Christ, not personal goodness (9).

Fifth, authentic Christianity gets its rightness from God through faith in Christ, not personal goodness. Paul said his desire was to be found in Christ, not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law (3:9). His righteousness—or rightness, goodness, and acceptance—came through faith in Christ and depended on the faithful work of Christ (3:9). This is a reiteration of what Paul said earlier when he said he worships by the Spirit and glories in Christ Jesus and puts no confidence in the flesh (3:3). The Pauline perspective is that our righteousness is as filthy rags, but that we can participate in the righteousness of Jesus, the only one to have lived perfectly faithful to God, simply by trusting completely in his perfect work.

We live in a world filled with claims of goodness. Everyone champions their perspective and convictions not only as good but as what makes them good. But Paul helps us remember that our righteousness doesn't come from our convictions or principles; it comes strictly from the righteousness of Jesus.

The Old Testament prophet Zechariah had a vision that speaks of this truth. In his era, the priest was a man named Joshua. God allowed Zechariah to peer into the spiritual dimension, and what he saw was the great accuser, Satan, belittling and condemning Joshua before God. Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, totally unfitting for a priest. Then Zechariah saw God rebuke Satan and replace Joshua's filthy garments with pure and clean garments, restoring Joshua to his position of holiness (Josh. 3:1-5). Joshua's story fits Paul's concept of what Christ had done for him. He was not good enough to produce his own righteousness and needed Jesus to do it for him. Authentic Christianity, in like manner, gets its rightness from God through faith in Christ, not personal goodness.

6. Wants to experience Christ's resurrection power (10-11).

Sixth, authentic Christianity wants to experience Christ's resurrection power. Paul said he counted everything as loss all so that he could know Jesus and the power of his resurrection (3:10). His driving desire was that, by any means possible, he might attain the resurrection from the dead (3:11).

What is it Paul wanted? It seems he wanted his life today to tap into Christ's resurrection power, as a reflection of the ultimate resurrection he would one day attain in Christ Jesus. Elsewhere, he is always confident and certain of his destiny. He knew he would be raised (resurrected) with Christ, but here he sets his hope on that glorious day while longing for Christ's newness of life to impact him right now (Rom. 6:4).

Authentic Christianity craves for Christ's resurrection power to affect life today. It is not content to coast along in life, unchanged and unimpacted by the tremendous, grave-conquering, demon-shattering resurrection power of Christ. Authentic Christianity wants the good stuff. It wants to experience Christ—his power, his transformation, his love, his compassion, his justice, his truth. It wants to absorb the powerful new life of Jesus and bring it to bear in the very fabric of everyday life. Far too many have settled for a weak Christianity—inauthentic and impoverished—that never presses into the resurrection life of Christ. It is a false Christianity and a misrepresentation of what Christ can do.

Ezekiel, who I referenced earlier, once had a vision of a valley of dry bones come to life. God told him to prophecy to the bones, and as he did, the bones began to rattle and come together, bone to bone. Then sinews and flesh and skin began to appear on them, but there was not yet breath in them. God told him to command the breath to come from the Lord. And, in Ezekiel's vision, the bones came to life! God then told Ezekiel it was a vision of what would happen one day for Israel—he would resurrect them back from exile and give them life again as a nation. But, given the context in Ezekiel, it calls to mind God's promises that he would one day put his Spirit within his people. Only God can do these things; only God can grant us this resurrection power.

7. Wants to experience Christ's sufferings (10).

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Seventh, authentic Christianity wants to experience Christ's sufferings. Paul did want to know of Jesus' resurrection power, but he knew the cross came before the empty tomb, so he said he wanted to share Jesus' sufferings and become like him in his death (3:10). Just as a seed must go into the ground to die before it brings forth new life, so Paul recognized the importance of following Christ's pattern of suffering and sacrifice for others. Paul wanted to do as Jesus said and take up his cross daily to follow the Lord (Mark 8:34). He "always carried around in his body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in his body" (2 Cor. 4:10).

Authentic Christianity, the real deal, is filled with self-denial, others-centeredness, personal sacrifice, and death. Dying to our wishes and wants for the sake of bringing life to others is the pinnacle of Christlikeness. Jesus set aside the privileges of glory, became one of us, and died on the cross so that we might have life, and Paul realized he wanted his entire life to look like that.

The Bible is filled, of course, with this Christlike suffering. Joseph suffered betrayal and an Egyptian prison before rising to bless the nations as the second-in-command to Pharaoh (Gen. 37-50). Moses suffered banishment and wilderness exile before rising to deliver God's people and carry them through that wilderness (Ex. 2:11-25). Elijah suffered persecution and nationwide drought before rising to defeat Baal and restore rain to the land (1 Kings 18-19). Hannah suffered the sorrow of childlessness and humiliation before rising to bring forth little Samuel, the next great prophet Israel needed (1 Sam. 1-2). David suffered the indignity of personal attack and rejection from his family before rising to become the greatest king and psalmist of Israel (1 Sam. 18-24). Jeremiah suffered rejection, imprisonment, and ridicule for proclaiming God's truth to God's people before rising to become one of the greatest and most cherished prophets the world has ever known (Jer. 20). Over and over again, as God's people experience Christ's sufferings, life and power and goodness flow from his holy throne.

And Christ's sufferings—personal sacrifice, rejection, betrayal, pain—are in ample supply today. Many of us know what it is to, like Jesus, love without being loved in return. But in those moments, we are being setup for his resurrection power to work a bit of its way into our lives. We are becoming like Jesus.

So, as we close, who will we be, the Pharisee or the tax-collector? Will we be self-satisfied and self-assured? Or will we be driven to the throne of God in need and desperation? Only the latter is authentic Christianity.

Study Questions

Head (Knowledge, Facts, Understanding)

1. How does Paul describe authentic Christianity in Philippians 3:1-11, and what examples does he use to contrast it with counterfeit forms of faith?
2. What does Paul mean when he speaks of “righteousness through faith in Christ” (3:9), and how does this differ from righteousness based on the law?
3. Why does Paul count his past achievements as “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ (3:8), and how does this connect to his understanding of salvation?

Heart (Feelings, Impressions, Desires)

4. How does Paul’s passion for knowing Christ and experiencing His resurrection power challenge or inspire your own spiritual walk?
5. When you think of Paul’s desire to share in Christ’s sufferings (3:10), what emotions or thoughts does that evoke for you about your own trials and struggles?
6. What feelings arise when you consider the idea of discarding anything that hinders your relationship with Christ? Are there things you struggle to let go of?

Hands (Actions, Commitments, Decisions, Beliefs)

7. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your joy in Christ, as Paul exhorts in Philippians 3:1?
8. Is there an area in your life where you are putting confidence in your own efforts rather than in Christ? What action will you take to surrender that to God?
9. How can you live out the power of Christ’s resurrection and reflect His servant-heartedness in your interactions with others this week?