ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS, Philippians 3, Saturday, September 6, 2025
Context for Chapter 3
In chapters 1 and 2, Paul explained how Christians should respond to hardships. Since Christ was willing to obey God, even to the point of death, we should do the same. Complaining and worry have no place in the life of a saved believer. Chapter 3 makes a bold contrast. Paul's credentials, according to Jewish tradition, were impeccable. And yet, for him, none of those accomplishments are worth anything next to fellowship with Christ. For this reason, Christ is to be the sole focus of the believer. This sets up Paul's final greetings and instructions in chapter 4.
A Source: https://www.bibleref.com/Philippians/3/Philippians-chapter-3.html)
1. The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ, Part 1, Verses 1-6, JEANNIE
1Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters,[a] rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God[b] are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without default.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What is circumcision of the heart?
How does Paul use himself as an example of true confidence in Christ?
2. The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ, Part 2, Verses 7-11, MS. PAT
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider
them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when
compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake
I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could
gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I
no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I
become righteous through faith in Christ.[c] For
God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the
mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing
in his death, 11 so that one way or another
I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
SECTION QUESTIONS:
3. What was the business term Paul used to describe how his focus on life changed after his encounter with Christ?
4. Point of Reflection: Actions speak louder than words. Do we exalt our own acheivements or hold on to worldly things? Do we become prideful at what we have done for God? Do we really consider our worldly achievements to be traxh?
5. On what level does Paul desire the Philippians know Christ?
3. Pressing Toward the Goal, Part 1, Verses 12-16, DESTINY
12 I don’t
mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already
reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ
Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not
achieved it,[d] but I focus on this
one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to
reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through
Christ Jesus, is calling us. 15 Let all
who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some
point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must
hold on to the progress we have already made.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
6. Paul mentions pressing on or reaching forward a few times in this chapter, what does he mean?
7. What sililarities between what paul is saying here and what is an athlete?
4. Pressing Toward the Goal, Part 2, Verses 17-21, DESTINY
17 Dear
brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who
follow our example. 18 For I have told you often
before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose
conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their
god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only
about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of
heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him
to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak
mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
SECTION QUESTIONS:
8. What does it mean to be a citizen of heaven?
Confessions for Philippians, Chapter 3
1Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters,[a] rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. (Philippians 3:1-2)
Loving Father, thank You for Your grace and love toward us and to all those who are Your children. May we rejoice greatly in You, for You are our everlasting hope and my ever-present joy. Thank You that You have given us the Bible to teach us how to live. Thank You for the many lessons that we can learn from both the Old and New Testament. May we become increasingly vigilant in our Christian walk and rightly divide the Word of God so that we are not taken in by any deceptive teachings. May we hold fast to that which is good and be truly circumcised in heart and soul, so that we may love You with every fibre of our being - to Your praise and glory. This we ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[c] For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. (Philippians 3:7-9)
I pray that, like Paul, whatever gain I have I may count as loss, for the sake of Christ Jesus my Lord. Heavenly Father, I pray that my desire to know Christ may continue to grow and expand until, like Paul, I am able to consider that the loss of those things that I value and hold dear in life, as rubbish to me, in order that I may gain Christ. Heavenly Father, thank You that although I have no righteousness of my own, You sent Christ to pay the price for my sins so that by believing on Him, I might be clothed in His righteousness forever. Praise His holy name, AMEN.
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
Loving Lord, what a wonderful privilege it is to be part of Your heavenly family, as one of Your children. Thank You, Father, for all the grace and love that you have poured out on me to give me a heavenly inheritance. I pray that throughout the rest of my life on earth, I may glorify Your holy name in my conversation and conduct. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your many precious promises. Thank You that one day, all who believe on Christ will have our lowly bodies changed into the image and likeness of our Saviour. Thank You that You have promised to transform the bodies of Your blood bought children into a body that will be like His resurrected body of glory. Thank You that Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, AMEN.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Philippians/3
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