Philippians:3

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* Verse 1-11 - Sincere Christians rejoice in Christ Jesus . The prophet calls the false prophets dumb dogs , Isaiah strkjv @56:10 . to which the apostle seems to refer . Dogs , for their malice against faithful professors of the gospel of Christ , barking at them and biting them . They urged human works in opposition to the faith of Christ ; but Paul calls them evil-workers . He calls them the concision ; as they rent the church of Christ , and cut it to pieces . The work of religion is to no purpose , unless the heart is in it , and we must worship God in the strength and grace of the Divine Spirit . They rejoice in Christ Jesus , not in mere outward enjoyments and performances . Nor can we too earnestly guard against those who oppose or abuse the doctrine of free salvation . If the apostle would have gloried and trusted in the flesh , he had as much cause as any man . But the things which he counted gain while a Pharisee , and had reckoned up , those he counted loss for Christ . The apostle did not persuade them to do any thing but what he himself did ; or to venture on any thing but that on which he himself ventured his never-dying soul . He deemed all these things to be but loss , compared with the knowledge of Christ , by faith in his person and salvation . He speaks of all worldly enjoyments and outward privileges which sought a place with Christ in his heart , or could pretend to any merit and desert , and counted them but loss ; but it might be said , It is easy to say so ; but what would he do when he came to the trial ? He had suffered the loss of all for the privileges of a Christian . Nay , he not only counted them loss , but the vilest refuse , offals thrown to dogs ; not only less valuable than Christ , but in the highest degree contemptible , when set up as against him . True knowledge of Christ alters and changes men , their judgments and manners , and makes them as if made again anew . The believer prefers Christ , knowing that it is better for us to be without all worldly riches , than without Christ and his word . Let us see what the apostle resolved to cleave to , and that was Christ and heaven . We are undone , without righteousness wherein to appear before God , for we are guilty . There is a righteousness provided for us in Jesus Christ , and it is a complete and perfect righteousness . None can have benefit by it , who trust in themselves . Faith is the appointed means of applying the saving benefit . It is by faith in Christ 's blood . We are made conformable to Christ 's death , when we die to sin , as he died for sin ; and the world is crucified to us , and we to the world , by the cross of Christ . The apostle was willing to do or to suffer any thing , to attain the glorious resurrection of saints . This hope and prospect carried him through all difficulties in his work . He did not hope to attain it through his own merit and righteousness , but through the merit and righteousness of Jesus Christ . * Verse 12-21 - This simple dependence and earnestness of soul , were not mentioned as if the apostle had gained the prize , or were already made perfect in the Saviour 's likeness . He forgot the things which were behind , so as not to be content with past labours or present measures of grace . He reached forth , stretched himself forward towards his point ; expressions showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ . He who runs a race , must never stop short of the end , but press forward as fast as he can ; so those who have heaven in their view , must still press forward to it , in holy desires and hopes , and constant endeavours . Eternal life is the gift of God , but it is in Christ Jesus ; through his hand it must come to us , as it is procured for us by him . There is no getting to heaven as our home , but by Christ as our Way . True believers , in seeking this assurance , as well as to glorify him , will seek more nearly to resemble his sufferings and death , by dying to sin , and by crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts . In these things there is a great difference among real Christians , but all know something of them . Believers make Christ all in all , and set their hearts upon another world . If they differ from one another , and are not of the same judgment in lesser matters , yet they must not judge one another ; while they all meet now in Christ , and hope to meet shortly in heaven . Let them join in all the great things in which they are agreed , and wait for further light as to lesser things wherein they differ . The enemies of the cross of Christ mind nothing but their sensual appetites . Sin is the sinner 's shame , especially when gloried in . The way of those who mind earthly things , may seem pleasant , but death and hell are at the end of it . If we choose their way , we shall share their end . The life of a Christian is in heaven , where his Head and his home are , and where he hopes to be shortly ; he sets his affections upon things above ; and where his heart is , there will his conversation be . There is glory kept for the bodies of the saints , in which they will appear at the resurrection . Then the body will be made glorious ; not only raised again to life , but raised to great advantage . Observe the power by which this change will be wrought . May we be always prepared for the coming of our Judge ; looking to have our vile bodies changed by his Almighty power , and applying to him daily to new-create our souls unto holiness ; to deliver us from our enemies , and to employ our bodies and souls as instruments of righteousness in his service . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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