with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter, beleievers are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord and to watch out of false teachers and false preachers. He shows that true Christians are the true circumcision who worship God in the Spirit and truth. If there were any to be proud amongst the keepers of the law, the Apostle would have more reason to glory as a Hebrew of Hebrews, of the children of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee and as for zeal was a persecutor of the church, as of righteousness of
the law, faultless. But now he counted all these things loss for gaining Christ. He longed to conform himself to the death of Christ and presses on towards the mark of attaining the salvation that is only found in Christ. So the Apostle exhorts all believers to be like-minded and warns believers against certain persons who are enemies of the cross of Christ. For in Christ is the guarantee of the immortal human nature which we all shall receive at the resurrection and glorification of our bodies.
*1️⃣Philippians 3:1-11: The testimony and the righteousness by faith we get in Christ.*
⏹️True Christian believers are people of God, who have by faith accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. These are the true circumcision who have circumcised their hearts and not their flesh, for salvation is not an act of works but of faith in Christ who will change our vile bodies as we receive new life in Him. The Apostle Peter says, *"But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory"(1 Peter 4:13).*
⏭️To show that salvation is by faith in Christ, the Apostle considers his own standing before he received Christ that he was born a true Israelite, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee zealous of good works, persecuting the church and having a faultless righteousness of the law. The Apostle says, *"Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I"(2 Corinthians 11:22).*
⏹️But such thing as circumcision of the flesh prevented him from obtaining the righteousness of Christ which comes through faith. Trying to do good by keeping laws is worthless, it can not make the guilty sinner acceptable to God but trusting in Christ is the only way to boast about if we want to gain righteousness before a holy God. For righteousness is a gift that God gives to those who have faith in Christ. The Apostle says, *"If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker"(Romans 2:26-27).*
⏹️ All who have accepted Christ have died and risen with Him in baptism and experience death to sin and selfish desires, they became new creation or creatures as they live a life of constant victory through the power of the risen Christ within them. The Apostle says, *"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life"(Romans 6:4).*
⏭️ True believers, born again in the merits of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ keep on towards the mark of their calling until final victory over sin, suffering and death is acertained in Christ. The Apostle says, *"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body"(2 Corinthians 4:10).*
*2️⃣Philippians 3:12-21: Striving to achieve the goal of becoming heavenly citizens is by faith.*
⏹️ Though believers will have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, perfection of character will not be totally achieved in this life at once. The Apostle says, *"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith"(Romans 1:17).*
⏭️Believers should press on towards the mark of attaining the righteousness which is by faith until Christ returns and raises the righteous from death. The Apostle says, *"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith"(2 Timothy 4:7).*
⏭️ But since believers belong to Christ, their goal and aim should be to be like Him, they should run the race with all perseverance to reach that standard of practical holiness only found in Christ. The Apostle John says, *"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is "(1John 3:2).*
⏹️So the Apostle gives practical advise in order to reach this holiness by saying, imitate me as I imitate Christ. Our religion takes its form and complexion much from those with whom we associate with, the most holy man who associates with the most holy companions, especially as we associate with Christ through His Word. The Apostle says, *"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory"(Colossians 1:27).*
⏭️As we imitate Christ, our religion become fixed, firm, immutable and clear. Our goals and aims are clear and perfectly seen in the working of the Holy Spirit in us as we will be perfectly agreeable to the working of divine nature in our human bodies. The Apostle says, *"Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ"(1Corinthians 11:1).*
*🅰️Appeal*
There are many called by Christ's name who are enemies to Christ's cross, of whom Christ said *"by their fruits you shall know them."* Those who enemies of the cross have their bellies as their God, they are mindful of nothing except their sensual appetites, either for food or sexual immorality.
They sacrifice the favour of God for money and self gratification, the peace of their conscience for their self fullfillment and their eternal happiness for drunkenness and gluttonous appetites, to such avoid. The Apostle says, *"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple"(Romans 16:18).* Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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