Verse 7~Paul considered the former material things he had as a loss or as rubbish when compared to the privilege of having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
If we be in Christ then who can deny us but Christ the kingdom of Heaven. Once we have died, our bodies are only a shell left after our spirit has left either in rest or in Hades. It is not for us to say. The bible does not speak against cremation. Are we to be rotted flesh or ashes to be brought back together for judgement day? Does the body really mater or is it our souls that he wants?
This speaks oodles of joy to my heart. Paul speaks of counting it all loss for Christ. For me that includes the idea of a perfect doctrinally correct church. Praising the Lord for the past indoctrinationally incorrect churches so I can look forward to Christ alone. You have got to come to a point in your life were it's you and Christ alone. When you truly live this you are whole.
Verse 13: Paul knew he had to forget the things from the past and look ahead to the future prize in order to stay on the right track. We want to imitate him.
Eutychus; So when Jesus said that He "came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill;" does that mean that Paul contradicted or is there something deeper? God hasn't changed His Nature or His Spirit! But the change has to be in us that we henceforth show the workings of the Law and the Prophets through the same Spirit which moved them to write. They're perfected by our walk in truth.
"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind". Unless you were raised in a bible perfect, doctrinally sound church, you believe things that aren't bible truth. If so, disregard the rest of this. If not, then you may spend years, many years, putting behind you the errors of your religious past, just as Paul did. That can be done, only by immersing yourself, in the Word of God
"...touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." vs 6. Paul here, and only 3 others throughout the N.T. are said to be blameless before the law. Jesus ( Hebrews 4:15), and Zacharias and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist ( Luke 1:6). But then, we live under a different law, faith and grace, for "Christ is the end of the law for righteous to everyone that believeth" Romans 10:4.
Lilian; The LORD sees your love and longing for Him! Grace and Peace to you, Sister! "In quietness and in confidence I will reveal Myself... Ask and you SHALL receive: I give understanding to the simple, and am closer than your hands and feet!" The blood of Christ has been once and for all shed for our reconciliation and we are clean and accepted in Him. Fear not, Beloved; Be still before Him!
Jesus is the only way to heaven I thank you Jesus for the blood you shed for us renew my spirit my heart and my soul Jehova Rapha Jehova Jireh the Lord my provider Shalom
Forgetting, is as in the basic English version loosening from the past, is a process. You have to give your Past actively to Father God that the Holy Spirit can heal, teach and comfort you. Sometimes a counselor is needed to face, handle the past.
As we live our lives in this foreign world, the Apostle Paul guides us thru the challenges we face on daily basis. We face hatred, our fallen past, the temptation of compromise, and other obstacles that may hender us to pursue perfection in Christ Jesus. This chapter is very valuable for the true Christian believer. I could write alot more, but this is just the beginning of real life.
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Paul knew that his temporal life in Adam was to be dealt with through the Holy Spirit and that he would all of his earthlyAdamic life be subject to the weakness of the mind and the flesh. In this, he pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.That I may know him, and the power of His return
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death Who taught Paul all these Words, Jesus. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. I follow Paul, because he follow Jesus. LEARN
Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. If we follow Jesus, we must becarefull not to let our eyes or hands offend us, that why Jesus use Paul for the Church age of Grace, so we can follow him. Paul said follow ME.
Evangelist Andrew Kelly on Philippians 3 - 6 years ago
Steve: all sin is of the devil period 1st John 3:8, I am an ex-sinner saved by grace. Is Christ your leader to do the devil's dirty work to sin? God forbid. Galations 2:17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. The Gentiles are circumcisde spiritually in Christ Jesus when we are saved by Grace.
The great thing about the salvation is, though we are all on different developmental levels in Christ, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. The message is always the same, Christ Jesus in us , the hope of glory.
Verse 8
Apostle Paul had it all great achievements great doctrine great pedigree a rising pharisaic Judaiser none of these could be compared to his knowledge of the Son of God. Paul regretted nothing. I'm not like Paul I was found empty handed no achievements no Christian parents all I can boast of is Christ's goodness to me deliverances protection love great grace Thank you Lord for who you are.
I am grateful to be able to understand what Epistle Paul is telling us here,even though I'm little of understanding but yet being able to grasp on it, by the will of God.I pass it also to my children its a gift from God.
All my worldly achievements and praise I lay aside and count them as nothing (dung). I now press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus. This is often the trying of my faith because flesh feeds from such. Lord help me grasp knowledge of Christ that I may truly know Him in the power of his resurrection as I mature on this journey.
Paul knew that his temporal life in Adam was to be dealt with through the Holy Spirit and that he would all of his earthlyAdamic life be subject to the weakness of the mind and the flesh. In this, he pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.That I may know him, and the power of His return
Apostle Paul had it all great achievements great doctrine great pedigree a rising pharisaic Judaiser none of these could be compared to his knowledge of the Son of God. Paul regretted nothing. I'm not like Paul I was found empty handed no achievements no Christian parents all I can boast of is Christ's goodness to me deliverances protection love great grace Thank you Lord for who you are.