REJOICEIN THE LORD

Letme begin this article with a simple question/survey. Important: Please take no more than one minute todo it. Do it candidly without considering what answer you might be expected togive.

Q. Examineyour heart honestly and mark out three things which you consider to be mostimportant in your Christian life. Prioritise them, marking the singular, mostimportant aspect with the number ‘1.’

•         I managed to quit smoking altogether.
•         I am able to maintain a daily quiettime.
•         I am a total teetotaller for Christ’ssake.
•         I have family worship every day.
•         I am can recite the WSC from memory.
•         I am serving actively in my church.
•         I pray every day.
•         I am happy and peaceful and guilt doesnot trouble me.
•         I am a sabbatarian by conviction.
•         I am baptised.
•         I am no longer easily angered, and canlove those who hate me.
•         I have read through the Bible at leastonce.
•         I can read my Bible in Greek orHebrew.
•         I am a pedobaptist/baptist* byconviction.
•         I worship in a Reformed, or at leastreforming, church.
•         I do not celebrate Christmas, Easteror Good Friday.
•         I know the five points of Calvinismand the essence of Covenant Theology very well.
•         I have led a number of people toChrist.
•         I sing only psalms and I know most ofthe Scottish tunes.
•         I am faithful in witnessing to thelost.
•         I am amillennial/premillennial.*
•         Other #1:  _______________________
•         Other #2:  _______________________

Did you answer honestly from yourheart? This list is not purely imaginary. It comes from my interaction withvarious people I have met over the years. One elderly man I met in London confessed: “Thebest thing that ever happened to me in my Christian life is my deliverance fromChristmas!” Another person said to the effect: “I am most grateful to God thatI can worship in a Reformed Church.”

Whatabout you, dearly beloved? What is the singular, most important thing in yourChristian life? Is it that you have read through the Bible? Is it that you areReformed by conviction? Is it that you have been used by the Lord for theconversion of sinners? I do not know what your answer is. But if I know most ofus well enough, I suspect that you did not mark anything because you areconscious that your answer may expose your inclinations, and you may be afraidthat there is, in fact, a correct answer which you should give. Beloved, youare right that there is a correct answer. But I fear that you may not be ableto give the correct answer if you are honest with yourself.

What then is the correct answer? I believe it is foundin the inspired words of the Apostle Paul in the first 11 verses of the 3rdchapter of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians. We may divide the verses asfollows: (1) verse 1: The Duty of Rejoicing; (2) verses 2–6: The Wrong Basis ofRejoicing; and (3) verses 7–11: The Right Basis for Rejoicing.  In discovering what is the right basisof rejoicing against what is wrong, we will also see what ought to be the mostimportant thing in our Christian life.

The Duty of Rejoicing

The book of Philippians is often known as the epistle of joy, and youcan sense Paul’s joyful and positive tone throughout the letter. Well, almostthroughout the letter; because chapter 3 seems to be an exception. The tone inchapter 3, at least in the first few verses, appears to be grave and ratherharsh, is it not? Why is this so?

It is so because a dangerous kind of teaching orattitude had crept into the church which Paul recognises could rob thePhilippians of the true Christian joy and freedom that he has been advocating.This heresy cannot be taken lightly. And thus, before he concludes the letter,he finds it necessary to issue a warning to his readers. He writes:

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To writethe same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe (Phil 3:1).

It should be noted the call, “Rejoice in the Lord,” isa command in the present tense. It may be rendered “keep rejoicing in theLord.” Although the words of rejoicing such as: ‘joy,’ ‘gladness,’ ‘rejoice,’etc., have been used more than ten times in the first two chapters in thisletter, this is the first time that Paul is calling his readers to rejoice.

Itis important for us to appreciate the significance of this call. Firstly, wemust know that is our duty to rejoice. Just as a husband cannot excuse himselffor failing to love his wife because he has no more feelings for her, so aChristian cannot excuse himself for joylessness because the initial joy ofconversion has been forgotten or because of his circumstances. In chapter 4,Paul would enjoin us to rejoice in all circumstances (vv. 4–6), and he wouldalso recommend a remedy for those who find it hard to rejoice because of mentalor emotional impediments (vv. 7–9). But from Philippians 3:1, it is clear thatone of our Christian duties is to rejoice. Joylessness is sinful. Secondly,when Paul says: “Rejoice inthe Lord,” he is telling us that we do have a basis for rejoicing. He wouldrepeat the call again in chapter 4 (verses 4 and 10), and each time, he wouldsay, “Rejoice in the Lord.”He is essentially saying: “Rejoice not in anything else, but in the Lord.” Thisis important because it is the positive thesis of what he is going to saynegatively in the next few verses. He is warning his readers that finding joyin the wrong place could mean forsaking true, lasting joy.

Wrong Basis for Rejoicing

Thewrong basis for joy and confidence that had crept into the church was broughtin by the Judaizers. These were Jews who were apparently converted toChristianity, but in their zeal to maintain the Old Testament traditions taughtand insisted that Gentile Christians were required to be circumcised and tokeep the ceremonial laws of Moses (cf. Acts 15:1–2). Paul warns against themvery strongly:

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of theconcision (Phil 3:2).

Notice the triple bewares!‘Dogs,’ ‘evil workers’ and ‘concision’ all refer to the Judaizers; so, Paul isessentially stating the same warning three times: no doubt to emphasise howabsolutely important it is for the church to be continually on the look out forthem. The church must never let down her guard. Judaizers are dangerous toChristianity. It is not just a matter of opinion or of different conviction. Itis heresy.

Paul calls them ‘concision,’ which means ‘mutilatorsof the flesh’—referring to their insistence that the Gentiles should becircumcised. He calls them “evil workers” because they seem to be promoting theGospel, but is in fact serving another master. Most surprising, however, isthat he calls them dogs.

“Dog” was a term used by Jews to describe Gentiles.Psalm 22:16a, “For dogs have compassed me,” is prophetic that the Lord would besurrounded by Gentiles when He is on the cross. This was indeed fulfilledbecause it was Gentile Roman soldiers who crucified Him and then stood aroundthe cross. Similarly, the Lord Jesus said to the Syrophoenician woman, “Let thechildren first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, andto cast it unto the dogs” (Mk 7:27). Why then did Paul use the term ‘dogs’ todescribe the Jews? The answer is very simple. The term is not intended to be aderogatory term. When the Jews call Gentiles ‘dogs,’ they do not mean to saythat Gentiles are dirty or are like animals. Our Lord certainly would not havesaid that to the Syrophoenician woman if that is what the term is intended tomean. Rather, the term simply describes the fact that Gentiles are out of thecovenant community. In other words, by calling the Judaizers ‘dogs,’ Paul issaying that these are not in fact true believers. They may be Jewish bynationality, but not a true Jew (Rom 2:28–29). That is why he says in the nextverse:

For we are the circumcision,which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have noconfidence in the flesh (Phil 3:3).

Paul is saying that Christians who have no confidencein the flesh are the true circumcision. These rejoice that the ceremonial lawshave been fulfilled in Christ, and so worshipping God in spirit and in truth(cf. Jn 4:24) involves no more the external ceremonies. Moreover, genuineChristians, unlike the apostate Jews, do not think circumcision saves.Circumcision had its right and proper use as the sign and seal of covenant ofGod (Rom 4:11), but its significance had been abused by the apostate Jews.Moreover, a new sign had been instituted in its place. In his fuller treatiseagainst the Judaizers, Paul explains:

For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. Thereis neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither malenor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then areye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:27–29).

But here, Paul is not concerned with the theology ofcircumcision. He is concerned with the dangerous attitude and philosophy thatunderlie the thinking of the Judaizers, namely, confidence in the flesh or inreligiosity. He explains:

Though I might alsohave confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof hemight trust in the flesh, I more: [Ihave at least 7 more reasons than they have to boast:] [1] Circumcised the eighth day, [2] of the stock of Israel, [3] of the tribe of Benjamin, [4] an Hebrew of the Hebrews; [5]as touching the law, a Pharisee; [6] Concerning zeal, persecutingthe church;[7] touchingthe righteousness which is in the law, blameless (Phil 3:4–6).

Butthese credentials and marks of religion, which would be highly prized by theJews, he now counts as useless. And worst then useless, he counts them loss.

Right Basis for Rejoicing

But what things were gain to me,those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but lossfor the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I havesuffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may winChrist (Phil 3:7–8).

What was a big plus for him is now a colossal minus.He calls them: dung, or human excrement (Greek: skubalon). It was precisely allthese that caused him to believe he could attain salvation by works and causedhim not only to reject Christianity but to persecute Christians. But now withthe knowledge that he is a sinner saved by grace, Paul counts all his pastcredentials loss. Notice how he emphasises this four times:

When compared to the “excellency of the knowledge ofChrist,” i.e., the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ, what he hadconsidered gain earlier were no gain, but loss. Suddenly, he realises: “But weare all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”(Isa 64:6a). Indeed, they were a hindrance to him, because they blinded him inhis own self-righteousness. Thus he emphatically cast them away so that he mayknow Christ, so that he may gain Christ (cf. Mt 13:44–46).

But what does it mean to gainChrist or to know Christ. Paul explains:

Firstly, it involves justification:

And be found in him, not havingmine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through thefaith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (Phil 3:9).

To“win Christ and be found in Him” is to be found on Christ’s side or to bejustified by Christ’s righteousness. It involves the sinner recognising that,apart from Christ, he is nothing, have nothing and is unworthy of anything butdamnation, even at his best. He, therefore, has no confidence in himself, butgives Christ all the glory.

Secondly, it involves sanctification:

That I may know him, and thepower of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being madeconformable unto his death (Phil 3:10).

Itinvolves knowing Him experimentally. It involves being more and more like Him andexperiencing the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in his life insanctification. It involves not conforming to the world, but being transformeddaily, so that he may be conformed to Christ.

Thirdly, it involves glorification:

If by any means I might attainunto the resurrection of the dead (Phil 3:11).

Itinvolves perseverance to the very end (cf. Mt 10:22). Knowing Christ is notjust praying a sinner’s prayer. It is the beginning of the Christian journeythat would bring him unto the celestial city. It is a journey of faith,beginning with the armour of righteousness that Christ puts on him. It is ajourney of much tribulation, but he knows he would be helped by the HolySpirit. It is a journey he knows he would complete because he is in the hands ofGod the Father.

Incontrast to the mundane, spiritual impoverishment that characterises many aChristian life, Paul recognises the richness of his new life in Christ. He isable to walk in this newness of life because he was willing to serve only oneMaster (cf. Mt 6:24). The old is past, the new is come. He cannot continue tohold on to the old. He can no longer hang on to his old self-righteousness andhis own accomplishments and considering himself to be righteous and acceptableto God because of all these. He realises that these he had considered gain inthe past, are now the very weight that so easily beset him in his Christianrace. Like the writer of Hebrews, he casts them aside one by one. He recognisesthat if he were to put so much as a thread of hope on any of these, hisChristian journey would be greatly imperilled.

Conclusion

Whatought to be the singular, most important thing for the Christianbut “knowing Christ”? Paul expresses it in no uncertain terms when hesays:

I count all things but loss forthe excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.

However, it is so easy and tempting to put ourconfidence and our joy on other things, and use them as indicators of ourspiritual health.

Paul speaks of his heritage in that he was of the stockof Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and an Hebrew of Hebrews. Are you puttingconfidence in the fact that you are born in a godly family? If you do notrepent, your godly heritage can become a snarl to you. Why is it that so manypastors’ and elders’ children perished? Why it is that Hophni and Phinehasperished? Indeed, the parents are partly to be blamed, but I suspect that alarge part of the problem is that these who perish had placed their hope not onChrist but on their godly parents.

Paul speaks about his status in that he wascircumcised on the eight day, a Pharisee. Do you place your hope on yourbaptism rather than on Christ? Do you take pride that you are in a Reformedchurch or are Reformed by conviction, instead of being thankful that you are adisciple of Christ? Do you consider your Christianity better than others, andso you are a better Christian than your friends in other churches? Do you havea holier-than-thou attitude? I’m afraid if you do not repent, and begin totrust in Christ alone again, you may be side-stepping out of the way of life.

Paul speaks of his zeal in persecuting the church. Areyou secretly proud of your zeal: that you are better than those who do notattend all the appointed meetings in the church? Are you gauging your Christianlife by these? Beloved, your zeal may be as misdirected as the zeal of Saul ofTarsus, thinking that his zealousness would win him credit with God. It is goodthat you are attending to the means. But remember to check your heart and yourmotive, whether you are seeking to win the favour of God and man.

Finally, Paul speaks about his discipline andrighteousness in his being outwardly blameless according to the law. Are you soproud that you are more discipline than others in maintaining a regular dailydevotion, and you just cannot understand why other people cannot do as you do?Do you pride yourself that you are so strict in keeping the Law that you beginto be very judgmental about others. I am afraid, if this is the case, you couldbe obeying the Law for the wrong reasons.

Have you tasted of the“excellency of the knowledge of Christ,” beloved? Have you cast asideeverything that may hinder you in your knowing Christ, and fully hoping andtrusting in Him and Him alone? Have you been side-tracked by secondary issuesso that your Christian life is not about knowing Christ but about someconvictions which you have or do not have? Do you know a form of Christianitybut have forgotten Christ? Pray, ask the Lord to help you that your sight maybe refocused back to Chris