Paul encourages the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord and warns them to beware of those who claim righteousness through works of the flesh or Jewish rituals alone. Though Paul formerly had strong Jewish pedigree and righteousness, he considers all of it as rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Paul's desire is to know Christ and his power, share in his sufferings, and attain the resurrection, not because of his own works but through faith in Christ alone.

1. Joy Robbers
Philippians 3:1-11

2. Philippians 3:1–11 (ESV)
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the
same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look
out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the
circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory
in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh
also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in
the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of
the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of
Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a
persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the
law, blameless.

3. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of
Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his
sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them
as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found
in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes
from the law, but that which comes through faith in
Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on
faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his
resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like
him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may
attain the resurrection from the dead.

4. Rejoice
1 Finally, my brothers,
rejoice in the Lord. To
write the same things to
you is no trouble to me
and is safe for you.
• Rejoice is an Imperative.
• It needs to be repeated.

6. Joy Killers
2 Look out for the dogs,
look out for the evildoers,
look out for those who
mutilate the flesh.
• Dogs – Jews used as a
derogatory term for
gentiles
• Evil Workers – thought
they were doers of
righteousness
• Mutilators of the flesh
instead of the true
circumcision.

7. True Circumcision
3 For we are the
circumcision, who worship
by the Spirit of God and
glory in Christ Jesus and
put no confidence in the
flesh—
• True circumcision:
– They that worship by the
Spirit of God
– They that boast not in
the person of Christ
Jesus and what he has
done for them.
– They that do not put
confidence in who they
are or what they’ve
done.

8. Contrast
Verse 2 – Those that claim
to be the Circumcised
Verse 3 – True
Circumcision
“those dogs” “the true people of God”
“those evilworkers” “the ones who serve in
God’s Spirit”
“the mutilators” “the ones who place their
confidence in Jesus Christ
and not in Jewish rituals”

10. DO WE PUT CONFIDENCE IN WHO AND
WHAT WE ARE OR WHAT WE HAVE
DONE (FLESH)?

11. Boast in Self?
4 though I myself have
reason for confidence in
the flesh also. If anyone
else thinks he has reason
for confidence in the
flesh, I have more:
• If anyone could boast in
himself it would be
Paul.
• What do you boast in?

12. By Jewish Standards, Paul Had it all.
5 circumcised on the eighth
day, of the people of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin, a
Hebrew of Hebrews; as to
the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to
zeal, a persecutor of the
church; as to righteousness
under the law, blameless.
• He was born a Jew, not a
convert.
• Both of his parents were
Jews through the tribe of
Benjamin.
• As a Pharisee, the most
stringent in law keeping.
• Persecutor of the church.
• Righteous concerning the
ceremonial law.

14. What are your trophies
• Heritage
• Denomination
• Wealth
• Education
• Intellect
• Works
• I did it my way?

15. Give it Up for Christ
7 But whatever gain I had,
I counted as loss for the
sake of Christ.
• Anything you trust in
other than Christ is
flesh.

17. Not just his trophies
8 Indeed, I count
everything as loss because
of the surpassing worth of
knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord.
• Nothing is as valuable
as knowing Christ Jesus
our Lord.

19. What we consider valuable
may be dung.
For his sake I have
suffered the loss of all
things and count them as
rubbish, in order that I
may gain Christ 9 and be
found in him,
• What we put
confidence in short-
circuits our relationship
with Christ.
• We may have it, but if
we don’t have Christ,
we have nothing.

21. Righteousness
not having a righteousness
of my own that comes from
the law, but that which
comes through faith in
Christ, the righteousness
from God that depends on
faith—
• Not what we have done,
but what he has done.
• Not doing, but trusting.
• Our righteousness is not
in self, but in Christ.
• We are not righteous
because we are righteous.
We are righteous because
he is righteous, and
through his righteousness
we are declared
righteous.

22. NOT WHO AND WHAT WE ARE, BUT
WHO AND WHAT WE ARE BECOMING.

23. Knowing Him above all
10 that I may know him
and the power of his
resurrection, and may
share his sufferings,
becoming like him in his
death, 11 that by any
means possible I may
attain the resurrection
from the dead.
• I want to know Him (not
just doctrinally,
experientially).
• I want to know all that
the resurrection did for
us.
• I want to share in his
suffering so I can be like
him.