"CHRISTIANS REJOICE IN THE LORD BECAUSE THEIR FOCUS IS FIXED ON HIM ALONE."

Singing: (Psalms and Hymns are from the "Book of Praise" Anglo Genevan Psalter)
Psalm 33:1,6
Psalm 10:2,7
Psalm 123:1,2
Psalm 32:5
Psalm 25:7,10

Beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ!

I had interrupted the sermon series on Philippians some months ago in favor of material that required less preparatory work on my part; with the sermons of the flood I could draw upon work I had done in the past. This gave me more time to prepare myself for Synod. Now that my work in Synod is over, I should pick up the series on Philippians again. We’d come to the end of chap 2, and so need to look at chap 3.

As it is, congregation, chap 3 has given commentators no end of headaches. Even as we read the chapter, we puzzle as to what Paul’s line of thought in the chapter might be. The chapter comes across as disjointed, unconnected. Vs 1 seems to introduce Paul’s concluding remarks to the Philippians: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord…." Then in vs 2 the apostle suddenly becomes passionate about some false doctrine: "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!", and Paul goes on to show how the gospel of Christ is richer than the Judaists could imagine. What, we wonder, might the connection be between vs 1 and this section about the Judaizers, vss 2-11?

And so I can go on. Various commentators are convinced that Paul did not write Phil 3 in one sitting, in fact, some go so far as to argue that vs 1 actually belongs to Philippians but vss 2ff are parts of a different letter that somehow ended up in the middle of this letter to the Philippians but doesn’t belong.

Now, that persons who deny the inspiring work of the Holy Spirit upon Paul would say such things may be understandable. But that doesn’t make it right. The Holy Spirit moved Paul to write what he wrote in this chapter (2 Peter 1:21), and He has preserved it for our edification today (cf Belgic Confession, Article 7). The chapter contains one message, one flow of thought, and it is for us to try to follow this line of thought and listen to the Lord’s instruction here.

Why I mention what I have just said? I mention it to make clear that Paul’s thought is not always easy to follow (cf 2 Peter 3:15f), and this chapter is one such example. Yet faithful, reformed exegetes have shown the way, agree that the chapter has one main message, and the kernel of the message is its opening line: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord."

I summarize the sermon with this theme:

CHRISTIANS REJOICE IN THE LORD BECAUSE THEIR FOCUS IS FIXED ON HIM ALONE.

You will recall from earlier sermons on this letter that Paul found reason to give God thanks for the faith of the Philippians (1:3,5). At the same time, though, Paul also had concerns about these Philippians. He knew that the Christians of Philippi were divided and letting their conduct to each other be determined by selfish ambition. Hence the instruction of 2:2f: "fulfill my joy be being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit…." To help the Philippians overcome their selfishness, the apostle had reminded them of Jesus’ self-emptying (2:5ff). Though true God with the Father and the Spirit, Jesus did not consider His God-head something He could insist upon; rather, He emptied Himself, became a man, came in the form of a slave, even went to the cursed cross. Here was no selfishness; here was self-emptying for the sake of the unworthy. That’s the high example Paul wants the Philippians to follow, and that’s also why he sent Timothy and Epaphroditus to Philippi (2:19ff) – persons who could demonstrate in deeds what this self-emptying is all about (cf 2:20f). So the Philippians had a task to do: deny the self for the sake of the other….

Now what do you think, congregation: how shall the Philippians concretely go about applying that instruction of chap 2? It’s about half a year ago that we here in Kelmscott listened to the word of the Lord in chap 2, that is, about half a year ago that we were confronted with the need to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but instead, "in lowliness of mind" to "esteem others better than himself" – as Paul says it in 2:3. How, concretely, have you gone about esteeming others better than yourself, beloved? Have we made progress on the point, so that there is greater self-emptying with us all, and more sensitivity for the other? That question begs the next question: how, concretely, does one go about making progress on those point? How does one get past the other’s weaknesses so that each can esteem the other better than himself?

Here, brothers and sisters, is the point of the apostle in our text. "Finally, my brethren," he writes, "rejoice in the Lord." The term ‘finally’ translates a Greek word that means "as for what remains to be said." That is: given what Paul has said in the first two chapters about self-emptying and looking out for the needs of others, there’s one thing that still remains to be said on this topic, and that’s this…, and now Paul proceeds to cover the leftover piece in detail.

That leftover piece is the instruction to "rejoice in the Lord." With that instruction the apostle answers the question we asked before: how, concretely, are the Philippians to apply the instruction of chap 2 to themselves? How, concretely, can they get past each other’s weaknesses and so in real terms consider the other better than themselves, deny the self for the sake of the other – as Jesus did? This is Paul’s answer: they can do that through "rejoicing in the Lord".

What, now, does ‘rejoicing’ mean? Paul had written in chap 2 that the very same Jesus who emptied himself to the point of death has been exalted to God’s right hand. In fact, so exalted is He that every knee should bow to Him, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We catch the point: this Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords. Specifically, He is our Lord, who governs all things perfectly for the benefit of His people. It follows: under His sovereignty there is place for joy (cf 1 Kings 4). That is also why the apostle tells the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord," that sovereign Ruler over all.

Still, what is this ‘joy’? The term, we must realize, does not describe in first instance a feeling but an activity. The activity is that one’s focus is fixed on the Lord, and that fixation produces the emotion of joy, an emotion that in turn is expressed through song and praise. That’s clear when we look at some Old Testament roots of this expression in the book of Psalms.

That’s the drift of Paul’s thought too. You cannot "rejoice in the Lord" when you’re not looking at God. You can’t "rejoice in the Lord" when you’re staring at the brokenness of life. And it’s true: it’s human to stare at the sin behind Ps 32 or at the adversity that comes from God’s heavy hand – and not to look at God Himself though He gave His Son to pay for sin. It is human to stare at the marvels of creation, the broad skies, the gorges of the Pilbara, the thunderous waves of the sea – and not to see the Creator’s power and love in the things He made. It is human to stare oneself blind at the injustice of people who do you wrong, especially if they are brothers in the church – and not at the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who directs all things for the good of His people. But in all three psalms –and I can mention so many more- David does not look at things of this earth –be it his unconfessed sins or the oppression he felt, be it the marvels of creation, be it the hurt he experiences from sinful brothers- David does not look at the things of this earth, but at His God and His work, and so he rejoices, breaks out into songs of praise. That is the nature of "rejoicing in the Lord": one’s eye is on God, not on things of this earth.

This, brothers and sisters, is what the apostle wants for the Philippians. He wants them to "rejoice in the Lord", and the only way the Philippians can do that is to get their eyes off of things on this earth, off of each other and each other’s short-comings, off of themselves and what they themselves deserve; they are instead to focus their attention on the Lord – and that will prompt them break out into songs of praise to Him.

For a congregation characterized by the spirit described in 2:3f (where members were considering themselves better than the other, where the faults of the other bothered them and their own abilities puffed them up), here was very pointed instruction. The only way the Philippians can carry out Paul’s instruction is by getting their eyes off themselves, off each other! The only way the Philippians can "rejoice in the Lord" is by fixing their attention on the Lord and His glory. And you know: to the extend that one looks at the Lord, so that same extent one can’t be fixated on the shortcomings of those around you – and so consider the self better than the other. Conversely: to the extent that one’s eye is fixed on things of this life (be it how good I am or how bad, be it how good the other is or how bad) to the same extent one’s eye is not focused on the Lord – and therefore one can’t rejoice in the Lord. This is Paul’s point: the eye must be focused on the Lord, not on people! That is Paul’s recipe to get the Christians of Philippi to apply the instruction of chap 2 in their own lives.

That brings us to our second point:

For here’s the problem: it’s so human to look away from the Lord, to look instead at things of the earth. You will know that there were Christians in the days of Paul who insisted that you had to do particular works in order to make God happy with you. Specifically, there was a group known as Judaizers who insisted that Gentiles could become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ plus getting oneself circumcised. You know what happens: even if Christ’s work on the cross counts for 98% of your salvation, you will be forever looking at the last 2%, as to whether you have done enough yourself to keep God happy. So your ability to rejoice in the Lord is undermined; you’re busy in your mind with yourself, whether you have done enough.

That is why the apostle in vs 2 warns against these Judaizers. "Dogs," he calls them, "evil workers," those who mutilate the flesh. Then the apostle puts himself forward as an example to the Philippians of how they ought to stay focused on Christ. Says Paul: if these Judaizers want to boast in the flesh, in own accomplishments, I can boast also – and so give reason to fix my attention on something earthly, myself. Says Paul: I’m circumcised on the eighth day, exactly according to the law. I’m "of the stock of Israel," a true son of Abraham by birth and therefore a covenant child. I’m "of the tribe of Benjamin" from where Israel’s first king came and the tribe Moses blessed as "beloved of the Lord" (Dt 33:12). I’m "a Hebrew of the Hebrews," no half-breed in any way. And if my ancestry isn’t enough, I can boast that I’m a Pharisee in keeping the law – punctual. I’m full of zeal for God – witness how zealously I persecuted the church. His point: if anyone has reason to put his finger behind his suspender in the courts of God, I have! Or, to put the matter differently: if anyone has reason to look in the mirror and be pleased with what he sees, I have! Look at things on earth, get my eyes off the Lord? If anybody has cause to do that, I do!

But, he hastens to add, "what things were gain for me, these I have counted loss for Christ" (vs 7). Or vs 8: whatever I see in myself is "rubbish", is of no value (good though it might be by human standards), compared to what I received from Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ has laid down His life so that sinners might be righteous through His blood! This is the gospel in its wonderful splendor: people, whether good or bad by human standards, are made righteous before God through the work of Christ on the cross. In Christ is displayed the wonderful mercy and kindness of God Most High, and so, says Paul, there’s only one thing I really want to know, and that is Christ Jesus my Lord! And how shall I get to know Him? Certainly not by focusing on earthly things! Why then shall I boast in my accomplishments – and so look away from my Savior?! Forget it! If the Lord has emptied Himself so much for our salvation, then there’s one place alone for me to fix my gaze, and that’s on Christ Jesus alone! Looking at things on the earth is like staring at rubbish; it’s foolish and it’s demoralizing! Look instead at the Lord, delight in the redemption He graciously obtained on the cross, and so praise Him!

Are the Philippians to understand, then, that Paul is streets ahead of them in fixation on the Lord? Are they to understand that there is no struggle left in Paul on the point, that he’s never tempted to get bogged down on the things of this earth – be it one’s own achievements or disasters, be it another’s achievements or transgressions? No, Paul hastens to add in vs 12: "not that I have already attained, or am already perfected." To rejoice in the Lord day after day is no easy matter. There is so much busyness that demands our attention, so much suffering that distracts our focus away from God, so much hurt that others inflict upon us so that we get bogged down in the dirt of this life so that we no longer see God. Paul too struggles with the point (cf Rom 7). But, he adds in vs 12, "I press on," I keep striving to "lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." That is why, vs 13, Paul "forgets those things which are behind" and he "reaches forward to those things which are ahead." The picture is of an athlete on the track, and what’s on his mind as he’s running the race is not some unhappy event of his past life, nor is it where his competitors are on the track. But his mind is fixed firmly and alone on the finish line, that’s all his eye sees. So Paul: his mind’s not busy with those miserable Jews who instigated that riot so that he ended up in prison, and his mind is not busy with the discomforts of prison life or with the freedom he’s lost. His mind is not busy with his own background, his heritage, his privileges. One thing he has in mind, and that is Christ, the prize of knowing this Christ well. He’s determined that nothing at all should detract from seeing Christ – and therefore delighting in Him.

Having said that, the apostle in vs 15 rallies the Philippians behind him. He wants them, according to their maturity, to "have this mind" also. That is: these Philippians are no longer to look at themselves as if they are better than their neighbor, nor to look at the other as if he were worse than I. But they are to have the same mind as Paul, that is, with him to have their eye fixed on the finish line, on the Lord Jesus Christ. Boast of self, how good one is? Whatever good things one can accomplish is so much rubbish compared to the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus the Lord (cf vs 8). So: "let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind" – all with eyes fixed on the Christ, so that in turn we all can rejoice in Him.

Even now, though, Paul can’t end his encouragement to the Philippians. He repeats his point in vs 17: "Brethren, join in following my example." Why does he repeat that encouragement? Paul gives the reason in vs 18: "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame," and then Paul sums up their basic problem: they "set their minds on earthly things." They may come to church with you, may call themselves Christians and speak of the Lord Jesus Christ, but –says Paul to the Philippians- their focus is not heaven but earth, what fills their mind is not Christ and His saving work but their own accomplishments, their own comforts, their own egos. These are the people who keep looking to people, who want the bigger this and the better that. These are the people who put down the brother to make themselves feel better. It’s so tempting to follow the example of such folk, to get caught up with what other people think, to copy what other people do, to satisfy one self; it’s so human. But the common denominator in all such attitudes, says Paul, is the earthiness of it all, and that’s what makes it so wrong. Such people are enemies of the cross of Christ, enemies because their eye is not fixed on Christ and therefore they cannot praise the God who gave His only Son to ransom sinners – to the great praise of God Most High! So: don’t follow their example. Instead –vs 20- be aware that "our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." The point of the word ‘citizenship’ here is that the Christian’s headquarters are in heaven, that’s where his Lord and Master is to whom he looks for instructions, guidance, comfort, perspective, peace. Then yes, the Christian lives on this earth, indeed. But the Christian is not earth-centered! He’s not earth-centered because his headquarters is in heaven, and therefore his focus is heaven. Chap 2:9: God has highly exalted His Son, and where is this Son exalted? It’s in heaven! From heaven this Son rules over all the earth, is Lord of lords before whom every knee will bow. From heaven He will come again to transform our lowly body to be conformed to His glorious body. So the Christian’s focus is not on earth, but in heaven.

Since that’s the reality of things, Paul can conclude this section of his epistle with that stirring admonition of 4:1: "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved." How shall they stand fast in the Lord? By being distracted by earthly attractions? By sizing each other up and finding the self better than the other? Or maybe even the other better than the self? Paul wants to see nothing of that amongst the Philippians! Though broken by selfishness and division, the Philippians must "so stand fast in the Lord". That is: the Lord must be their focus. They need to rejoice in Him, delight in His work of salvation, and that will cause them to overcome the divisions and selfishness they have in their midst at the moment.

We realize: here is so much instruction for us today. We experience tensions and disagreements in our marriages and family life, tensions because we keep seeing each other’s brokenness. We taste distance between brothers and sisters in the congregation, distance because we trip over each other’s weaknesses. We view others in the bond of churches with a measure of distrust, distrust because we wonder where they’re really coming from. Selfishness, own accomplishments, own agendas: they’re as common with us as they were with the Philippians. The Holy Spirit sets before us the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He did not insist on His own rights, how He emptied Himself to serve the unworthy. In chap 3 the apostle tells the Philippians how to apply that instruction in the midst of their brokenness. They can apply it only by making it their business to "rejoice in the Lord." Being joyful in God, bursting with praise for Him is possible only when one’s eye is fixed on Him, sees Him and not the brokenness or the competition of this life.

That’s the instruction we need to take to heart to overcome the tensions in our lives. After all, when we "rejoice in the Lord" we’re no longer looking at others’ brokenness.  Amen.