Our reading today is Philippians 3, but I digress into 4:1 for a moment because that really is the concluding thought of chapter 3. (Always remember that the chapter markings aren't inspired; they're man made breaks that sometimes don't make much sense). 4:1 says, "Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends." When I read that verse I have a question. My question is what does the word "that" stand for? How is Paul telling us that we should stand firm in our Christian faith? There is a lot of pressure on Christians today. How do we manage to keep on doing the right thing?
The answer to my question the meaning of "that" is found in the opening word of verse 1 "therefore."
Therefore links the meaning of that back to what Paul has discussed in chapter 3. If we want to know how to stand firm, we need to understand chapter 3.
In chapter 3, Paul gives us a warning about legalism. In verses 2-4, he writes: "Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence" (NIV, 1984). If you have been with us for our study on Galatians you know the type people that Paul is speaking about. He is speaking about false teachers who would tell the Philippians that they have to obey the Old Testament Law and that they have to be circumcised if they would be saved and be good Christians. Paul says in verses 1-11 the Philippians are not to follow such teachers. Instead of following the legalism of these men, the Philippians are to follow the example and pattern given by Paul (verse 17).
The point of chapter 3 is similar to what we studied in Galatians yesterday morning. Legalism will not help you stand firm in your faith. It will not allow you to grow spiritually. Instead, the key to standing firm is to follow the pattern of Paul's teaching. Paul doesn't specifically identify that pattern here but we know it from Galatians. The pattern of standing firm is yielding to the Holy Spirit, allowing God to conquer our sinful nature so that we can be obedient and follow Jesus' Lordship. In Philippians 3, Paul makes the very same point that we saw in Galatians. Law and legalism will not make you righteous. Righteousness comes only through Jesus and the Spirit.
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