P H I L

LO G O S
I P P I A N S S t u d y t h r e e

A Challenge to Know Christ

1 Review Chapters 1 and 2.
B A C K . . .

What were the main themes? Application to your life?

L O O K I N G

Love for one another can have a powerful impact on those who are
outside the body of Christ looking in to see if we have
The following true story is a great example. anything worth seeking.
One summer while on a mission project with Campus
I asked what specifically
Crusade for Christ in Poland, I found myself in need of a
caused her to more openly
translator. My usual translator was away for a few days. I
consider God. She said, “It’s the
recruited a translator from another team, and we began
love I see that Jim and his wife
our three-mile walk to the village where we were
and all of the Americans on
teaching a group of college students. While we were
the team have for each other. I have
hiking along, I asked Gosha if she had been thinking more
never lived with a group of people who care so much for
about spiritual issues since she had been translating for us.
each other. It is obvious to me that their ability to live in such
I figured that any unbeliever who spent several hours a
harmony under stressful living conditions could only be
day translating Bible studies must be affected. She said
possible if God is truly in their lives. Being here with them has
that in fact she had been reflecting on her relationship
made me want God in my life too!”
with God more than ever before. Gosha seemed amazed
at herself because previous to that time she had no How does this story reflect the truths we studied in the first two
interest in God at all. chapters of Philippians?
A Challenge to Know Christ
PHILIPPIANS 3:1-21
In light of PaulÕs situation, why could he
rejoice?
Contrast false circumcision with true
circumcision. What are some things
you observe?
List some ways Christians put their
confidence in the flesh (3:3-4).
What do you learn about PaulÕs heart in
3:3 C ONTEXT : TRUE CIRCUMCISION
verses 7-12?
Contrast someone who puts knowing
Christ as top priority in his life with
someone who doesnÕt.
How do verses 8 and 9 relate to your walk with Christ?
What is involved in Òpressing onÓ (3:12-14)?
Why was it significant for Paul to Òforget what lies behind and reach forward
to what lies aheadÓ?
How can you apply this principle in your walk with God?
L I F E C H A N G E
What are some indicators in your life that you are putting confidence in the flesh?
How can you make knowing Him your top priority?
If you really consider Òeverything as loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ,Ó what changes would there be in your (a) priorities, (b) use of time,
(c) most important activities?
ISBN 1-88570-266-3 ©1996 WSN Press; Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc.
3:2 C ONTEXT : F ALSE CIRCUMCISION
One particular group in Paul’s day was
especially guilty of putting confidence
in the flesh. These were the Judaizers
(referred to as “dogs, mutilators of the
flesh, and false circumcision” NASB).
They plagued Paul and his converts
constantly. Confused about the
gospel, they added works of the law
to faith in Christ, both for salvation and
for Christian living. The Old Testament
rite of circumcision was of special
concern to them. They did not omit
faith in Christ but added works of the
flesh. Paul called such men “deceitful
workmen” (2 Corinthians 11:13).
John Walwoord and Roy Zuck, The Bible Knowledge
Commentary, (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1983) p. 659.
The Old Testament rite of physical
circumcision was not only a sign of
covenant relationship, but it was also
intended to be related to spiritual
circumcision of the heart (cf. Deut.
30:6). Writing to Gentiles, Paul made it
clear that he and they were the true
circumcision. This was because they had
no confidence in the flesh.
Ibid, p. 659
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Why would someone with these
accomplishments have reason
to celebrate?
Achievement can lead to self-confidence.
Is it good to be self-confident?
Why or why not? What does a healthy
self-confidence look like in the life
of a Christian?
SEEKING THE LORD
Paul said, “I count all things
but refuse, junk, garbage.” Why?
“Day by day, I continually reckon and
consider everything else in this world
and my life junk, for this one thing
that I may know Him.”
Now if I had been writing that, I
might have said, “that I might serve
Him.” Paul is coming to the end of
his life, as a matter of fact, he is in a
Roman prison while he writes this
letter. He is not even certain
whether he’ll escape with his
life, but as he writes he says, “I am
continually giving up everything and
counting everything but loss that I
may know Him.”
Now, Paul, I thought you already
knew Him. I mean, you met Him
on the road to Damascus 30, 40,
50 years ago. You already know
Him. What do you mean you
are counting everything but
loss that you may know Him?
The apostle Paul would say, “Well
you can know Him, and then you can
know Him some more.” You can
know Him and you can know Him
and you can know Him and you can
know Him some more. The Christian
life is not starting with Jesus and
graduating to something better. It is
starting with Jesus and ending up
with Jesus. –BY RON DUNN