An interesting map is on display in the British Museum in London. It's an old mariner's chart, drawn in 1525, outlining the North American coastline and adjacent waters. The cartographer made some intriguing notations on areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored. He wrote: "Here be giants," "Here be fiery scorpions," and "Here be dragons." Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, a British explorer in the early 1800s. Scratching out the fearful inscriptions, he wrote these words across the map: "Here is God." All those former misconceptions had to be conquered before they could really get anywhere.
The Apostle Paul finds himself here in an interesting position – one in which he defends his ministry in the present by defending his past. It is well known that Paul’s heart’s desire was to see Israel saved – yet he was called of God as the Apostle to the Gentiles – and Peter was given the dubious distinction of Apostle to the Jews. It’s interesting though that it was Peter who opened the door of the gospel to the Gentiles when he led Cornelius to the Lord – and it was Paul who wrote most of his epistles to the Jews in the various ports of call to which he ministered.
So it is in this passage in Philippians. Paul finds himself using his past life as a Jew’s Jew giving his defense of his calling. What he was actually doing in this passage was warning the Gentile Christians in Philippi of the false doctrine that some Jewish Christians were spreading around, that the Gentiles would have to be circumcised in order to be saved and follow Christ. Paul was refuting this erroneous doctrine. He told them, “If anyone deserves salvation based on Jewish heritage, it’s me. I was born a Jew – circumcised a Jew – raised a Jew – educated in the Scriptures – trained as a Pharisee – courted as a member of the Sanhedrin – followed a career path of persecuting the followers of Jesus – lost as a goose. All of that did me no good. I had to lose myself in Christ in order to find myself in Christ.” Then he explained in the next few verses exactly how he had to get rid of all his misconceptions about his former life and turn to Christ.
First, in verse 9, he had to be found in Him. He said that his own righteousness wasn’t enough to be found in Him – he had to lose all those things that he counted dear – he had to suffer loss. And Christ had to be found in him for him to be found in Christ – he had to put on the righteousness of Christ, which is completely by faith in Him. That faith is what is important – “For by grace are ye saved through faith (Eph 2:8).” He had to be found in Christ through faith.
And then, in verse 10, he had to fellowship with Him – “The fellowship of his sufferings.” How? Through the power of His resurrection and conforming to His death, he had to follow Him (v. 12), forget the past, and reach forth for the future (v. 13). These are some difficult steps, but they would eventually lead him to “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (v. 14).” This is the ultimate goal – to reach the prize – a difficult task indeed, but reachable with God’s help (v. 15). He had to partake in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings to reach for the prize.
Lastly, in verse 21, he had to be fashioned like Him. He was to do this by changing his walk from an enemy of the cross of Christ (v. 18), changing his desires from earthly things (v. 19), and changing his conduct to a heavenly look for the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 20). Romans 12:1 tells us to “present our bodies a living sacrifice,” and in verse 2 to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” In Philippians 2:5, he tells us to “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Only when he became fashioned like Christ was he able to go forward for Him.
Quote – “The Bible is our “Him” Book – It’s all about “Him.” – Dr. Jimmy Robbins
