< Philippians 3 >

The apostle warned the disciples to beware of those who would lead them away from the truth, especially those of high status among men. The apostle therefore reminded them of his own previous status. Paul certainly had been a great man among the Jews but he gave up everything for Christ, counting all human glory as dung, that he might “attain unto the resurrection of the dead”. Paul had no ideas of glory at death, such as the Pagans and apostate Christians possess. His hope was for the same resurrection that Jesus experienced, to take place at Christ’s return.

Paul explained that in striving for the promised reward he was like an athlete in the Greek games. Like a runner in an Olympic race, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. The prize is exceedingly great, much more glorious than gold medals, for it is eternal life with Jesus in the Kingdom of God and the rulership of the nations. Therefore the apostle urged the disciples to have the same motivation, to be “thus minded” and to “be followers together of me” and of those who took him for an example.

The citizens of Philippi were very proud of their Roman citizenship, their colony being modelled on Rome itself. They could boast: “our citizenship is in Rome”, but the disciples had a far higher status than that: “Our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” v.20.Waiting for response for Philippians 3:20 Paul and the first Christians looked for Jesus to come from heaven to set up a political organisation in the earth which will be heavenly. Their anticipation of this event was heightened by the knowledge that, after resurrection, their bodies would be transformed from mortal and corruptible to immortal and incorruptible, for Jesus “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the power whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself”. v.21Waiting for response for Philippians 3:21