Paul and the Philippians Christians face real uncertainty, complexity and difficulty.
In chapter 3 Paul is saying Christ is where his confidence starts and finishes. In verses 3:1-10 Paul shows his confidence doesn’t start in religious practices or religious achievements. His confidence starts with Christ’s death and resurrection and his participation in it. Everything else is, to put it politely, refuse.
In these days, our confidence doesn’t start with our technology, our reach, our finances, or our broadband, our confidence is in Christ.
In Chapter 3:17-21 Paul shows us his confidence ends with the resurrected Christ returning and giving us our own resurrected bodies. As we participate in his death and suffering so too, we’ll receive our own resurrection bodies just as he has.
Paul’s confidence starting and finishing in Christ challenges me personally in three ways:
- Is my first priority being in communication with my Saviour?
- Am I content that our church family has enough resources because we have Jesus?
- Am I happy simply bringing offline church online, or am I open to serious adaptation for the sake of gospel in this new environment?
