qualifications. Who could begin to match his spiritual pedigree. He was not a proselyte to the Jewish faith but born of parents who were both Hebrew. In addition his dis tinction was being a member of the illustrious tribe of Benjamin which gave Israel her first king. As far as the law was concerned he was a Pharisee. These were the strictest and most author itative sect of the Jews. No one could question his zeal in the light of the way he persecuted. All of these things in their sum total (vs. 7) were not worth the slightest bit. Paul looks on them simply as ref use compared to what he gained in finding Christ. All these things were far out-weighed by the gain of knowing the Saviour. His right eousness was not his own, but what he received by imputation from faith in Christ. Consider briefly the phrase "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ." This is what he sought. This is a day of knowledge. It is obviously very, very important. Probably no generation since ours has seen such tremendous strides in every area of learning. Already our men have been on the moon. In the field of medicine, heart trans plants have proven to be effective. It is a fantastic day to be sure. But all of this is to no avail unless we know Him. What good is it if a man with all of his learning can make such progress and yet lose his own soul? The knowledge of Jesus Christ is excellence. Only through this can we become par takers of the divine knowledge. Money and Happiness Paul explains, "Christ is the pres ent gain that shelters His people." He prays, "That I may gain Christ."
had risked his life in order to bring the love offering to Paul. The man who holds himself as one worthy of honor and esteem is not the one whom God honors. We must be willing to take the lowly path, seeking not great things for self. This is the person whom the Lord will exalt in due season. Beware of False Teachers The third chapter of Philippians deals with "Christ, the object of the believer's faith." On the sur face it may seem that Paul intended to bring his letter to a conclusion as we note the word "finally" with which he begins. The Holy Spirit directed him to record some of the most important and moving ma terial in all of the Scriptures as we see 4:7. We cannot help but note his urging to "rejoice in the Lord." Drawing near to the end he wants to pass out a very necessary word of exhortation. He knows that spir itual dangers surround us with false teachings. He follows this with a very sol emn warning, "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision." His reference to dogs has to do with false teachers. Evil workers meant those who were breeders of mischief. Those of the concision were the mere external- lists. The word comes from the idea of mere mutilators of the flesh. In contrast he avows, "For we are of the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confi dence in the flesh" (vs. 3). People are prone to point to their own works. Certainly, if man ever had reason to do so this would have been true of Paul. Beginning with the 4th verse he outlines his
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