Editor's Message

The apostle Paul was in prison. He did not know when he would be released and some on the outside were preaching in such a way as to "add affliction to my bonds," Phil.1.16. His work was being attacked, division in the assembly was a possibility and there were some who were in danger of giving way to the enemy.

He did receive encouragement by the arrival of Epaphroditus who brought with him a gift of fellowship from the saints at Philippi. As he wrote the letter of acknowledgement he sought to encourage them in the ways of the Lord. In the midst of all his problems and the darkness of the situation he told them again and again of joy and rejoicing. The lesson is clear, if we are to overcome the difficulties surrounding us we must not become sour in our souls but retain a spirit of joy in the Lord. He did not enjoy the circumstances but he enjoyed in the Lord in spite of them.

Thus in chapter three he is looking up. This is the direction with which we need to be more occupied. Often looking around will depress and discourage but there is no discouragement with Him. Yet it did not mean that Paul was oblivious to the need around. Hence in the chapter we find him: WARNING; WRESTLING; WEEPING; WATCHING.

WARNING - v2 "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision."

He is not afraid to identify the sources of error and he specifies each by using the word ‘beware’ three times and each carries the definite article. THE dogs = their UNCLEAN CHARACTER and they were SAVAGE. THE evil workers = UNGODLY CONDUCT and they were SINFUL. THE concision = UNSCRIPTURAL CREED and they were SUNDERING. They mutilated the truth of God and we still need to be warned against such so as to avoid both them and their evil teaching.

However, he did not dwell on these unworthy people. He had a greater desire and that was to appreciate the full reason for his salvation. Thus he was WRESTLING, v12 "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." He appreciated that even after 30 years of Christian experience the fulness of salvation was still to be pursued. Too few have an exercise about this matter and they meander through life without finding the path God would have for their lives.

As he considered the situation around him, even though he was rejoicing in the Lord we find him WEEPING. "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things,)" v18-19. He does not so much listen to their talk but he looks at their walk and comes to the conclusion that these are "the enemies of the cross of Christ." In our day, some would tell us not to judge, not to be harsh, be ever so tolerant, until the situation arrives when almost anything and anybody is accepted as being Christian. The apostle underlines throughout his ministry that it is not a profession, nor a story, not a date on the calendar, not even a verse of Scripture which proves the reality of salvation - it is a life of godliness. His conclusion was not that of a hard austere preacher. It caused him to weep.

What will lift his spirit and ours?

WATCHING, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself," v20-21.

We do not find our solace in the murky political world. "Our conversation" or our citizenship, commonwealth, politics "is in heaven." The word ‘is’, is not just the verb "to be" but as 2.6 "BEING in the form of God" ie, it is something fixed and unchangeable. We are absolutely sure of heaven and show by our living that our citizenship is there. Because we desire to be there "we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:" The word "look" implies that we do this with eagerness. Not a casual glance but an intense desire to see the Man we love.

What a change will take place then! These bodies of humiliation will undergo a tremendous change. There will be a change outwardly, a transformation, v21 "Who shall change" and a change inwardly, "it may be fashioned." The person is changed at conversion, the body at the rapture. With this John agrees, "when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is," 1Jn.3.2.

My dear fellow believers, as we see the darkness around us deepening and the love of many waxing cold, let us WARN; WRESTLE; WEEP; and above all WATCH. This may be the year when we all go to heaven together and see Him whom our souls adore. Amen!