Philippians 3:16 says, Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  Paul told the Christians to walk according to the salvation that they had already attained by faith.  They were not to obey God to attain salvation, but because they already had by accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  Like them, we are to walk in obedience to our faith, not to attain salvation, but because as followers of Christ, we have already attained it.  Verse seventeen states,  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  Paul said that they were to look to him as an example.  At this time, he was imprisoned for his faith.  Of course, Paul did not say that he was the only one that they could use for an example of faithfulness to Christ, but he did say that any others that they used should walk in faith as he did.  I believe too often today we use those who profess to follow Christ and are very successful materially as examples to follow.  At times, they may even encourage us to use them as example if we want to be materially successful, but we were never promised material success in the world, so I believe that we need to be wary of them.  It is not impossible to be a Christian and be rich, but when someone declares that if we are faithful enough to Christ that He will make us rich, then they need to look at Paul, who instead of being rich was imprisoned.  Verse eighteen adds,  (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:  Then verse nineteen concludes, Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  I believe that this is as clear a warning as there can be that not all who profess to be Christians really are.  Paul said that he had already warned the followers of Christ at Philippi about them, and that he did so with weeping.  Paul said that these who professed to follow Christ but didn't were ruled by their belly, or material things.  We need to be just as concerned about those who proclaim any way of faith other than the way of the cross.  If we are only following Christ for material success, then we are attempting to follow for the wrong reason.  Verse twenty declares, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Paul said their conversation was in heaven from whence they looked for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul was referring too all those whom it was good to follow as an example.  Our life today should point others to Jesus Christ and should always be lived in obedience to Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, 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.  I believe that Paul was referring to a change that will occur as soon as we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Though we may still live in this same old body for the rest of our life, we are to become a new creature by Christ.  Though we will not be perfect, we are a part of the family of God from the day we accept Jseus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and it should change our very nature.

Philippians 3:8 says, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  Paul had been a powerful man in the Jewish religion.  He was well educated and looked up to by his peers.  He said counted this all as nothing but a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ as his Lord.  I don't believe that this means he had given up so much, but that what he had before, no matter how of much importance it was viewed by the world and by himself, was worth nothing.  Paul was saying not that he had sacrificed, but that he had gained.  We need to have that same attitude today.  We cannot look back feeling that we lost anything when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse nine states, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  Paul said he found righteousness through Christ and not through the law.  Righteousness can only come by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  We might try to find a right relationship with God through the law of God, and if anyone could, Paul could have, but he knew it was impossible.  Righteous, being in a right relationship with God, comes only through faith in Christ.  Verse ten declares, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  By faith. Paul could know Jesus Christ.  By faith, we can know Jesus Christ.  Paul knew the power that came from the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ defeated sin and death by his resurrection.  Paul said that by faith he could know the fellowship of the sufferings of Christ.  We need that same type faith today.  We are not called to great affluence and power when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but are called to be humble servants, taking up our cross daily.  Paul was willing to follow Jesus Christ even if it cost him his life.  The question is, "Are we?"  Verse eleven adds, If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  I believe that Paul was saying that he would willingly give up everything, even his life, to have an everlasting relationship with Christ.  I don't believe that he was questioning whether he might have this relationship, but was stating the truth of the fact that he did.  We today can have that same assurance.  Verse twelve continues, 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.  Paul said he knew had not attained perfection, but that he strived for it through his faith in Christ.  He said he had been apprehended by Christ.  We today, as followers of Christ, are not perfect, but we are to strive for perfection through our faith in Christ.  Everything in our life should be apprehended, or controlled, by our faith in Christ.  Verse thirteen states, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  Paul said he hadn't achieved perfection, but that he did not look back on what he had before becoming a Christian, but that he looked ahead to what he was through his relationship with Christ.  Likewise, we cannot look back but must look ahead by faith in Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Paul said he pressed on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God through Jesus Christ.  We should recognize what a great calling we have through Christ today, and daily walk by faith in Him.  Verse fifteen concludes, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  Paul asked that all the believers in Christ in Philippi be of a like mind as he was.  This is still the way that we should be as followers of Christ today.

Philippians 3:1 says, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.  It might seem strange to start a chapter with finally, but we have to remember that Paul did not write chapters and verses but a letter.  Chapters and verses were added many years later, but they in no way change the message.  Paul said that the Christians at Philippi were to rejoice in the Lord.  We should always rejoice in the Lord if we are followers of  Christ.  Paul said wetting these things was not grievous to him and for them it was safe.  Sharing God's word with others should never be grievous to us, and if it is accepted, it should bring spiritual safety to those who accept it.  Verse two warns, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.  These dogs were not the four legged creatures, but people who would lead the believers in Christ at Philippi away from God, as were evil workers and those that would lead them to concision, or arguments and disagreements.  We need to beware of these same type people today, and we certainly should never be one of them.  Verse three adds, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  Circumcision was a physical act that identified the people of Israel as the people of God.  Paul said that those who believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord were the circumcision, or people of God, now.  This was not a physical act, but a spiritual one, and they were to have no confidence in any physical acts to bring them into a right relationship with God.  Salvation is a spiritual relationship and always has been, even when the people of Israel used a physical act to identify as God's people.  The people still had to personally believe in God as the Creator, Sustainer, and ultimate Redeemer of humanity.  Verse four declares, Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Paul begins to give his credentials, not to say that this saved him, but to say that it didn't.  We can come from the best Christian family and be educated in the best Christian schools and it does not save us, just as Paul's earthly credentials did not save him.  Verse five adds, Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  It would be hard for anyone to have a better heritage than Paul did, but he knew that his had only left him a lost person in the eyes of God.  Verse six adds, Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  Paul said that he was a very zealous Jew, persecuting Christians wherever he could.  We may not physically have persecuted Christians today, but if we have not accepted Christ and have spoken out against Him, we are just as guilty as Paul was.  Verse seven concludes, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  This heritage that Paul had been proud of, that he counted for his credit, he now willingly counted them as loss for Christ.  We must likewise count everything that we did before accepting Christ as a loss, or of no value.

Philippians 2:19 says, But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.  Paul did not say he was just sending Timotheus, or Timothy, to them, but he was doing so under the guidance of the Lord Jesus, in Whom he put his trust.  Paul wanted a first hand report of the state of the Christians at Philippi.  As Christians, no matter what we want, we need to make sure that when our plans are made that made by the guidance of Christ and by our faith in Him.  Verse twenty states, For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.  I believe that Paul was saying that Timothy was of the same mind as he was and shared in his concern for the Christians at Philippi.  Paul wanted someone that he felt he could trust to go to them, and we should have other Christians that we can trust to do God's work if we cannot do it ourselves today.  Verse twenty-one declares, For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.  Paul said that too many of the others around him sought their own will and not the will of Christ.  I believe that Paul was referring to others who professed to be following Christ.  Hopefully, we would be one that Paul would send and not one seeking our own will.  Verse twenty-two adds,  But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.  Paul said that Timothy actions spoke to his obedience to Christ and that he was like a son to Paul.  Timothy had grown into a man of great faith.  We may not always start with great acts of faith, but we should always grow in our faith and our acts should speak for themselves.  Verse twenty-three says, Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.  Paul said he would send Timothy soon, since he thought that he would soon see how things would go for him.  Had Paul been set free, he might have gone with Timothy, but he was making plans for his not being set free.  If we were to be imprisoned for our faith, we would need to make plans for the work that we are doing for Christ to be carried on by others through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-four adds, But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.  Paul was still trusting in the Lord that he would be able to come to them soon.  This did not mean that his trust would falter if he wasn't.  We should always trust that God will work out things for the best, but it may not always be the way that we want it to work out.  Verse twenty-five states, Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.  Paul said he planned to send Epaphroditus, his brother and fellow laborer in Christ.  Verse twenty-six adds, For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.  He said that Epaphroditus wanted to come to them, but that as they had heard he had been sick.  Verse twenty-seven continues, For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.  Paul said that God had healed Epaphroditus, much to Paul's relief.  We should feel a sadness when we hear of our fellow Christians being sick or otherwise suffering for the gospel.  Verse twenty-eight says, I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.  Paul said that he sent Epaphroditus more carefully, that when the Christians at Philippi saw him they could rejoice at his recovery.  Paul also said that this would make him less sorrowful, I believe because he knw that Epaphroditus would be in good hands.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:  Then verse thirty concludes, Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.  Paul asked them to receive Epharoditus with all gladness, because he had almost died because of his work for Christ, without regard for his own life.  We should pray that people can say the same thing about us today.

Philippians 2:12 says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Paul commended the Christians at Philippi for always being obedient, not to him, but to God.  Paul said they had done this when he was with them, but they did it even more so since he had been gone.  We do not obey men but God, and we should do so whether the preacher is present or not.  I have heard people say or do something wrong when a preacher is present and apologize to him, but God is there all the time and He is the One Who should be apologized to.  Then, Paul said that they were to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.  This did not mean that they could do anything to save themselves, other than accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord,  Until we accept the salvation of Christ personally, we should fear and tremble at our standing with God.  Verse thirteen states, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  Paul clarifies that it is God Who works to bring about their salvation and their calling.  It is because of the good pleasure of God that salvation is even possible, and it is also at His good pleasure that we are called to serve Him.  God does not need us to do His work, but He allows us to be a part of it.  Verse fourteen declares, Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  Murmurings and disputings are nothing new in the church.  Paul warned against them to the Christians at Philippi, and the warning still applies today.  Too often, church members, those who are supposed to be Christ's representatives in the world today, get mad at another member and leave the church.  If we are to be effective in presenting the gospel to the world, then we must learn to at least get along with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  Paul said that they were to do this so that they could be blameless and harmless sons of God without rebuke.  He also acknowledged that they were to do this in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.  We may see the nation today as crooked and perverse, but we cannot be like those who do not know Christ.  We cannot lash out with hatred and anger.  We are called to be a shining light in the world, and we cannot do this if we act the same as the rest of the world.  Verse sixteen continues, Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  Paul said that they, like him, were to hold forth to the word of life, the gospel, so that they could rejoice together in the day of Christ, the judgment day to come.  If we are to rejoice in that day, we likewise must hold forth to the gospel, living by faith in Christ.  In verse seventeen Paul declares, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.  Paul said that if he were to die so that others might come to know Christ and live as faithful Christians that he would rejoice with them.  Do we have that same type of faith today, or do we think that we should be happy no matter what is happening to other Christians and even the lost people of the world?  Verse eighteen adds, For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.  Paul said that the followers of Christ at Philippi were the same way.  We today need to rejoice in God, even if our faith leads us to suffering at the hands of those who do not know God.

Philippians 2:1 says, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  These were not really questions, but statements of fact.  If the followers of Christ at Philippi really believed these things to be true, then what Paul asked next would easy to do.  If we today believe that we find consolation in Christ, comfort in His love, fellowship of the Holy Spirit and have the mercy of God in our soul, then nothing that we are asked to do for God and our fellow Christians will be too hard.  Verse two states, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Paul did not say if they wanted to fulfill his joy that they should come and set him free.  He said that they were to be likeminded about those things just mentioned and to be of one accord and of one mind.  We often hear the expression that nobody is going to tell me what to think, but as Christians, the word of God should tell us what to think, and it should be consistent  with what our fellow believers think. Verse three declares, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  God tells us through Paul that we are to do nothing through strife and vainglory.  If we are being obedient to Christ, we cannot brag on how great we are and we should not do things that are simply done to bring strife with others in order to glorify ourselves.  We are to have an attitude of humbleness, so that we will not esteem ourselves better than others.  If anyone at that time could have felt morally superior to others, it would have been Paul, but he warned against such an attitude.  Verse four adds, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  I believe that this means that we are not to just seek what is good for us individually, but we are to seek what is good for everyone, our fellow believers and maybe more importantly those who do not believe.  The souls of nonbelievers are at stake.  Paul was willing to bear all kinds of abuse to reach out to the lost, and he did so without becoming bitter toward them.  We today need that same attitude.  Verse five says, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  As followers of Christ, we are to have the mind of Christ.  As long as we ask what would Jesus do in a situation, and act accordingly to the best of our ability, we will never go wrong.  Verse six states, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  Christ was willing to give up His heavenly home and come to earth to die for the sins of rebellious people.  We are to have this same mindset.  No, we cannot die for the salvation of others, but we should be willing to die to reach them with God's word.  Verse seven adds, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  If Jesus gave up everything for us, becoming a lowly servant of no reputation, and we are to be likeminded with Him, we should also be willing to give up everything in order for others to come to know Him.  Verse eight continues, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Some people today, who profess to be Christians, would seem to be unable to be humble in the world, and would certainly not be willing to die that someone else might be saved.  We, as followers of Christ, are called upon to take up our cross daily, and that means to die to self will and desires.  Verse nine declares, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  Jesus Christ is exalted above all by God, because He willingly gave up everything to die for the lowest of individual.  Verse ten adds, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  Every knee bowing to Jesus did not happen in Paul's lifetime, and may not happen in ours, but it is already an accomplished fact that when God says the time is right that it will happen.  Verse eleven concludes,  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  For some, bowing to Jesus and confessing that He is Lord to God's glory will come to late.  This must be done while we are still alive and awaiting the return of Jesus Christ.  It will be a terrible day for those who fail to acknowledge Christ, since they rejected redemption through His sacrifice.

Philippians 1:21 says, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Paul said that his life was to be lived out so that Christ would be reflected through him.  Paul saw death as a gain and not a loss, but he did not want to die just because he would be with Christ forever.  Like Paul, no matter how bad things get in life because of our faith in Christ, we should always live by faith so that the world will see Christ when they look at us.  I personally don't think that we should fear death, neither should we look forward to dying as long as we have work left to do for Christ.  Verse twenty-two states, But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  Paul said that living in the flesh, or this world, was the fruit of his labor.  No matter what was happening in his life, he was a witness for Christ.  Paul then said if the choice was his, he wasn't sure what he would chose, to live in this sinful world or to go on to be with Christ.  It was not his choice to make though, and it will never be ours.  If we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, as long as God gives us life we are to work for His glory, and when we die, we will be with Him forever.  Verse twenty-three adds, For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Paul said he was in a dilemma.  He desired to depart, or leave this life, to be with Christ.  I know today, many days it may seem better to simply go on to be with Christ in our heavenly home, and that desire may be stronger the more we suffer for our faith, which most of us here in America have never really done much.  Then, verse twenty-four continues, Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  Paul said that continuing to live was more needful for those that he had and was witnessing to.  Paul may have felt that death would be better for him, but it would be a selfish choice.  As followers of Christ, we should never live by selfish choices, but should always live that Christ will be glorified and others will benefit from our following God's call.  Verse twenty-five declares,  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;  Paul said  that he had confidence that he was to abide for awhile longer, for the furtherance of the joy and faith of those believers at Philippi.  We today need to realize that if we as followers of Christ are still living, it is not for our benefit but for the benefit of our fellow believers and for those that we can yet witness to.  Verse twenty-six adds, That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.  Paul said that he believed that he would come to the Christians at Philippi again, so that their rejoicing in Jesus Christ would be more abundant.  Paul did not say that they would rejoice in him, but that they would rejoice in Christ because of his coming to them.  No matter how popular a preacher may be today, if we celebrate the fact that he is coming to us and glorify him instead of Christ, then we are not following God's will.  Verse twenty-seven states, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;  Paul said that whether he came to them or not, he wanted to hear that they were standing fast in one spirit and with one mind, and that was to present the gospel of Christ and to live by God's guidance.  Our faith should never be in another person, but in Christ alone.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.  Paul said that they were not to be terrified by their adversaries, whose actions were for the perdition of those adversaries, but was to the Christians salvation and the glory of God.  We need never live in fear of the world today if we are faithful in our relationship with Christ.  Verse twenty-nine adds, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  Paul said not only were we called to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake.  This is about as far as we can get from the concept that as Christians that God wants us to always be prosperous.  Verse thirty concludes, Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.  Paul said he knew that many of the believers at Philippi had the same conflict, but called on them to follow his example of putting it all in God's hands.  That should be the way that we live our lives today.  We know that as followers of Christ we have an everlasting home with God, and life will be so much better when we get there, but we should live everyday for God's glory until God calls us home.