Knowing Christ (Php. 3:1-11)

What does it mean to "rejoice in the Lord"?

Think of all that Paul has said so far about joy and rejoicing:

• He thanked God for the Philippians in 1:3-4, making his prayer with joy, because of their partnership in the gospel.

• He rejoices that Christ is preached – whether in pretense or in truth (1:18)

• He rejoices in his ultimate salvation through the prayers of the Philippians and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (1:19-20)

• He sees his continued work in the flesh as necessary for their "progress and joy in the faith" (1:25)

• He calls them to "complete my joy by being of the same mind (2:2)

• He rejoices with them that he may be poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial liturgy of their faith (2:17) and calls them to rejoice with him in this as well (2:18)

• And he calls the Philippians to rejoice in the return of Epaphroditus (2:28-29).

What themes do you see there? Rejoicing in the Lord has very little to do with what we today call "happiness." Rejoicing in the Lord is all about the gospel – and therefore joy comes in the midst of suffering, death, and the cross.

Or to put it another way, rejoicing in the Lord is all about having the mind of Christ – a mindset that sees that the only path to glory
is the path of the cross!

That's why Paul says "to write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you."

In other words, I'm now going to repeat myself – and give you one more example of what it means to have the mind of Christ.

Philippians 3 is one of the clearest statements of Christian theology – and one of the most powerful statements of Christian piety – ever penned...