A study on Philippians

Continuing Philippians chapter 3

Philippians 3:12-16 “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 is here revealing to us the very meaning of the name/title given Moses, when he stood before the bush that burned but was not consumed and was told from it that “I AM that I AM” and it is upon this revelation that the LORD is building His Church/Family/Body). Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (being matured), be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you (what is the promise of the LORD-God to His heirs? For the answer turn to Jeremiah 31:33-34). Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule*, let us mind the same thing.”

*Beginning at verse 27 we find “the same rule” of our texts end, where we find the mention of the New Covenant which is the LORD'S Covenant for His Family/Church/Body, at this point it is still only a promise of a better Covenant than the one given Israel through their forefathers, which covenant they broke, nullifying and making it vain, worthless and void. This rule of law is what both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus taught and proclaimed throughout Israel as their gospel of good news. This new order is hidden within the text of the old order or dispensational period. Here is what it states, lesson closely to it; “Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will sow (Ezekiel 36:9, Hosea 2:23) the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man (Genesis 3:15), and with the seed of (mute) beast**. And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, says the LORD. In those days they shall say no more, the fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.**

** "But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eats the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” This Hebraism accompanies that spoken in the preceding verse where He said this, "I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beasts." This places all mankind on equal and level grounds as a soccer field or football field, there is no partiality with God.**

*If this is speaking of mans rebirth and from it spiritual increase, then it stands to reason that all things would also increase including the animal life. The nation and the peoples of Israel were become as common man in God's eyes because of their actions of denial in unbelief and the blending of paganism into the fabric of Judaism.

**This was a proverb which the unbelieving had established to mean that because of the error of their forefathers the children suffered. This was in some sense true; they were punished for their fathers' sins in the captivity, and particularly for the rejection of their Messiah; nor was it unusual with God to visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children; nor at all unjust, since they were a part of their parents (in their loins as seed), and especially since they were guilty of the same sins; nor is it thought unjust among men to punish children for the treason of their parents, as every sin is treason against God. But this was not all that was meant by this proverb; the sense of those that used it was, that they themselves were quite clear and innocent, and that they only suffered for their fathers' faults; which was false, of which they should be convinced, and use this proverb no more, because this was charging God with injustice. To this the LORD said this, “every one shall die for his own iniquity.” Then He continues with, “every man that eats the sour grape, his teeth shall be on edge” meaning that the child shall be judged for his own actions and then he is said to bear/carry the guilt of his parents.

Continuing in Jeremiah 31:31, where it states this, “Behold*, the days come, says the LORD, that I will make a new covenant (this is a New dispensational period known as the Church Age, relating to Heb. 8:8) with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah (this new period is own be the Jew (being of the law of trust/faith of this new period*): Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says the LORD (one of the meanings of LORD is husband, signifying closeness of relationship): But this the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it (the law, the direction that we are to take in this life*) in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Thus says the LORD,

Who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divids the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:

If these (fixed) ordinances (order) depart from before Me, says the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation (Amos 9:8-9, 10-12) before Me forever.

Thus says the LORD;

If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel (Jeremiah 33:20-23, 24-26; Romans 11:2-5, 26-27) for all that they have done, says the LORD.

Behold, the days come, declares the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt for the LORD from the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner. And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more forever.”