The Vision (4.17.26): Walk by the Same Rule

 

Image: Dogwood tree, North Garden, Virginia. April 2026.

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Philippians 3:15-21.

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing (Philippians 3:16).

When Paul writes to the Philippians, his spiritual children in the faith (see Acts 16), he positively encourages them to follow his apostolic example: “Brethren, be followers together of me…” (Phil 3:17).

He also negatively warns them against false teachers, whom he calls, “the enemies of the cross of Christ” (3:18).

Overall, Paul exhorts, “Let us walk [conduct ourselves in the Christian life] by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (3:16).

There is an orderly way to live one’s life and a disorderly way.

In general, we need clear rules, standards, and guidelines in life. Take away the rules of driving (driving on the right side, lane markers, signs, speed limits, etc.) and getting anywhere will be chaotic and even life threatening. So too would our spiritual lives be without the rule of God’s Word.

This is why Paul urges the saints to walk “by the same rule.” The word for “rule” translates the Greek word kanon, from which the English word “canon” comes. As a theological term is related to the proper books received into our Scriptures.

Here, however, the term “rule” refers simply to right belief and right praxis (practice) in the Christian life.

This means, first, that we live according to orthodox (right-believing) Christian doctrine. Jude wrote that we should “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).

This means, among other things, that we believe in the Trinity, the deity of the Lord Jesus, his atoning death, his glorious resurrection, and the second coming.

It also means living according to orthodox Christian praxis.

This includes obedience to these commands, among others: Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Love the brethren. Keep the moral law of God. Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Pray without ceasing.

If we have no authoritative and common rule, we will have chaos and danger.

Therefore, brethren, let us walk by the same rule.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

WM 379: Reaction: ESV®-CE (Catholic Edition)

 

JTR

Zanchi on Christian "Perfection" (Philippians 3:15)

 

From X post:

Zanchi on Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:15, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect” and the idea of Christian “perfection”:

Paul “does not affirm that either the Philippians or himself are actually perfect… Rather and conversely, they said that Christian perfection consists in devoting ourselves to one thing: recognizing that we have not yet laid hold of or become perfect, having abandoned all confidence in the flesh and in our own works, content with Christ alone, Christian progress consists in advancing in this knowledge of Christ… struggling continually toward what is ahead until we arrive at the finish line.”

“…Christian perfection that can be had in this life consists in the knowledge of our imperfection and the pursuit of progressing.”

-Commentary on Philippians, 567-568.

CRBC Sermon (4.5.26): Why the Ending of Mark Matters

JTR

WM 378: Gerhard: DOXOLOGY of the Lord's Prayer (Matt 6:13b) NOT SUPERFLUOUS!

 

Blog post on the doxology of the Lord's Prayer.

JTR

The Vision (4.10.26): To Know Christ

Image: Some CRBC young men after church last Sunday (4.5.26).

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Philippians 3:7-12.

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil 3:10).

In Philippians 3:10 Paul declares his desire to know three things: first, Christ Himself; second, the power of his resurrection; and third, the fellowship of his sufferings.

First, he says, “That I may know him.”

This refers to personal knowledge, belief, and trust in Christ. It is not merely to know facts about Christ, but experientially to encounter the person of Christ.

There is an old gospel hymn titled “He lives.” In the chorus it says, “You ask me how I know He lives. He lives within my heart.” Head knowledge is important, but it is not enough for salvation. One must have heart knowledge of Christ.

One of the old Protestant commentators wrote: “There is an example of knowing about honey on the basis of it having been described by others as opposed to knowing it on the basis of tasting it ourselves” (Zanchi, Commentary on Philippians, 537). We must taste Christ for ourselves (Psalm 34:8).

Second, “and the power of his resurrection.”

Paul’s reference to knowing the power of the resurrection necessarily includes both the cross and the resurrection. If Christ had not suffered, and bled, and died upon the cross there would have been no resurrection.

This is an acknowledgement of the fact that the life changing power of salvation comes through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is how Zanchi put it: “For by his death, he carried off all evil, sin, and the wages of sin, death. But by the resurrection, He brought in all good, true righteousness, and eternal life” (Commentary on Philippians, 539).

This means we identify with Christ in his death and acknowledge the benefits that come to us through his cross, and we identify with Christ in his resurrection and acknowledge the benefits that come to us through his resurrection (see Rom 6:4).

Third, “and the fellowship [koinonia] of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death.”

This recalls Galatians 2:20 where Paul wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

Remember, Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell. He would eventually die a violent death as a martyr. This is not talking into the air for Paul. He desires to know even the sufferings of Christ that began when the Lord Jesus Christ first called upon him to deny himself, to take up his cross daily, and to follow him (cf. Luke 9:23).

Paul’s steps led down a cruciform path that entailed much suffering, but the apostle could refer to this as only a “light affliction” compared to the “weight of glory” that would one day be revealed in him at Christ’s coming (2 Cor 4:17).

In this life, Paul wanted to know Christ, to know the power of his saving death and resurrection, and to have the privilege of following and serving him no matter what the cost.

May we too desire to know these things.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

Zanchi on Philippians 3:10: "That I may know him...."

 

From X post:

"There are two way of knowing something. The first is by faith.... The second is by means of life experience.... There is an example in knowing about honey on the basis of it having been described by others as opposed to knowing it on the basis of tasting it ourselves. Thus physicians have knowledge of medicine and their effects on the basis of hearsay and also on the basis of the actual experience of the medicine in ourselves.... In our passage, the apostle is speaking about knowledge of the latter kind, which is nothing other than a certain spiritual sense and taste whereby, based on His power in us, we sense Him to be truly such as we previously heard and believed Him to be based on Scripture."

-Commentary on Philippians, 537.

WM 377: Gerhard's DEFENSE of the PERICOPE ADULTERAE (John 7:53--8:11)

JTR