THE SAME THINGS
Philippians 3.1
"To write the same things is no trouble to me." Yes, Paul wrote the same things many times, but he did not write meaningless theology or philosophy of empty words, but he wrote about the most important Spiritual thing for the soul of a person and for the church to learn and to follow.
Paul constantly reminded followers of Christ Paul to be always in the realm of Christ's influence, in His Ideals and in His Principals, not in words but in Deeds. Paul encourages a Spiritual connection between brothers and sisters in Christ just like the Christ has His Spiritual connection with everyone who follow Him.
Adults sometimes like little children, they do not think or act on single word or warning and often ignore sound advice until they get hurt. So, Paul provided for his flock a constant reminder in his Letters about the most essential issues in the Christian life, sometimes writing the same things number of times in order to get to the brain and to the soul of a person who might neglect and forgot Statutes of the Gospel and go astray from the Christ.
In his Letters Paul very much oriented on the details of the Gospel of Christ and not on its over whole and general message. Paul also encourages the members of the church to inspire one another in the Gospel of Christ in order to keep the highest Spiritual standard in Christ among the members.
This is also reminding the church that they have purpose and mission in life, not like ordinary purpose and mission of earthly nature, but the Spiritual purpose and mission in the Name of Christ and for Christ as His most dedicated and faithful followers and servants.
NO CONFIDENCE IN FLESH
Philippians 3.3
Here Paul again separated Spiritual things from the Physical things and returned back again to the most controversial subject of his day, the Circumcision. Paul called the Spiritual Circumcision of the Heart as the True Circumcision in Jesus Christ which makes a spirit of a person to be humble, obedient, and fully faithful to Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
But concerning Physical Circumcision that symbolizes the Blood-Union between flesh and GOD according to physical genealogy, Paul declared that in this Physical Circumcision he has no longer confidence, because it already outlives its purpose and its significance being replaced by much higher Circumcision, the Spiritual Circumcision of the heart.
Indeed, those who Circumcise their heart are fully dedicated and fully faithful to the Lord their GOD and cannot falter. But those who have Physical Circumcision, taken example of Jews, majority of whom are Physically Circumcised, they are many times fail their GOD and cannot keep themselves in full Spirituality with their Lord.
This proves and confirms imperfection, flaw, and deficiency of the Physical Circumcision comparing it to the Spiritual Circumcision of the heart.
GAIN, LOSS, and RIGHTEOUSNESS
Philippians 3.7-8About what king of loss Paul is talking here? It seems like Paul talking here about loss of everything in his life, about his identity (as being a Hebrew from the tribe of Benjamin and Pharisee by religious rank, verse 5), his family, his friends, his possessions, his Physical Circumcision, his knowledge of the Rituals of the Law of Moses, and loss of everything else for the sake of Christ.
All of what Paul lost for the sake of Christ, and he considered his past religious zest and believe in men's traditions, rules, doctrines, and rituals, as rubbish!
Paul found and gain in Christ absolutely everything he need and desire, which means Spiritual Enlightenment, Spiritual Confidence, Spiritual Satisfaction, Spiritual Joy and Happiness, Spiritual Tranquility, Spiritual Righteousness, Spiritual Faith, Spiritual Love, Spiritual Christ, and Spiritual Life that cannot be surpass by anything Physical or doctrinal that remain on Earth.
In verse 9 Paul said that he have no Righteousness on his own that would derives from the Law of the Rituals, which means that he have only Obedience to the Rituals of the Law, because it is written in the Law to Obey them and it will make a person righteous, and Paul did exactly that.
But the Obedience to the Law of the Rituals does not made Paul Spiritually Righteous, because he only Obeyed the written Law and conducted them without any feelings or love for the lack of understanding them.
But then Paul had Faith in Christ and found out Whom he was persecuted in his unbelief in Christ, the Spiritual Righteousness came to the Paul upon his believe and Faith in Christ, and it came from GOD on the basis of his Truth and Faith (9).
In other words, Paul's Physical Righteousness came according to the Law from the Obedience of the Law of Rituals, but the Spiritual Righteousness came to Paul according to his Faith and Works for Christ and in Christ and from his full Obedience to Him.
CITIZENSHIP OF HEAVEN
Philippians 3.20
This is fantastic statement of Paul that describes perfectly true nature of every true Christian, showing that true Christians do not belong to this world, and also summarizes all our efforts and sacrifices in the name of Christ as the ultimate goal and the fundamental target to be a Citizen of the Kingdom of GOD.
Indeed, many of us are migrants, or descendants of migrants, we move from one home to other home, from one state to other state, from one country to other country, but all of these migrations happened on Earth.
But there also exists another final and most important Migration, the Spiritual Migration to the Kingdom of GOD in order to be the Citizen of His Heavenly Kingdom. To be the Citizen of the Kingdom of GOD is the highest honor and a great Reward for anyone who will reach the Heavenly Home, the Heavenly Country (Kingdom) of GOD, and no greater Reward or Prize exist in the world than the possession of the Citizenship of GOD'S Heavenly Kingdom.
No longer migrant, no longer under laws of this world, no longer travel from place to place in search of home, or work, or peace, no longer suffer any loss or abuse, or death of the love one, no longer fear evil or injustice, no longer being without any support or help, but being the full Citizen of Heaven in spirit. All earthly things end in such Spiritual migration and starts a New Everlasting Spiritual Life in a new Spiritual Home of the Kingdom of our GOD.
Leviticus 25.23
23.The land shall not be sold permanently, the land is Mine, you are but aliens and tenants with Me.
John 17.14-16
14.I have given them Your world, and the word has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15.I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
16.They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 18.36
36.Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews, but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm."
Philippians 3.20
20.Our Citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (KSB)
Colossians 3.2
2.Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on Earth.
Hebrews 11.13-16
13.All these died in faith without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the Earth.
14.Those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15.And indeed, if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16.But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a Heavenly one. Therefore, GOD is not ashamed to be called their GOD, He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 13.14
14.Here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
1Peter 1.3-4
3.Blessed be the Lord and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a Living Hope (Jesus Christ), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4.to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,
1John 4.4-6
4.You are from GOD little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He Who is in you, than he who is in the world.
5.They are from the world, therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
6.We are from GOD, he who knows GOD listens to us, he who is not from GOD does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
1John 5.4
4.Whoever is born of GOD overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.