（腓立比書Philippians 3:1-11）
在保羅的書信中，經常為了守護信仰的純正而辯護，而其中一個問題就是教會內部的猶太主義。
初期教會的第一批基督徒大多數是猶太人，帶著濃厚的猶太信仰傳統和習俗加入教會。他們了解耶穌基督的信仰是透過猶太人的傳統和習俗，因此常常把耶穌的教導，和他們拉比的教導混合在一起。有些熱心的猶太化基督徒，甚至抱著猶太主義的立場，攻擊教會和使徒，保羅就經常要寫信到各教會，澄清這些混亂和對抗攻擊。
其中一個嚴重的混亂就是得救的問題。人如何才能得救呢？猶太主義者堅持，除了信耶穌之外，還要守律法，並遵行猶太人的傳統習俗。他們對自己選民的身份很驕傲，並要求凡信耶穌的外邦人也要接受割禮，不然就不算是義人。保羅在這問題上大力反對，並替耶穌基督的福音辯護。有關這方面更詳細的辯論，可以詳讀羅馬書和加拉太書。保羅在腓立比書只是順帶再提一次（3:1b），並沒有打算深入討論。
耶穌基督的救贖，就是神向背叛祂的人伸出寬恕和接納的手，呼召人與祂重建關係，做祂的兒女。耶穌基督的救贖既然是重建關係的問題，而神又先賜下赦罪的恩典，向人伸出接納的手，人的回應就只需要接納這恩典，並承認耶穌是救主和生命的主，他便被神稱為義，或與神和好了。耶穌所要求的只是人在態度上的轉變，重新藉著接納耶穌，接納神作為他們的神和生命的主。這種態度的轉變是首先的，而且是最重要和必要的，跟人的道德或宗教成就完全無關。這就是保羅多次強調的藉著信靠恩典而得救稱義的道理。
經文默想
我們決志信耶穌就是立志改變我們人生的態度，接納耶穌是我們生命和生活的主，因此保羅便說了從7至11節的一番話。請你在這一週反省你信耶穌的經歷，並比對一下自己的人生態度和保羅的有何不同。為什麼有這些不同處?
In Paul’s letters, he always defended Christian faith against Judaisers’ influences in the church.
The majority of the first generation Christians in the early churches were Jews, who brought with them the tradition and customs of Judaism into the church life. Their understanding of Christian faith was most likely with the perspective of the Jewish rabbinic teachings. Some Christian Judaisers might enthusiastically argue with churches and apostles with their Judaic biases. This was the reason for Paul to write letters to different churches to teach the correct doctrines and respond to challenges.
There was one very confusing issue among others and it was the issue of salvation. How should a person be saved? The Judaisers argued that in addition to having faith in Jesus, one must keep the Jewish law, and observe the Jewish customs. They were very proud of their identity as the chosen people, and required every non-Jewish believer to observe circumcision, or otherwise, they would not be called a righteous person. Paul fought restlessly against such judaized opinion, and prevented the gospel of Christ from corruption. In the epistle of Philippians, Paul only mentioned lightly again this issue (3:1b) and did not want to go any further, but we can find the detail discussions in Romans and Galatians.
The salvation of Jesus is the extended hand of the forgiveness of God to people, and calling them to reconcile with Him to become His children. Since Jesus’ redemption is to bring back a reconciled relationship, and God has already forgiven us and welcomes us to be His children, therefore, the response people need to make is to accept this gift and acknowledge Jesus as the Lord in their lives, and then they will be claimed righteous and make peace with God. Jesus just asks us for an attitude change, and through Him, we receive God to be the Lord in our lives. This attitude change is the most fundamental and necessary, and has nothing to do with any moral or religious achievement. This is what Paul has asserted so many times in his writings the doctrine of “salvation through faith by grace”.
Meditation on the Scripture:
When we make our decision to accept Jesus, we make the decision to change our life attitude, and take Jesus as the Lord in our lives. This is exactly the situation Paul mentioned in 3:7~11. Let us reflect on our conversion experience, and compare our lives with Paul’s life mentioned in this paragraph.
