Useful Bible Studies > Philippians Commentary > chapter 3
The weakness of our human bodies will in the end bring about our death. So, many people decide to do whatever pleases their bodies during their lives on earth (3:18-19). They have no desire to use their bodies to do those things that please God (see Philippians 3:17).
However, Christians have the most wonderful reason why they should please God by their physical actions now. Those actions are the deeds of their bodies, and God has an astonishing plan for the future of their bodies. In the future age, when Christ rules all things, their bodies will live again (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). They will not then have the weakness and shame that their bodies have now; but God will change them completely (1 Corinthians 15:35-50). They will never again suffer pain or death (Revelation 21:4); but they will live always with God in his city, the New Jerusalem.
In that future age, their bodies will be like Christ’s body in his glory, after he rose from death. Glory means splendid honour and beauty. Peter and John first saw Christ’s glory in the astonishing event in Matthew 17:1-8 (see also 2 Peter 1:16-18). His face and his clothes actually shone, like the sun and like bright lights. We cannot understand that; in fact, we can hardly even imagine it. However, God is changing his people to give them that kind of honour and beauty (2 Corinthians 3:18 and 4:6). They can only know it fully in the future age (1 Corinthians 13:12), but God has already begun that work now (1:6). He works in them so that they can please him, both in their desires and in the acts of their bodies (2:13).
Next part: Stand up for Jesus! (Philippians 4:1)
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© 2020, Keith Simons.