Paul’s salvation brought him great joy and he wanted the Philippians to know this as well (v1). What was in danger of robbing them of their joy, was slipping back into beliefs, about salvation through human effort (v2). The physical circumcision that the Bible speaks of, points to the needed inward circumcision of the heart (v3). Paul teaches that it is this inward transformation, that brings someone into a right relationship with God and not the performance of religious duty (v4-6).

Paul shares how he moved from being a religious man into a true believer, by entering into a saving relationship with Christ (v7-9).

Salvation is not something that happens once and then the believer just sits on what he has. Salvation brings the sinner into a living relationship with Christ, in which they should go deeper into fellowship with Christ (v10-11).

How is your relationship with Christ? Is it vibrant, is it deepening?