Paradigm Shift

03.18.09

J.A. Matteson

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:7

That the Apostle delineated the fact that he at one time held to specific values and that those beliefs had changed is of tremendous interest; pressing even harder upon the Christian, however, is the manor by which the change in perspective occurred; i.e., how the Apostle accounted for it. At the outset is the startling picture of a sincere and pious man who was appallingly self-deceived and ignorant of his dreadful standing before God. With all eagerness and discipline Saul invested his life in the pursuit of righteousness according to the only pattern available to him; viz., the paradigm of the fallen world. The system did repay him with a particular level of satisfaction, centered on what the fallen nature covets—self-righteousness, “as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Philippians 3:6).

The various means by which Saul sought justification before God were logically considered as gain by his contemporaries. And then it happened: he was encountered by the risen Christ at which time he experienced a titanic paradigm shift in his person and understanding. The circumcision of the Spirit—as with the flesh—cuts and removes. Divine initiative rooted in grace removed a dead heart of stone, eyes which saw but could not perceive, ears that heard but lacked understanding, and a soul which instinctively held self-preservation as supreme. Saul was born from above and his Adamic nature was redeemed from the curse of the Fall, “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10).

Our Lord spoke in parables to the crowds, not so they might understand, but to fulfill the words of the Prophet as a judgment against them, “Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted…Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled….’” (Matthew 13:13-14). With a new nature came a new heart that hungered after the true God, one inclined towards obedience, eyes that perceived spiritual truth, ears that heard and understood the Word of the Lord, and a heavenly citizenship that, prompted by the Spirit within the man, sought to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Paul understood two resurrections in the life of the Christian: the spiritual and the natural, “that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection (ἀναστάσως)…in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11). The first resurrection is to spiritual life from spiritual death, “…walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The second resurrection is physical, “…in order I may attain to the resurrection (ἐξανάσταςιν), lit. ‘out-resurrection’) from the dead” (Philippians 3:11)—a reference to a future bodily resurrection, “out” of the earth.

The Spirit brings new insights into and affections for Christ, His Kingdom and Church, “For neither is circumcision [physical] anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation [spiritual]” (Galatians 6:15). The Spirit initiates regeneration and will give life to flesh given over to decay, “if the Spirit of Him…dwells in you, He…will also give life to your mortal bodies….” (Romans 8:11). We do not initiate physical birth, neither do we initiate spiritual birth—it is by grace to the glory of God. The Apostle highlights supernatural affections for the Son of God as a mark of redemption, establishing the words of our Lord, “You will know them by their fruits….” (Matthew 7:16).

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