Today's blog is written by Martin Davids
Contentment in being a
true convert.
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the
Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who
mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of
God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I
myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has
reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth
day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as
to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to
righteousness under the law, blameless. 7But whatever gain I had, I counted as
loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of
the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have
suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may
gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that
comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the
righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the
power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in
his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the
dead. (Philippians 3:1-11)
Characteristics of Those Who Have Right
Standing Before God.
Paul wanted the
Philippians to know that a characteristic of believers is that they “rejoice in
the Lord.” It is important to notice that this rejoicing is not a disconnected
joy, but it is a rejoicing “in the Lord.” In other words, Paul connected
rejoicing with a relationship. As John MacArthur says, “The sphere in which
their joy exists is in their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Second, they
look out for false teachers. Paul wanted to warn the Philippians about false
teachers. The false teachers were teaching that in order for a person to be
saved he had to be circumcised. In other words, he had to obey the Old
Testament law regarding circumcision. But, they did not understand that outward
circumcision was not a requirement for salvation. God wanted a circumcised
heart, their insistence on circumcision did nothing to provide salvation; it only
mutilated the flesh.
Third, they
worship by the Spirit. Any person can go through the outward form of worship.
But, only a believer is enabled to worship by the Spirit of God, because true worship
is supernatural in origin.
Fourth, they
glory in Christ Jesus. The word “glory” has the sense of “to boast” or “to
exult in.” Those who have right standing before God know that it is not because
of anything within themselves; they stand before God because of what Christ
Jesus has done. So, they glory in, they boast about, they exult in Christ Jesus.
And fifth, they
put no confidence in the flesh. Those who have right standing before God know
that they were utterly incapable of earning or meriting salvation. They know
that their confidence—their only confidence—lies in what Christ Jesus has done
for them and not in what they have done to earn salvation.
Advantages That Do Not Contribute to
Right Standing Before God
Paul’s point in
stating his ancestral advantages is that sacrament “circumcised on the eighth
day”, nationality “of the people of Israel”, and family “the tribe of Benjamin”
do not contribute anything at all to right standing before God. But, what about
achieved advantages?
First, the
achieved advantage of tradition does not contribute to right standing before
God. Paul went on to write that he was “a Hebrew of Hebrews”. Second, the achieved advantage of religion
does not contribute to right standing before God. When Paul got old enough, he
was so zealous that as to the law, he became a Pharisee. Third, the achieved advantage of zeal does
not contribute to right standing before God. As further evidence of his zeal,
Paul was a persecutor of the church. Fourth,
the achieved advantage of outward righteousness does not contribute to right
standing before God. Paul wrote in verse 6, “…as to righteousness under the
law, blameless.” Yet, none of this brought
Paul peace or contentment for he wrote, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as
loss for the sake of Christ.” In other words, whatever supposed advantages Paul
had, they counted for nothing when he encountered Jesus Christ on the road to
Damascus. The things that Paul once thought so important to his right standing
before God were actually loss.
Benefits That Belong to Those Who Have
Right Standing Before God
One could take
all the advantages in the world, all the riches in the world, all the religions
of the world, and it would never make us content in fact just the opposite; it
is all a loss in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus.
Nothing in the entire world compares to knowing Jesus. That is why Paul could
go and write, “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count
them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him”
Paul realized
that his own righteousness was as filthy rags in God’s sight. Paul’s righteousness
counted for nothing. Christ’s righteousness counted for everything. All he had
to do was trust that Jesus credit Paul with Christ’s own righteousness.
Summing it up.
Let us be sure
that we are in Christ. Let us not be deceived about our spiritual condition. We
are not right with God because we were baptized, or born into a Christian home,
or had family members who were Christians. Nor are we right with God because we
go to the right church or denomination, serve in church, try to obey the Ten
Commandments, or are zealous for the Lord. There are many ‘religious’ people
who run after these things for years and never find happiness or contentment.
We as
Christians find our contentment in the fact that we have come into a right
standing before God. And there is only one way in which that happens
(repentance and faith), and it is when the righteousness of Christ is credited
to us, and we believe it. Our righteousness is worthless, but Christ’s
righteousness is acceptable to God. So, let us trust in Christ alone and his
righteousness for our salvation. That is the only way we may have right
standing before God. Amen.
Prayer for the day.
Father,
We confess that
so many times we have tried to serve in in our own might. Have, like Paul sought to find the source of
our right standing with you in our own deeds and perceived works of righteousness. Help us to see that without the righteousness
of Christ that we are lost and without hope.
Let us boast only in the finished work of your Son and find our
contentment only in him.
We ask in Jesus’
name
Amen.
Photo by Natalie Rhea on Unsplash
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