WORD From The Woods
Philippians 3:1-11
"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 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: 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; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 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— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
Paul says some seemingly strange things is the first part of this passage. When he says too look out for those who mutilate the flesh, he is talking about the Judaizers who believe that circumcision is essential for following God. Paul makes clear that the circumcision required by God is a spiritual circumcision, not a physical one. It's something that God does in us through salvation, not something that we can do to try and make ourselves right with God. This is what this passage is all about! There is nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous enough for God. Paul says that if anyone thinks he has confidence in the flesh, he has more! Paul was raised to be a Hebrew of Hebrews and more than that he was a Pharisee. He followed every letter of the law and it wasn't enough. Paul says that when he found Christ, he counted all of his own works as rubbish when compared to the surpassing worth of what Christ Jesus has done on the cross! We need to come to the same conclusion about our own good works. The righteousness that Paul had, and the righteousness that we as Christians have is not in any way a product of our own work. It is a righteousness given to us by Gods grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ! Our Lord and Savior paid the full price of our redemption on the cross. If we just place our faith in Him alone, we will be saved. We are declared righteous before God because the righteousness of Christ is placed upon us. Not only did Christ make a way for us to be found righteous before God, He broke the power of death by the power of His resurrection and as believers we will one day share in the resurrection and follow Him into eternity!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-
Philippians 3:1-11
"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 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: 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; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 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— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."
Paul says some seemingly strange things is the first part of this passage. When he says too look out for those who mutilate the flesh, he is talking about the Judaizers who believe that circumcision is essential for following God. Paul makes clear that the circumcision required by God is a spiritual circumcision, not a physical one. It's something that God does in us through salvation, not something that we can do to try and make ourselves right with God. This is what this passage is all about! There is nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous enough for God. Paul says that if anyone thinks he has confidence in the flesh, he has more! Paul was raised to be a Hebrew of Hebrews and more than that he was a Pharisee. He followed every letter of the law and it wasn't enough. Paul says that when he found Christ, he counted all of his own works as rubbish when compared to the surpassing worth of what Christ Jesus has done on the cross! We need to come to the same conclusion about our own good works. The righteousness that Paul had, and the righteousness that we as Christians have is not in any way a product of our own work. It is a righteousness given to us by Gods grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ! Our Lord and Savior paid the full price of our redemption on the cross. If we just place our faith in Him alone, we will be saved. We are declared righteous before God because the righteousness of Christ is placed upon us. Not only did Christ make a way for us to be found righteous before God, He broke the power of death by the power of His resurrection and as believers we will one day share in the resurrection and follow Him into eternity!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-