This blog is based on a sermon from Philippians. You can listen to the sermon here.
If I were to ask you, “How do you know you’re a Christian?,” what would you say? Or, perhaps I could ask it this way: “How can we be righteous before God?”
The Bible teaches that God is perfectly righteous (2 Cor 5:21); that He is perfectly upright and moral. The Bible also teaches that we are unrighteous (Rom 3:10-11).
So, the question remains, how can we be righteous before God? In our text today, we find the answer to this question.
Sermon Text: Philippians 3:1-11
BIG IDEA: Our righteousness before God is found in Christ alone.
In vv. 1-2, we see Paul’s warning to look out for false teachers.
Look out for false teachers (1-2)
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. (1-2)
1
When Paul refers to the “same things,” he probably meant what he had taught them in person, which of course is the gospel.
By reminding them of the gospel, Paul was protecting them from the danger of legalism, or works righteousness.
As Christians, we are to continually remind one another that our righteousness doesn’t come by our good works. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation (Eph 2:8-9). Rather, salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Paul’s teaching would keep the Philippians same from false teaching (“is safe for you”). We see here a clear reminder of the importance of doctrinal preaching and teaching (Acts 20:27).
Like Paul’s day, there is still so much false teaching today, even within churches. Look at Paul’s warning in the very next verse.
2
In verse 2, we see a repeated command: Paul says to “Look out!”
Who does Paul tell the Philippian church to look out for? Paul refers to them as “the dogs, the evildoers, and those who mutilate the flesh.” They are the false teachers known as the Judaizers.
As we saw in our Scripture reading in Acts 15, these men wanted to force new Gentile believers to adhere to Jewish law (especially circumcision) as a part of salvation.
Acts 15:1
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
You probably know that under the Old Covenant (the Old Testament), anyone that wanted to become a Jew had to be physically circumcised.
Well even after this special council in Acts 15, these Judaizers believed that early Christians must first be circumcised. The Judaizers were essentially trying to force new Gentile converts had to be circumcised in order become Jews before becoming Christians. D. A. Carson said that the Judaizers “thought of Christianity as Judaism plus a little extra, almost a sect of Judaism.” [1]D.A. Carson, Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians, 81
And so, Paul warns the Philippians: look out for those who would have you to be circumcised.
Look at the descriptors Paul uses:
First, he calls these false teachers “dogs.” We think of dogs as pets, but in biblical times they were nasty, unclean, and dangerous. The Pharisees commonly used the word “dog” to insult Gentiles. With great irony, Paul says that the Judaizers, not the Gentiles deserve to be called dogs.
“Like dogs, these Judaizers snapped at Paul’s heels and followed him from place to place “barking” their false doctrines.” [2]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2, 84.
Paul also calls them “evildoers” – these men had an evil mission – to distort the gospel of grace.
Finally, Paul said to look out for “those who mutilate the flesh.”
Paul is warning the Philippians: look out for those who emphasize physical circumcision. As we’ll see in verse 3 that physical circumcision is not what’s important. Rather, what’s important is that your heart has been circumcised.
Thus, Paul says those who teach circumcision to become Christians are mutilating themselves.
I thought of a modern day example. When a woman cuts off their breasts, that doesn’t make her a man. Likewise, then a man cuts off his penis, that doesn’t make him a woman.
Here, Paul is saying that just because you circumcise yourself, that doesn’t make you a Jew or a Christian. The truth is that even as Gentiles, we don’t have to be circumcised because Jesus came and died for our sins. We’ll talk see this more in vv. 3-4.
Today, I don’t know of anyone that is forcing people to be circumcised to be saved. However, sinful people are always trying to manufacture our own righteousness.
I want to quickly give you three modern day examples:
First, I thought of wokeness. Many people in our culture think that white people are inherently racist and must divest themselves of whiteness. However, the Bible doesn’t say that we need to change our skin color. The Bible says we need a new heart. Once we are saved, the Bible says there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus.
Second, I thought of Catholicism. The Catholic church teaches salvation by works. Straight off the Catholic News Agency website, I found a section on the seven sacraments. Again, this is straight from their website:
“The [seven] sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.”
In other words, if you do these seven things, then you’ll have eternal life.
Third, I thought of the Church of Christ’s view on baptism. In vv. 1-2, we clearly see the warning to look out for false teachers who add to the gospel of grace. The Church of Christ does this by teaching baptismal regeneration.
If someone says that you need more than repentance of sin and faith in Christ to be saved, then flee from those false teachers.
So, we’re to look out for false teachers. But we’re also to put no confidence in our own flesh.
Put no confidence in your own flesh (3-6)
3 | Paul’s clarification
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— (3)
Paul says that “we are the circumcision.” Not those who are forcing physical circumcision but those who have experienced the circumcision of the heart.
Romans 2:28-29
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Galatians 6:15
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Notice, the rest of verse three fleshes out what a true Christian looks like. Someone that has had been made new and experienced circumcision of the heart.
When your heart has been circumcised, you:
- Worship by the Spirit of God (Gal 5:16; John 4:23-24).
- Glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 1:21)
- Put no confidence in the flesh.
4-6 | Paul’s credentials
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.
In vv. 4-6, Paul is saying that if anyone should have confidence in the flesh, it would be him. He gives a list of his credentials:
- He was circumcised on the 8th day in accordance with Levitical law (Lev 12:3).
- He was of the people of Israel.
- He was of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul, Israel’s first king, came from this tribe. Paul was perhaps named after Saul.
- He was a Hebrew of Hebrews. Both Paul’s parents were Hebrews. He was not from a mixed bloodline.
- As to the law, he was a Pharisee.
- As to zeal, he was a persecutor of the church. He oversaw the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7.
- As to righteousness under the law, Paul was blameless.
Our tendency is to read this text, wonder how people could’ve been confused by these false teachers and move on.
While we don’t have people that are encouraging physical circumcision, we are always in danger of trying to manufacture our own righteousness.
Below, I’m going to lay out what Paul’s list of spiritual credentials would look like today:
“circumcised on the eighth day”
In Paul’s day, the Judaizers put their confidence in the ritual of circumcision. In our day, people put their confidence in the ritual of baptism, church attendance, or speaking in tongues.
“of the people of Israel”
In Paul’s day, the Judaizers put their confidence in their ethnicity and citizenship. In our day, American Christians put their confidence in their American citizenship, claiming, “America is a ‘Christian’ nation.”
“of the tribe of Benjamin”
In Paul’s day, the Judaizers put their confidence in their rank. In our day, some Christians put their confidence in their denomination of church. I’ve heard some Church of Christ folks claim that they’re the only ones going to heaven.
“a Hebrew of Hebrews”
In Paul’s day, the Judaizers put their confidence in their family traditions and upbringing. In our day, many people put their confidence in the fact that they came from a family of churchgoers.
“As to the law, a Pharisee”
In Paul’s day, the Judaizers put their confidence in their rule keeping. In our day, some Christians put their confidence in their Bible knowledge.
“As to zeal, a persecutor of the church”
In Paul’s day, the Judaizers put their confidence in their zeal. In our day, many believe that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere. Many are very sincere, but they are sincerely wrong.
“As to righteousness under the law, blameless”
In Paul’s day, the Judaizers put their confidence in their obedience. In our day, many people do the same things. Here are some examples:
- I attend church every time I can.
- I don’t drink alcohol or do drugs.
- I don’t have any tattoos
- My Bible translation is the only true one.
- We don’t have certain instruments in the church, so our church is more pleasing to God.
- I’ve never had a divorce.
- All of my children go to church.
To these things, Paul says “Put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:3)!
Like most “religious” people today, Paul had enough morality to keep him out of trouble, but not enough righteousness to get him into heaven.
Paraphrase of Warren Wiersbe
Friends, when it comes to your eternal salvation:
- It doesn’t matter how spiritual you are.
- It doesn’t matter how much good you’ve done in your life.
- It doesn’t matter how much you’ve attended church.
- It doesn’t matter how good of a Christian home you came from.
- It doesn’t matter what party you vote for.
- It doesn’t matter if you’re a better person that most people you know.
When we look at ourselves or compare ourselves with others, we may consider ourselves to be righteous.
However, what happens when you compare yourself to Christ? How do you measure up to God’s perfect Son?
Once we compare ourselves to Christ, we clearly see that we need the righteousness that only Christ can give.
Look at verses 7-8.
Place your faith in Christ alone (7-11)
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. (7-8)
If you keep holding on to your spiritual credentials and your good works, then you cannot gain Christ. That’s what Paul is saying here.
The ESV uses the word “rubbish,” but the word can also be translated “garbage” or “dung.” In other words, it’s all worthless compared to knowing Christ.
You can have the Bread of Life or a pile of poop. Do you want to try to make it to heaven with your own efforts or will you trust in Jesus?
Paul continues in verse nine.
9
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—
In v. 9, Paul explicitly states what he meant in vv. 7-8: “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.”
To be “found” in Christ means to trust in and take refuge in something to save.
The point is clear: our righteousness before God doesn’t come from obedience to the law, but through faith in Christ. When we add extra requirements to what God has freely given, we have distorted the gospel. That is why Paul was astonished at the churches in Galatia (Gal 1:6-9).
This verse summarizes the difference between Christianity and other religions. Every other religion promotes works-based righteousness, but the gospel is about receiving Christ’s righteousness as our own (2 Cor 5:21).
Every other religion promotes works-based righteousness, but the gospel is about receiving Christ’s righteousness as our own (2 Cor 5:21).
Our justification comes through faith in Christ: He is our righteousness.
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Paul says that we will never know Christ and the power of His resurrection if we are still depending on our good works.
Once we know Christ, we should be willing to suffer for his sake (“share his sufferings”) and to die for Him if necessary (“becoming like him in his death”).
If you truly know Jesus, then you will become more like him. The process of become more like Jesus is called sanctification.
As we experience deeper intimacy with Christ, we begin to experience the spiritual power that comes from union with Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Is there any spiritual power in your life?
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
The only way that we can “attain the resurrection of the dead” (v. 11) is to “be found in Him” (v. 9).
Conclusion
Paul met Jesus and was changed. He used to be an extremely religious person, but he didn’t know Christ. When he traded religion for the righteousness of Christ, he found life.
Everything that Paul used to value paled in comparison to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.
Do you value Christ more than anyone else or anything else?
Are you trusting in the righteousness of Christ, or are you trusting in Christ and your good works?
This wonderful text of Scripture reminds us that:
- We are to look out for false teachers.
- We are to put no confidence in the flesh.
- We are to not trust in our own good works.
- We cannot justify ourselves before God.
- Rather, our salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!
Glory in Christ as you sing In Christ Alone!