These are notes only, I hope you find them useful

Philippians 3v1-9

Joy in Believing

No confidence in the Flesh

LAB says of JOY

Believers can have profound contentment, serenity and peace no matter what happens. This joy comes from knowing Christ personally and from depending on his strength rather than our own. We can have joy, even in hardship. Joy does not come from outward circumstances but from inward strength. As Christians we must not rely on what we have or what we experience to give us joy but on Christ within us.

Paul has some pretty strong language here.

In verse 2 he writes:

"Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh."

Strong stuff!

Now there was a huge dispute going on at this time within the church and wherever Paul went he was dogged by these people known as Judaizers. Basically they said that if you want to be a Christian You HAVE to become Jewish. You have to be circumcised! You have to follow all the law.

Paul makes it plain throughout his writings that there is nothing we need to do to be saved except have faith in Christ. We are justified by faith. We are made new by our relationship with Christ and not by anything we can do here.

Paul criticised them because he said they looked at Christianity backwards ie the thought that what they did ie circumcision made people believers rather than the free gift of grace given by Christ.

People like that still exist and haunt the church today. They always want us to have to add something to the faith in order to be saved. Equally there are people who think that they are OK with God by what they do. They think if they give to the Church but never come they will be OK. If they get the baby "done", if they get married in church, if the Minister carries out the cremation somehow they will be OK with God.

It is not like that.

It never has been.

It never will be.

Ever.

LAB

It is easy to place more emphasis on religious effort (confidence in the flesh) than on internal faith, but God values the attitude of our hearts above all else. Don’t judge peoples spirituality by their fulfilment of duties or by their level of human activity. And don’t think that you will satisfy God by feverishly doing his work. God notices all you do for him and will reward you for it, but only if it comes as a loving response to his free gift of salvation.

Paul then details just how well qualified he was as a Jew and Pharisee. He was absolutely at the top. He was as good as it gets. Yet nevertheless he says:

Philip. 3:7-9

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8] What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Paul says nothing matters it is all rubbish compared to knowing Christ.

LAB

Paul gave up everything – family, friendship and freedom in order to know Christ and his resurrection power. We too have access tot his knowledge and this power but we may have to make sacrifices to enjoy it fully. What are you willing to give up in order to know Christ? A busy timetable in order to set aside a few minutes each day for prayer and bible study? Your friend’s approval? Some of your plans or pleasures? Whatever it is, knowing Christ is more than worth the sacrifice.

Think about the conversion of Paul.

Does this apply to us?

It is the personal experience of Christ that matters!

The bottom line…

Matthew 10:37

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

This is what Paul is saying also….