Philippians 3 4-11

Where does you confidence lie?

Introduction

This week we are going to be going through Philippians chapter 3 verses 4-9, where Paul talks about his life before conversion and how he counts all of his works before Christ as loss.

Every believer has a testimony of how we came to faith in Christ, first we give a description on how our life was before conversion, talking about out sins and how messed up we were, secondly we talk about coming to know Christ as our lord and savior, which we would talk about how we have turned away from certain sins and what not.

Dont forget to sit and think about the many things that God has delivered you from and the sinner that you are. I feel that often times as Christians we dont think about how God has really changed our lives and what used to be hard is made easy and seasons that are difficult become a little easier now. Ask yourself the question, “How has your life changed since conversion?”

Read Philippians 3 4-11

Philippians 3:4–11 ESV

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.

Starting with verses 4-6

Here Paul is talking is saying to the church in philipi “o yall think yall something sit down and listen” If there is anyone who could boast in what they have accomplished it is Paul, but he quickly tells the church that he counts all of his accomplishments as lost for the sake of knowing Christ. Where is your confidence?

Circumcised on the 8th day- First, Paul explains that he had the right beginning. He was “circumcised the eighth day” (v 5). No Jew could have a more proper beginning than this. The Mosaic Law required that on the eighth day, a baby boy would be circumcised. Signifying there will come a time in which the heart of the person would also have to be circumcised.

Your beginning could have looked the same. maybe you were brought up in church and were baptized as a child but this cant give you right standing before God.

2. Of the people of Israel- Paul had the right nationality. He was born “of the nation of Israel” (v 5). Israel was God’s chosen nation, and they were the people who were privileged to hear the word of God preached to them. It was a great privilege to be born in Israel. We see this in Romans 9 4-5

Romans 9:4–5 ESV

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

3. Tribe of Benjamin- Being of the tribe of Benjamin was impressive, because of the 12 tribes of Israel Benjamin was one of the 2 elite tribes.

Many today presume that the spiritual lineage of their family tree will give them a right standing with God

Steven J. Lawson, Philippians for You

4. As to the righteousness under the law, blameless- Paul is talking about his impressive morality. He was a upright guy, people knew him as a good man, that followed the law. We always say if we were ranking Christians which we don't, he would be number 1. maybe we think this same way about our morality. being moral isn't a bad thing, but we cant stand on that. it isn't sufficient enough for our salvation. Our morality can keep us out of jail but it cant keep us out of hell.

Philippians for You (Wrong Confidence)

If anyone could have ever earned their way to heaven by their own religiosity, Saul of Tarsus would have been number one, and at the head of the line. This man who would become the apostle Paul had an impressive beginning, nationality, lineage, upbringing, standard, sincerity, and morality. Paul had everything except for one thing. He had everything … except Jesus Christ. And, as he was about to discover, if a person does not have Christ, they have nothing. He had everything except everything that he needed.

So we see that before conversion Paul thought that he had it all, but really he had nothing. And that is why he says in this passage that he counts it all as loss. He was sincere about all the spiritual things, but he was sincerely wrong.

Philippians for You (At Conversion)

“ ‘But’ marks Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus when Paul first saw Jesus and learned what God’s righteousness was. He thought before this that he had attained righteousness by keeping the law. But when he saw Christ he knew that all his righteousness was as filthy rags.”

Boice