Philippians 3:7-9

Today, we’re looking at Phil. 3:7-9.

Last week, we talked about how you can do all the things a Christian does, and yet not be a true Christian. You can pray a lot, you can serve a lot, you can even preach a lot and evangelize a lot, but that’s not what defines a true Christian.

A true Christian has three characteristics.

Can anyone remember what they are?

Worships by the Spirit of God

Boasts in Christ Jesus

Puts no confidence in the flesh.

And for today we’re looking at vv.7-9.

So let’s read it together.

Philippians 3:7–9 ESV

7 But 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—

Now, can someone guess what this means?

Paul is using himself as an example. Example of what? He’s an example of someone who glories in Christ and puts no confidence in the flesh.

Now here’s the main point: When we say flesh here, do we mean actual flesh?

Wrong answers only. What do we mean by flesh?

So when we say flesh, what are we talking about?

Listen carefully. Flesh refers to things connected to salvation that are not Christ. Did you get that? Things connected to salvation that are not Christ.

What’s the proof?

Look with me to vv.4-6.

And vv.4-6, Paul lists all the reasons for confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:4 ESV

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:

And he goes on to list them one by one.

Circumcised on the eighth day

Of the people of Israel

Of the tribe of Benjamin

A Hebrew of Hebrews

A Pharisee of the law

A persecutor of the church

Blameless according to the Law

And there’s one thing missing from this list that you would expect to be there. There’s one title that Paul has that people considered highly valuable and precious, even powerful in Roman society. Can anyone guess what it is?

A citizen of Rome.

Why doesn’t Paul talk about that? Because it’s not directly related to the things of salvation.

On the other hand, the Jews thought if you’re circumcised, you’re saved. If you’re of the people of Israel, you’re saved. If you’re a Pharisee, you’re saved. If you’re blameless in righteousness under the law, you’re saved. But Paul takes all of this and says what? I have counted them as loss for the sake of Christ. And he literally throws them in the dumpster. He calls them rubbish.

Now, is Paul saying, “These things are good, but Christ is better”?

That’s not what he’s saying. He’s saying “These things were a loss to me.”

But wait a minute. Isn’t it a good thing to be circumcised on the 8th day? Isn’t it a good thing to be born of the tribe of Benjamin?

Let’s put it in our context.

Isn’t it a good thing to be called a Christian, or to be part of Zion church? Isn’t it a good thing to attend worship service 2-3 times a week, and read the Bible and pray every day? Or to clean the church and serve in different ministries?

Yes. These are all good things.

But they become instant death to you the moment you put any confidence in them for your salvation. Do you see? The danger is that we might start having a self-righteous attitude about these things. The moment you think, “This is going to get me right with God.” You’re doomed. That’s confidence in the flesh. And so Paul says they were a loss to him, they were as rubbish, because they could tempt him to put his faith in them.

And in verse 9, Paul calls it what?

Philippians 3:9 ESV

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—

A righteousness of my own that comes from the law. And the opposite of that is what? The righteousness from God that depends on what? Faith. Faith in who? Christ.

So ultimately, you can only have confidence in one of two things. Yourself, or Christ. Either we stand before God in a righteousness of our own, or you stand before God in the righteousness of Christ.

Paul calls that being found in Christ.

Now, why is this important?

Think about it this way. There will be a day when everyone queues up at the pearly gates of heaven, and there’s going to be a cashier. There’s going to be a huge line. And everyone’s trying to purchase a lifetime subscription for eternal bliss in heaven.

And there are going to be some people who say “Heaven please”, and St. Peter’s going to say “That’ll be a trillion trillion righteousness dollars”. And they take out their wallet and there’s a whole load of righteousness dollars. And they take the huge stack and dump it on the table. And it’s only a thousand bucks. And his name was Ghandi.

And when it’s Paul’s turn at the cashier, he says “Jesus paid it all.” And the gates swing wide to welcome him.

See, God wants us to go to heaven for all eternity. But we can’t pay for it with only 80 years worth of good deeds. At best, you can have 80 years of heaven, and that’s it. Confidence in the flesh means trying to pay for heaven with your own righteousness wallet. Confidence in Christ means putting it on Christ’s tab.

So again, what are the things of the flesh? Things connected to salvation that are not Christ.

Let’s end with this. Look at how Jesus warned us about this.

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’