Untitled Sermon

There are several Theological Principles in

Philippians 3:1–11 ESV

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.

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The overarching principle however in this text that I believe Paul is trying to convey is to live a life that is based on Christ and not of this world. He elaborates on this in several ways. At the beginning of Chapter 3 Paul begins with a warning about Judaizers and false circumcision. Paul is ultimately trying to say that our righteousness is not based on works but rather based on the grace that we have through Christ. True Circumcision as Paul puts it in verse 3 is those “who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”

Secondly, In verse 4,

Ephesians 4:1 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Paul begins to explain that he if anyone had the right to have confidence in the flesh.

He was circumcised on the eighth day,

of the nation of Isreal,

from the tripe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, persecutor of the church and found blameless when compared to the righteousness which is in the Law. But even that was not a true picture of what a life of righteousness on Christ looked like. Righteousness through Christ has nothing to do with ones own accomplishments but rather it is by way of a marriage in Christ through faith.