“No Confidence”
[Philippians 3:1-11]
October 19, 2014 Second Reformed Church
What do you need – in addition to
Jesus – to be saved? What do you need –
in addition to Jesus – to be made right with God and welcomed into His Kingdom
– righteous – forgive of your sins and holy?
Let us remember that Paul was in
prison when he wrote to the church in Philippi – a church of Gentile –
no-Jewish – converts to Christianity. He
told them of the joy and thanks he had for them, and his desire that they would
continue to grow in the faith. Please,
let us be in prayer for each other!
Paul explained that what was of
greatest importance to him was not his release from prison – or those arrogant
“super-apostles” who said they were better Christians than Paul – but that the
Gospel would advance. Whether he lived
or died – whatever anyone might say – he desired that the Gospel – above all
else – would continue to advance. That
is my desire – as well – and I hope it is yours.
Paul explained that he – they – and
we – need not fear anything any person or government might do to us – but to
understand that we have been gifted to believe and to suffer for Christ’s
sake. Did you see in the news that a
town in Texas is requiring pastors to submit their sermons for review by the
town? It’s an offense! It’s a violation of our free-speech
rights! Let us pray that those people
who are charged with the reading of those sermons would be convicted by God and
brought to faith by the Holy Spirit – and let us pray for all Christian pastors
– and all Christians – that we would not be afraid to say with Peter, “We must
obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed
by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and
Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are
witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to
those who obey him” (Acts 5:29-32, ESV).
It is the greatness of the Gospel
message that must lead us on as Christians with the same humility that Jesus
had – even being God the Son Incarnate – Who humbled Himself in obedience to
the Father even to death on the cross.
So must we seek that humility, bearing fruit as those God has saved, by
attributing all salvation to God, and then – with fear and trembling – bearing
the fruit of good works to the Glory of God in response to His salvation of us.
That brings us up to this morning’s
text, where Paul addresses a most insidious false teaching that came into the
church by those who were called the Judaizers.
And so we see, this morning:
First, the Gospel causes us to
rejoice.
Second, saying that Jesus plus
anything else equals our salvation is heresy – a lie!
Third, Salvation is wholly the Work
of God.
Fourth, no one keeps all of God’s
Law perfectly.
Fifth, the value of the Gospel for salvation
exceeds the worth of mere obedience.
First, the Gospel causes us to
rejoice.
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in
the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for
you.”
Paul is repeating himself – and he
says it is “safe” to do so – because we need to be reminded to continue to look
at the wondrous – priceless – Gospel that has been given us! That Gospel that Jesus said is worth more
than all the treasure of the world! Do
we rejoice in the Gospel – in life and death, in sickness and health, in poverty
and riches, in bounty of friends and loneliness? Are we ready to stare down the evil of evils
and rejoice because nothing can take away the glorious Gospel given to us? Can we be filled with all the blessings of
the earth and still see the blessing of the Gospel – oh, what love! – that it
is far more worthy and joy-filling than everything else?
If we can’t rejoice, let us turn our
eyes upon Jesus – consider what God has done in coming to earth to make us
right with God to His Glory! If we
can’t, let us consider if we have ever believed. Do you believe in God Who came to earth, lived,
died, and rose, and ascended – victorious and most blessed forever?
Paul now turns to another problem in
the church in Philippi – one that might seem all too familiar to us: the Judaizers. The Judaizers were a group that claimed that
before you could become a Christian, you had to become a Jew. They argued that since the Law of God – and
especially the command to be circumcised is a sign of belonging to the people
of God – all the Laws that were specific to national Israel – was commanded by
God, they had to be followed.
They said that salvation by faith in
Jesus was fine, but you also had to be circumcised and participate in the other
ceremonies that God gave national Israel.
They said that Jesus Alone, faith alone, was not enough for salvation –
you have to have Jesus plus the works of the Law for salvation. This claim outraged Paul – and it should
outrage every Christian.
Second, saying that Jesus plus
anything else equals our salvation is heresy – a lie!
As Paul said – speaking of these Judaizers,
“Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who
mutilate the flesh.”
“Look out for the dogs” – Paul is
not talking about Annie or Teddy or any other dog that we might have in our
life and love – Paul is referring to the wild, street dogs that ate garbage and
dead animals, and attacked others for their food. They were brutal nuisances.
The Judaizers were the same – they
were not looking to lead people to salvation – they were looking to pat
themselves on the back and to tear others down – to prove that others were far
less worthy of salvation than they. They
attacked the Gospel and preached a false gospel of salvation by Jesus plus
their good works.
“Look out for the evildoers” – and
we might think that is harsh – “weren’t they preaching Christ – what made their
preaching evil?” Paul addressed the
Judaizers in more detail in the book of Galatians – exposing them as
non-Christians. You cannot be a
Christian and say that salvation is through faith in Jesus plus anything
else. Paul wrote, “I am astonished that
you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are
turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some
who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an
angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached
to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If
anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him
be accursed”
(Galatians
1:6-9, ESV).
Paul is not shy about this: the claim that salvation is through faith in Jesus
plus – circumcision – obedience to the Law – anything – is not the Gospel. Such persons are “accursed.” Such persons are “anathema.” Such persons who teach this false gospel,
Paul literally writes, “let him be damned to Hell.”
The Roman Catholic Church teaches
that salvation is through faith in Jesus plus good works. Some Pentecostals and Charismatics teach that
salvation is through faith in Jesus plus speaking in tongues. Such teachings and anyone who continues to
teach them – let them be damned to Hell.
“Look out for those who mutilate the
flesh.” Circumcision – as prescribed to
Abraham and the nation of Israel was the cutting of the foreskin to symbolize
inclusion in the people of God – it did not guarantee salvation. Paul tells us that making circumcision a
requirement for salvation turns the sacrament of circumcision into a mere
mutilation of the flesh. It is a
corruption – it is blasphemy.
Today, those who say that baptism
saves a person have turned the sacrament of baptism into a corruption – a
blasphemy.
Anyone who teaches that salvation is
by faith in Jesus plus anything else is a wild, savage dog that barks and bites
and tears and steals. Such are evil
doers – those who bring down persons who are being drawn to salvation in Jesus,
rather than building them up. They are
anathema! They are mutilators,
corrupters, blasphemers of the sacraments – turning a ceremony is a hacking
away at the truth.
Salvation by Jesus plus anything
else is a damnable lie – a heresy – and we should not care who says it – how
important, decorated a person is – how big their church or ministry is –
salvation is faith in Jesus Alone plus nothing!
Third,
Salvation is wholly the Work of God.
The
Gospel – the truth of the Gospel – is that salvation is all of God by God and
for God, by faith alone, by grace alone, by Jesus Alone. Thanks be to God!
“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.”
The
circumcision of the Judaizers was mere mutilation, because they gave it a
meaning and an import it did not have.
The circumcision of the true Christian is not of the male flesh, but of
every believer’s heart. Paul wrote, “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” (Romans
2:29, ESV).
Paul
is telling us that true believers – true Jews – are those people who believe in
Jesus Alone for their salvation. So,
modern day Judaism is a false religion – along with any religion that preaches salvation
as Jesus plus anything else.
And,
he tells us that salvation is God’s Work.
God changes the heart by giving the indwelling of God the Spirit. What part do we play in our salvation? Nothing!
We are to respond to our salvation by doing all the good works that God
has given us to do, but not one of them adds to our salvation.
The
true circumcision – the true believers – those who believe in salvation through
Jesus Alone –
“Are
people who worship by the Spirit of God.”
We
can’t worship God rightly until God comes into us and changes us and causes us
to believe in Jesus Alone for our salvation.
The Scripture tells us again and again that no one seeks to do good for
all the right reasons and we are born spiritually dead. So, if we are dead and seeking to do things
for the wrong reasons – some of which are outright evil – we will never worship
God by the Spirit of God until the Spirit of God comes into us to changes us
and teach us and lead us in worshipping by the Spirit of God.
As Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and
bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV).
“And
glory in Jesus Christ.”
We
can’t glory in Jesus Christ – we can’t proclaim Him to be Who He really is –
the Son of God Incarnate – the Promised Savior – until we have received
salvation from Him. We cannot love Jesus
and follow Him in faith and obedience until after God has changed our hearts
and caused us to love and obey Him
Until
God made us to believe in Jesus as our Savior, we were enemies of God – we were
at war with God – we hated God. We
didn’t want to show others how wonderful Jesus is – we didn’t want to love Him
with every part of our being more and more fully as were matured in the faith –
not until God did His Work in us.
So,
this change of heart – this coming to love Jesus and proclaim Him to be Who He
truly is – is completely a spiritual matter – it is completely a work of
God. It is nothing we did or desired or
worked our way towards. It is God’s Work
– which makes it all the more glorious and us all the more desirous to glorify
Him.
“And
put no confidence in the flesh.”
All
we who have come to believe in Jesus as Savior by the miraculous Work of God in
us now put no confidence in our heritage and our family and our good works –
insofar as our salvation is concerned.
We understand that nothing we were born, nothing we are, and nothing we
do is of any confidence insofar as salvation is concerned.
Paul
uses himself as an example – a prime example – of a person who would have been
saved by the flesh – by his works, if such a thing was possible. Yet,
we see in this example:
Fourth,
no one keeps all of God’s Law perfectly.
“If
anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
circumcised on the eighth day,”
Paul
was raised in a family that kept God’s Law.
“of
the people of Israel,”
Paul
was a member of the biological people of Israel – not a convert to Judaism.
“of
the tribe of Benjamin,”
Paul
was a direct descent of Jacob, who is also called Israel, the father of the
twelve tribes – of which Paul was a direct descendant of Israel’s first king,
Saul.
“a
Hebrew of Hebrews;”
Paul
had no mixed blood in his heritage – he was the son of two Hebrews – who spoke
Hebrew – he was not raised to speak Greek, as the captives were.
“as
to the law, a Pharisee;”
Paul
was a member of the religious group that adhered to the Law with great
strictness and separated themselves even from the common Israelites – not to mention
the Gentiles – in order to seek after holiness through the works of the flesh.
“as
to zeal, a persecutor of the church;”
Paul
was so zealous for the Law – for the honor and fame of God’s Name – that when
he saw the Church arise and thought it was against God and His Law – he
persecuted it with all his might.
“as
to righteousness under the law, blameless.”
And
as far as anyone could judge to look at Paul, to hear him speak, and see him
act – he did keep the Law in all its fullness.
If it were possible to be saved through keeping the Law – through
heritage and life – Paul certainly looked to be the person – if anyone could –
who would.
However,
Paul wrote, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1
Timothy 1:15, ESV).
Paul
understood that despite all the pluses – all the checkmarks in his favor – he
considered himself – looking through the eyes of Christ – that he was the chief
of sinners – the greatest of sinners – the foremost of sinners – because none
of his works lead him to salvation and the Savior.
Fifth,
the value of the Gospel for salvation exceeds the worth of mere obedience.
“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.”
Paul
tells us that his heritage, his good works, his diligence in keeping the Law
were all worthless – even a loss – because he did not know Jesus. And, when he came to faith in Jesus – he
recognized the greatness of the value and the glory of Jesus and His salvation. In God circumcising Paul’s heart and bringing
him to faith, he understood that all of his works and heritage were impotent as
far as achieving salvation was concerned.
God was not impressed that someone who rejected His salvation was trying
to do all the right things.
The
author of Hebrews wrote, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for
whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards
those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV).
We could put it this way:
whatever does not come as a fruit form saving faith is sin. Whatever is done outside of saving faith is
sin.
So
all those good things that Paul did – all those good things we did before God
saved us – all those things anyone does – wonderful things that the world
praises people for doing – if they are done by someone who does not believe
savingly in Jesus – in God’s eyes – those things are sin.
Paul
uses strong language: “For his sake I
have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,”
And
our translators use a polite word – literally Paul says that he counts all
those benefits he had before faith in Christ as dung. Before Christ, all the best of who we ever
were is no better than the waste that comes out of our bodies. That’s how offensively useless it is to say
that we must add something to Jesus and His Work to gain salvation.
But
that’s what the Judaizers were teaching – that’s what the Roman Catholic Church
teaches today – and some other denominations:
“Jesus’ Work is great, but I have to add my bodily waste to it to make
it really worthy in God’s eyes.” What
insanity! What an offense!
Paul
said “no” – everything before Christ was like waste – dung – in comparison to
His Worth and the worth of His Gospel.
“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—“
Our
righteousness cannot come from ourselves – it must be credited to us by
Jesus. We cannot come to God as holy and
sinless people on our own – we must have Jesus’ Righteousness – His Holiness
and His Sinlessness imputed to us – so God will see us as holy and sinless and
receive us into His Kingdom for the Sake of His Son. And to befoul Christ’s Work with our work does
not improve us in God’s eyes.
The
Philippians needed to understand that the Judaizers were wrong to say that any
work or belief had to be added to Christ to make His Work acceptable and
effective – we must understand as the hymn writer puts it, “nothing in my hands
I bring, only to Thy cross I cling. We
must reject anyone and any religion or denomination or church that says our
works – in any way – merit salvation.
Salvation
is by Christ Alone, by faith alone, by grace alone.
“that
I may know him and the power of his resurrection,”
If
we believe that salvation is all of God, we will come to know Christ intimately
– personally – as we continue to grow in love and faith and obedience to
Him. Isn’t that what we desire? To know Him?
To begin to plumb “the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of
God!” – even with our finite and still sinful selves? (Romans 11:33a, ESV).
“and
may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”
Strange
as it may sound – isn’t our goal to suffer like Christ – to not suffer for our
sin – but to suffer for righteousness – for the proclamation of the Gospel –
for glorying in Jesus Christ before the world which hates us?
And
should we not want to die the death of Christ – a death of perfect obedience to
the Father for His Sake and His Glory?
“that
by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul
didn’t know if he would be let free from prison at that point. He didn’t know when or how he would die – or
if he might live until Christ returns and never have to die in the body. But whatever he would have to endure for the
sake of Christ, he held fast to his goal of the resurrection from the dead –
like Christ – to be with Him forever in His Kingdom in Glory.
A
recent book was titled, “Jesus + Nothing = Everything.”
What
do we need to be saved?
Jesus! Jesus!
Jesus!
And
God damn anyone who teaches anything else to Hell.
Let
us pray:
Almighty
God, Yours is the Salvation. We get
confused about the place of being obedient to You, and some teach that Jesus is
not enough – that our works also add to our salvation. God, please rid that lie from our minds and
hearts. Help us to understand that salvation
is all of You – Jesus Alone. We respond
to that most glorious salvation that You give us through obedience, but our
obedience does not make Your salvation of us any more effective. Lord, mature us, and help us to stand boldly
and hopefully for Your Gospel. For it is
in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
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