Philippians 3:1-11

Choose Joy
Part 7

Paul is wrestling with an important question in this passage; how can any of us have confidence in such an awesome, all powerful God?

If you have a casual confidence that you're "mostly okay" then Paul has a warning that your confidence is misplaced. Or maybe you are terrified and have no confidence in your security. For you Paul has comfort.

Confidence in God comes from confidence in Christ

Our confidence comes from our relationship and standing with Christ. Those who have Jesus in their lives can have great joy in the fact they are saved by Him and have His power living in them.

There were those in the Phillipian church that were trying to make believers but their confidence in other things, like Jewish law and circumcision. Paul was strong against those because it undermined confidence in the grace of God. It was subtle, but powerfully adding rules and regulations to what being a child.of God meant.

While today we may not be pressured into things like circumcision, there are those around who try to push a "Jesus+" ministry. They say "to be saved, you need Jesus + ____". Paul is warning to be aware of these people. Remember that to be saved, you need Jesus and only Jesus.

Connection to Christ

Our sin breaks our connection to God, and so our confidence of our eternal place.

Faith in Christ rebuilds that connection. But what is faith? Faith is leaning heavily on Christ. Relying in Him and having Him meet our needs.

All the self-righteous work we do in our life gains us nothing. It may even be a sinful practice, it may be good and loving to others. But the only thing that brings us a place with God, and a confidence in Him is faith in Christ.