May 7, 2023
Morning Service

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

Php 3:1  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

We humans are forgetful that causes us to lower our guard.

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

The flesh will fail you, but the Holly Spirit will never fail.

Paul gives his credentials.

Php 3:4  though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:

Php 3:5  circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;

Php 3:6  concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul could have said then I met Jesus.

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Php 3:8  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Knowing and having a relationship with Jesus is most important thing we can have and our responsibility to pass to our children.

Php 3:9  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Php 3:10  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Php 3:11  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

The almighty God of the universe chose to become a man to understand everything we go though. Even death he knows.

Having Faith in Christ Jesus will allow us to attain resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

Php 3:12  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Php 3:13  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Php 3:14  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul, forgetting law and righteousness though the flesh, he moves forward with hope and Faith in Jesus Christ.

Php 3:15  Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

Php 3:16  Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Php 3:17  Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

We all are at different levels of attaining, but we should all endeavor to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Php 3:18  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Php 3:19  whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

Earthly things are passing but heavenly things are forever.

Php 3:20  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Php 3:21  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

We will be like Jesus.