In Christ Alone - Philippians 3:3b-8 Series

The true people of God are those who serve God by means of the Holy Spirit (living the Christian life by exposing ourselves to the Spirit’s influence and cooperating with what he does) and who glory in (rely on, hope in, rejoice in, count on, run after, regard as supremely important) Christ alone, rather than putting any confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, watch out for those men who do evil, watch out for the mutilation. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who have put (perf) no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Introduction

Slaving All These Years

Let’s play a little game. It’s called “Name that Story.” Who can tell me what Bible story this line comes from: “I have been slaving for you.” More context: “All these years I’ve been slaving for you.” More context: “All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.” More context: “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.” It is the older brother in the Prodigal Son story, when he is complaining about the fact that his father threw a party for his prodigal brother (Lk.15:29). Does anyone know who the older brother represents in the story? The Pharisees and teachers of the law from verse 2. The legalists. I don’t blame you for not recognizing that line about slaving, because that is not really the main point of the parable. The main point is to show how the Pharisees were grumbling about sinners coming to repentance while God was rejoicing and celebrating. When a sinner repents and turns to God, that’s a cause for celebration and joy, not looking down your nose at him. That is the main point, but it’s interesting that the character who represents the legalistic Pharisees makes this comment about slaving all these years. Here is a kid who was born into a wealthy family, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, grows up in a good household with a loving father, and he describes it as “slaving.” That’s what it’s like for legalists to try to live the Christian life. It feels to them like slavery.

Review

We have been studying through the book of Philippians and we are in chapter 3 where Paul is describing the difference between the true people of God, and the legalists who think they belong to God but really don’t. Legalism is the approach that 99.99% of all people on the planet take - trying to become a good person by living up to a list of standards. That’s what religious people do, it is what secular people do, and Paul is very clear that no one who takes that approach is going to heaven – even if their list of standards comes right out of the Bible.

So if the legalists are not the true people of God, who is? The answer is in verse 3: it is we who are the circumcision (which is another way of saying, “It is we who are the true people of God”). Why? What is it that makes us the true people of God? Two things: the source and the object of our worship.

3 … we who worship by the Spirit of God

That is the source.

… who glory in Christ Jesus

That’s the object. We worship Jesus Christ, and we do so by means of the Holy Spirit. And then the last phrase (who put no confidence in the flesh) applies to both. Instead of confidence in our own flesh, all of our confidence is in the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. So let’s take a close look at both of these – the source and the object.