Text: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Hebrews 10:35).
What is confidence? Is confidence trust? Is it reliance? Is it faith? Is it belief? Is it assurance? Is it certainty? Actually it is all of these things.
Do you place your confidence in things? Do you place your confidence in someone? Do you trust things or do you trust people? Do you rely on things or do you rely on people? Do you believe in things or do you believe in people? We do place our confidence, our trust, our belief in things, but also in people.
When we board an airplane, get into a car, ride the bus, or travel by train, we have confidence that these various modes of transportation will safely get us to our desired destination. We also place our trust in the pilot, the driver, or the engineer believing they know what they are doing and they have everything under control.
We do place our confidence and trust in things and in people. Sometimes things will break and sometimes people will disappoint us. In other words, things are not always for sure and people are not always trustworthy and dependable.
Is there someone who is always present; someone whose dependability is unquestionable; someone you can trust without doubt; and someone who loves you regardless of what you think or how you act? The answer is “Yes!”
Paul talks about this subject of confidence in his letter to the people at Philippi. His advice to the Philippians was that they should not place their confidence or trust in the flesh. There is someone greater than people in whom they should place their confidence. He tells them “….it is a safeguard for you” (Philippians 3:1). Placing their trust in Almighty God is their safeguard just as it is for us.
God’s Word is so written that it alerts or makes us aware of our wrongdoing. God gave each of us a mind to think and make decisions. He wants us to think the right thoughts and to make the right decisions.
We are able to do this by following his Word. We do not need to do what other people are doing, or ask them for advice on how to do something because they are of the flesh just as we are of the flesh and we should not place confidence in the flesh.
Paul is saying that if we follow the ways of the world, we are misplacing our confidence or trust. He told the Philippians to “Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh” (v.2). What was Paul saying? What did he mean by these words?
Paul was talking the group of men called Judaizers. These were Jews who became Christians. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, but the problem was these Jews still insisted on following the Jewish custom of circumcision.
These Judaizers believed that those non-Jews or Gentiles had to become Jews first and follow the laws as written in the Old Testament. They insisted circumcision was absolutely necessary if salvation was to become a reality in the life of the individual man.
Paul referred to these Judaizers as “…those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh” and he called them “dogs” (v.2). They spent their time and effort trying to keep and follow the laws they were raised by. It is true that God made a covenant or promise with Abraham concerning circumcision.
You might ask “Why?” There were probably several reasons. First of all, it was a sign of belonging to His people, the Jews. Second, God wanted to see if the Jews were really obedient to Him at all times. Thirdly, it was a symbol indicating cutting off the old life and living entirely for God.
If one was a Jew, he was considered a real true member of the family of God. Being a member of God’s family meant that all God’s promises were available to him.
Paul told the Romans, “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28, 29).
Mutilation of the flesh does not in itself bring a man to a closer relationship with Almighty God. Placing one’s faith, confidence, and trust in the Son of God, “worshiping by the Spirit of God and giving all glory to Christ Jesus” (v. 3) is what bring us into a right relationship with the Father.
There are people who place full confidence in the flesh. Paul said, “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eight day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as a legalistic righteousness faultless” (v. 4-6).
It almost sounds like Paul is tooting his horn here. It sounds like he is bragging a bit, but this is not the case. There are people, and I am sure you have heard of some of them, who brag about their accomplishments; their religious activities; their background; their standing in their church and their community, and their theological views.
Paul was not bragging. He was pointing out that no matter how impressive your resume might be, it alone will not bring about your salvation or it will not guarantee that you will spend eternity with God in His kingdom. Paul really did have a very impressive resume, but his life really changed on the road to Damascus.
It was here that Paul was struck by the bright light from above and blinded for three days. It was here that the Lord spoke words to Paul that forever changed his mind. During this same time period, Ananias placed his hands on Paul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 17).
Although Ananias was afraid of Saul, he was led by God to carry out God’s instructions concerning Saul. He was afraid of Saul because Saul had come to take believers in Christ back to Jerusalem as prisoners. Saul persecuted the Christians, but Ananias placed his confidence and trust in God and did as the Holy Spirit directed.
“Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength” (v. 18). Paul’s life changed. He no longer was out to persecute the Christians. He preached Jesus Christ from that point in his life.
The Jews did not trust Saul after Saul’s life was changed and his name became Paul. “After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him….”
(Acts 9:23). Paul kept his faith, trust, and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ and not in his eye-opening credentials.
Why didn’t Paul become a Christian earlier in his life? Remember that he was a devout Jew. He was of the highest quality. He was an educated upper class Jew. He followed the Law to the nth degree. He impressed other Jewish leaders. He was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin and the bribe of Judah were special in that they were the only tribes to return to Israel after the exile.
I believe that if we were in the same situation as Paul, we, too, would have remained devout to the Jewish custom and laws as did Paul. Think for a moment about your life. Have you been a Christian all your life? Many of you have, but there are people in the world who place their faith and confidence in things, customs, and people.
By the same token, you and I can bring people to Jesus by our witnessing, our actions, our words, our standards, and our love. As Christians, we do not place our confidence in things or other people. We place our confidence in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
There are many people in the world who are not Christians. There are some who do not claim any faith. They are living worldly instead of heavenly. They are living by what they know and by what they believe. These people have no interest or concern in Almighty God. They believe they are in control of their life and they do not want to hear from someone like you or me concerning their way of life.
On the other hand, there are people coming to Christ because they have seen the Light just as Paul saw the light on the road to Damascus. Perhaps they have reached a low point in their life. Something happens that makes them feel as though there is no hope.
Perhaps they do not believe anyone cares about them or loves them. In other words, they are at the bottom of the barrel or the well of despair, misery, and gloom. They fall into a state of depression. What are they to do?
They see someone who is happy and whose life is full of joy. Maybe they see a man of God preaching the word on television or maybe the word come through the radio. Maybe they receive a Bible or some Christian literature from one of God’s children. Maybe a witness like you or me comes into their presence and their heart is opened to receive what we have.
The light of Jesus shining through us can capture the attention of those lost people just like the light from heaven captured Paul’s attention. God has a plan for the life of each of His children just like He had a plan for Paul’s life.
It took Paul a little time to accept Jesus because Jesus was not the kind or type of Messiah the Jews were waiting for. Paul, along with some of the other Jews did not believe what Jesus was teaching and considered his words to be false.
When we think someone is wicked or not telling us the truth we become fearful, uneasy, and nervous concerning their actions and their words. This is the same way Paul and the other Jews felt concerning Jesus.
In addition to these feelings, the Jews were under the impression that what Jesus taught would create a barrier between the Jews and the Roman government. In other words, the Jews did not want Christianity to interfere with their standing with the Roman government.
This same thing goes on today. When we don’t understand new leadership or some movement in our government we become apprehensive. We do not want to lose what we are so accustomed to. We don’t want things to change. We get a little nervous about what could happen or what could change our way of living.
This is exactly the way Paul felt before his conversion. As he said, he had all the proper credentials, he was from the right tribe, and he knew all the laws, but after his conversion things were different.
Paul said, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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” (vv 7, 8).
All the marvelous things Paul did and all the certificates of education he had, and all the great people he knew could have put him in the ivy tower. He could have really profited from what he had, but he chose not to. He chose not to because he saw the Light and knew there was more benefit and advantage in knowing Jesus.
In fact, Paul considered all the worldly possessions he had and all his up-bringing as rubbish. He said, “I consider them rubbish, 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 is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith” (v. 9).
Paul’s relationship to Jesus was more important than anything else in the whole world. His goal was reached when he met Jesus. The most important relationship we should have is our relationship with Jesus. This should be our goal. This goal, this relationship grants us the privilege of spending eternity with Jesus in his kingdom.
When we humble ourselves before Almighty God in faith and place our trust and confidence in Him, repent of our sins, and invite His Son to come into our heart, there is joy in heaven and peace within our heart. We have cast off the old and we have taken on the new. We are no longer who we used to be, but now we are “….the salt of the earth….the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13, 14).
Conclusion:
The Light shined upon Paul and he finally realized that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God’s love for us is just as great as it was for Paul. When Paul realized this, his life changed and he became the greatest missionary the world has ever known.
When we form a right relationship with Jesus, our life too will change. We won’t need to look for something or someone else in which to place our faith, trust, and confidence, because there is no one greater, more dependable, and more caring than God. We will have “…the peace of God which transcends all understanding and will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). We will have perfect peace.
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Hebrews 10:35). Keep your trust, faith, and confidence in Almighty God. No one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith” (Galatians 3:10). Live each day trusting and believing in God’s Word.
Amen.
