Question: What is your Hope Built on?
"The depravity of man is the only doctrine we have with thousands of years of evidence." Pastor Matt Chandler
Where is your confidence?
1. In Religious Ritual? Vs. 3 "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh." (NIV)
Warning: Watch out for the Dogs! 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
Biblical salvation is the change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit as one trusts in Jesus Christ's sacrifice.
Deuteronomy 30:6 "The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live." (NIV)
2. In Background/Position/ or Affiliation? Vs. 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." (NIV)
On paper Paul had every confidence of the Flesh!
Galatians 1:13-16
Question: Consider is it religion or relationship?
Consider: means to "think through or reflect on."
3. In Christ Alone! Vs. 7-8 "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. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (NIV)
It would be hard to find anyone who put more human effort into pleasing God than Paul.
Isaiah 64:6b "And all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." (NIV)
Being in Christ is not clinging to any righteousness of our own doing but righteousness is rested in faith in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6-7 "So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven." (NLT)
Paul already knew Christ as his Savior but he wanted to know Him more intimately as his Lord.
Question: Do you Know the Lord?
