No Confidence in the Flesh

“...although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith...” Philip. 3:4-9

Have you ever met anyone who insisted that they have ever done anything wrong? Believe it or not, there are a few out there who make that claim. Trying to talk with such a person about Christ seems pointless. Unless he knows he has a problem, why should he want a solution?

Though few people claim to be perfect, many claim to be better than average and it follows that they have nothing to fear from a kindly God. Their morality becomes a barrier to faith in Christ.

As you think about our text, Paul was not simply above average. With his race, religion, record, and personal righteousness, he could have run for almost any office and won. Yet Paul said he, at a point in time, "counted all these things as nothing." Keep in mind his conversion cost him dearly.

As he became influential in the rapidly growing Christian movement, surely there was the temptation to take pride in the new areas of accomplishment. Yet Paul continued to count all things loss in order that he might experience a deeper knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ truly satisfying? If you have submitted yourself to any bondage (rules) other than to the Lord Jesus, Himself, you have yet to experience Him in the way Paul speaks of here.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you today any area in which your personal righteousness makes it impossible for you to know Christ in His fullness.