Introduction
False teachers were boasting in their works. They were trusting in their works and were trying to get others to join them. V3 we should have no confidence in the flesh. Men think their works add up and are accounted towards righteousness. All false religions think this way. These men troubling the Philippian church. Paul at one time thought this way. He thought he had acquired a lot of merit towards salvation.
V7 – But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
The word for loss means like a business loss. He is using business and accounting terminology. Works do not account towards righteousness.
V9 – 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;
1 – Salvation is not by rite.
V5 – circumcised the 8th day. He thought it profited him towards salvation. Paul followed the strictness of the law. He was a true Jew. Salvation is not by rite or ceremony it is by Christ alone. The signs point to mans sin and the need of Christ.
We do not take confidence in the flesh. Sacraments are designed to point us to Christ. Article 33 Belgic Confession – For Jesus Christ is the true object presented by them, without whom they would be of no moment.
You are only saved through Jesus Christ – When men take the good tool of God and focus on the tool instead of the object
2 – Salvation is not by race.
Paul is an ethnic biological Jew. In the flesh He was in the line of Abraham. But this was not in the covenant line. Paul says he has the best race but again he took no confidence in this. Salvation is by grace not race.
3 – Salvation is not by rank
Of the tribe of Benjamin. This was an elite tribe. Gen 35:17-18. Benjamin was born in the promised land, 1st king of Israel, the only tribe faithful with Judah. Ezra 4:1, Judges 5:44, Judges 1:21 – rich heritage. Paul is laying all this on very thick to make his point. V7 He considers it all loss for Christ
4 – Salvation is not by rare adherence to traditions
Paul says he is a Hebrew of Hebrews holding to the traditions. He spoke Hebrew they worked very hard to separate themselves from the gentiles. Most of the known world spoke greek at the time. Acts 6:1 the hellenized Jews were Jewish individuals or communities that adopted aspects of Greek culture and language during the Hellenistic period, particularly after the conquests of Alexander the Great. This cultural blending significantly influenced Jewish religious practices and literature, especially in regions like Alexandria and Antioch.
Paul was of a higher class than these Jews. Traditions do not save us
5 – Salvation is not by religion
V5 – concerning the law a Pharisee. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees you cannot get a higher rank. Those troubling the church knew what it meant to be a Pharisee. In the eyes of Paul before Christ he would have thought he was right with God. Mat 5:20 – Jesus says unless your righteousness exceeds the Pharisees you wont inherit the kingdom of heaven. People who are religious can be very sincere but they trust in their works.
6 – Salvation is not by radical devotion
V6 – concerning zeal, persecuting the church; Paul hated it and tried to snuff it out. He beat them, and killed them. He was very zealous.
He loved his religion and was willing to persecute the church.
7 – Salvation is not by the righteousness of men
Law righteousness – human righteousness – how many people are living their life according to their conscious V6 – the law – Paul argues no one could compare to him. If you could be saved by law keeping it would be Paul. Yet Jesus said to him Paul why are you persecuting me! If we take confidence in the law this aids you in the decent to hell…
Paul is teaching not to take confidence in any of these things. Satans work is keep people from Christ. Only Christ counts before God. Paul knew this. He came face to face with Christ. Find your entire gain and salvation in Christ. Christ is the prize. Pursue that with all your might.
““For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 NASB1995
Philippians 3:1-21 (NKJV) 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. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 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; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 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 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; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 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. 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, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 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. 16 Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 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: 19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.