Pedigree Counts for … Nothing
Philippians 3:1-11
1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to
you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers,
look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the
Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have
reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason
for 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; as to the law, a
Pharisee; 6 as
to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,
blameless. 7 But
whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count
everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as
rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my
own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the
righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his
resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means
possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Since
Jesus walked the planet, we have been trying to add something to His work of
salvation. Nicodemus flirted with having to crawl back into his mother’s womb
to gain rebirth. The Pharisees believed with a passion that the keeping of the
Law as the only way. And the Gnostics believe(d) you needed some additional
special knowledge to gain admittance into the Kingdom of God. As Paul addresses
the Philippians there is almost a lightheartedness to his words. But suddenly,
with the beginning of this chapter we find a different tone. He takes on
those who apparently are teaching the Philippians there are additional measures
that must be taken to gain entrance into God’s Heaven. He has faced these
heresies before and his message is the same for Philippi as it was for Galatia, “do not be fooled.”
While
Paul doesn’t name them here, he is clearly addressing the teachings of the
Judaizers; those who believed that to be a true Christian you had to come through
Judaism, practicing all the rites and traditions of the Jews not the least of which
was circumcision. But that understanding is dangerous and sullies the faith. Belief
in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross is the ONLY necessary component for
salvation. Our additional customs or traditions are worthless when it comes to
our justification.
These
Judaizers were a very real threat to the life and faith of the early church.
They apparently established no congregations of their own but rather tried to
worm their way into existing congregations. When Jesus died on Calvary and the
temple veil was torn in two, all the ceremonial laws and regulations and their
purpose came to an end. The Judaizers’ insistence on circumcision, therefore,
had no promise of God connected with it. They had reduced circumcision to an
outward, physical ritual that supposedly contributed to salvation. Such a
circumcision, Paul said, was really only a physical thing, a mutilation. Those
who relied on it as a meritorious act were not brought closer to God. They were
actually farther removed from God than before. If the Philippians yielded to
the Judaizers’ insistence that they had to be circumcised in order to be saved,
then they too would be trusting in their own wretched works to be saved, not in
Jesus alone. If they did that, they would lose their salvation.
Kuschel, H. J. ©1986. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (p.
68). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.
As
Paul writes to the Romans, outward signs and symbols mean nothing to God. He is
the master of what is going on inside of our hearts.
Romans 2:29
… and circumcision is a
matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter.
It’s
tempting to step away from this passage with a wave of the hand and say, “Oh,
everyone knows this. Jesus is the only way.” But all too frequently I hear
people describe the “additional” things they do to earn God’s favor. This is
heartbreaking for those efforts are unnecessary and truly useless and will serve only to hurt your faith. In truth, it
is only Jesus and His blood that can save. All else is vain effort.
In
2001 Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote the song In Christ Alone. This contemporary hymn has become a classic and
will probably serve the Church for generations. I commend it to you today as a
part of your devotional experience.
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This Cornerstone this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love what depths of peace
When fears are stilled when strivings cease
My Comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone - who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
©2001 Thankyou
Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) CCLI#551204
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