Philippians 3:1 says, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Paul called on the Christians at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord, and so should we today. Paul said what he wrote to them did not cause him grief and that it was safe for them to hear it. Even though Paul was about to warn the believers in Philippi about some among them who were teaching false things about Christianity, he was not grieved by it, and he did so for their safety. We should never be grieved by having to point out false teachings to other Christians. Verse two adds, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. Paul warned them to beware of those that he called dogs, evil workers, and those who spread concision. Some people who processed to be Christians were teaching false things about what it meant to be a Christian, and this was causing problems in the church, and if we allow false teachings into the church today, it will cause problems, or contention, as well. Verse three continues, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Paul said that the true circumcision, which some were claiming was necessary for salvation, came from faith in Jesus Christ, and not from any physical act. Salvation can come only through faith in Jesus Christ, and if anyone begins to add anything to that, then they are leading people astray. Salvation is not controlled by any group of believers, but comes only by individual faith in Jesus Christ, and no one can take away an individual's salvation away. Verse four declares, Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Paul said that if anyone thought that he or she could put their faith in the flesh, or in the keeping of religious rules, that he could do so even more. No matter how many rules we may follow attempting to become worthy of salvation, it will never bring us salvation. We are all unworthy and can only attain salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Verse five adds, Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Paul began to list his earthly credentials that many would have looked at to call him a great man of God. He was born a Jew, circumcised the eighth day, and became a Pharisee when he was grown. We may be able to list great credentials today that we would claim make us a follower of Christ, but they will never be of any real value. Verse six continues, Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Paul said that he had been blameless in the law and had even zealously persecuted the church before he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. Paul did not count his actions in the name of God as bringing him into a right relationship with God, and neither can we today. If we do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, no matter how good we may feel we are, nothing else matters. Verse seven states, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Paul said he counted all those things that would seem to make him a great Jew, or man of God, as a lose because of his relationship with Jesus Christ. We cannot attempt to justify ourselves by our own actions but can be justified toward God only by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Anything and everything else does not matter. Verse eight adds, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Paul emphatically stated that he counted all his personal achievements as a loss when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, and so must we. We cannot have a personal relationship with God by faith in Jesus Christ plus anything else but can only have that relationship through faith in Christ alone.
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