Philippians 3:4 - "When Religion Looks Impressive"

Paul does something very interesting. He anticipates an argumentfrom the Judaizers. They might say, "Paul, you tell people not to trust inthe flesh because you do not have anything in the flesh worth trusting." SoPaul responds in verse 4: "Though I also might have confidence in theflesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I moreso." In other words, Paul is saying that if we are going to comparereligious credentials, family heritage, religious training, zeal, and outwardrighteousness, he can surpass them all. He is about toshow us that everything he once trusted in turned out to be worthless whencompared to knowing Jesus Christ. BeforeChrist saved him, Paul was known as Saul of Tarsus. He was highly educated,deeply religious, and respected by his peers. If anyone could have earnedheaven through religion, surely Saul would have been near the top of the list. Yetnotice what Paul says here. He does not say, “I used to have confidence in theflesh.” He says, “I might have confidence in the flesh.” In other words, ifsalvation could be earned by human effort, he would qualify. If anyone hadreason to trust in religious accomplishments, it was Paul. Thisreminds us of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. He came to Jesus with animpressive moral record. He had kept the commandments from his youth. Yetsomething was missing. He had religion, but he did not have Jesus Christ. Manypeople today are just like that rich young ruler. I am concerned about everyonewho listens to this chat because sometimes we trust in our church membership,our baptism, our confirmation, our giving, or our efforts to be a good person.Maybe we trust in the fact that we were raised in a Christian home. Yet none ofthese things can save a person. TheJudaizers believed that faith in Christ was not enough. They insisted that aperson must also keep the Jewish laws and rituals. Paul says, “If that is true,then I win the contest.” But as we will see in the coming verses, Pauldiscovered something that changed his life forever. All those religiousaccomplishments and achievements could never remove a single sin. They couldnever give him peace with God. They could never make him righteous before aholy God. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us: "But we are all like an unclean thing,and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Noticethat Isaiah does not say our sins are filthy rags. He says our righteousnessesare filthy rags. Even the very best we can offer God falls short of His perfectstandard. That is why salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this clear: "For by grace you have been savedthrough faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works,lest anyone should boast." The problem with trusting in the flesh isthat the flesh always gives us something to boast about other than Jesus. If Itrust my goodness, I boast in myself. If I trust my religion, I boast inmyself. If I trust my accomplishments, I boast in myself. But when I trust inChrist alone, all the glory belongs to Jesus. Paul'stestimony reminds us that a person can be sincere and still be lost. He can bereligious and still be lost. He can be moral and still be lost. He can knowScripture and still be lost. The issue is not whether we have religion. Theissue is whether we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. As we continuestudying this passage, Paul is going to take us through his impressivereligious résumé. Then he is going to show us why he gladly threw it all awayfor the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ. What a testimony! Solet me ask you today: What are you trusting in? Are you trusting in somethingyou have done? Or are you trusting completely in Jesus Christ and in Him alone?I pray, my friend, that your trust is in Christ and Christ alone. Remember,true believers worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have noconfidence in the flesh.