June 17th, 2025
by Kyle Wendel - Connections PastorPhilippians 3:2-6 Have you ever felt like you had something to br
by Kyle Wendel - Connections PastorPhilippians 3:2-6 Have you ever felt like you had something to br
Philippians 3:2-6
Have you ever felt like you had something to brag about or that you are really good at? Some of us may be really good at a sport, some of us not so much. Maybe some of us are really good at singing or playing an instrument, but some of us like myself are not. Maybe there isn't a skill that you are thinking of but possibly your family name and the weight it might hold. In a lot of ways, we naturally compare ourselves to others or make a list of what we are better at.
Paul came across a group of people called the Judaizers who were holding to the Old Testament law. They also were trying to get Gentiles to hold themselves to the law. They were wrongly putting their trust in the law to earn their righteousness. They were filled with a spiritual pride. Since they spent so much time and effort in keeping the law, they couldn't accept that their efforts didn't bring them any closer to salvation. They felt that they were earning their salvation.
The gospel actually teaches the opposite of this. There is only one way to salvation, that is to have faith. To believe in trust in the salvation that is from God alone, found in Christ's work on the cross and resurrection. The gospel doesn't add anything else to Christ's offer of salvation. It is His work alone that saves us. Paul is calling out these people to let go of the "works" that they thought they had achieved. It was and is foolish to think that we can earn our salvation in any way or that God favors us more because of holding to the law. We all fail and fall short and need Jesus to save us. Paul also shows the Judaizers that he can easily show them how he has "earned" his way more than they have. He would outrank all of them based on the system they are trying to hold to.
We see here the need to let go of the list. Anything else added to the list comes up short. It is by Christ alone that we hold to. Watch out that you are not trying to earn your salvation on your own. Make sure that we are putting our full faith and trust in Jesus alone. We must always realize that we have fallen short and will always fall short of God's glory. Let us boast in the work of Christ alone! Remind yourself of this daily.
Have you ever felt like you had something to brag about or that you are really good at? Some of us may be really good at a sport, some of us not so much. Maybe some of us are really good at singing or playing an instrument, but some of us like myself are not. Maybe there isn't a skill that you are thinking of but possibly your family name and the weight it might hold. In a lot of ways, we naturally compare ourselves to others or make a list of what we are better at.
Paul came across a group of people called the Judaizers who were holding to the Old Testament law. They also were trying to get Gentiles to hold themselves to the law. They were wrongly putting their trust in the law to earn their righteousness. They were filled with a spiritual pride. Since they spent so much time and effort in keeping the law, they couldn't accept that their efforts didn't bring them any closer to salvation. They felt that they were earning their salvation.
The gospel actually teaches the opposite of this. There is only one way to salvation, that is to have faith. To believe in trust in the salvation that is from God alone, found in Christ's work on the cross and resurrection. The gospel doesn't add anything else to Christ's offer of salvation. It is His work alone that saves us. Paul is calling out these people to let go of the "works" that they thought they had achieved. It was and is foolish to think that we can earn our salvation in any way or that God favors us more because of holding to the law. We all fail and fall short and need Jesus to save us. Paul also shows the Judaizers that he can easily show them how he has "earned" his way more than they have. He would outrank all of them based on the system they are trying to hold to.
We see here the need to let go of the list. Anything else added to the list comes up short. It is by Christ alone that we hold to. Watch out that you are not trying to earn your salvation on your own. Make sure that we are putting our full faith and trust in Jesus alone. We must always realize that we have fallen short and will always fall short of God's glory. Let us boast in the work of Christ alone! Remind yourself of this daily.
Posted in Devotional