Having No Confidence in the Flesh: For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh, Though I myself have something to be confident of in the flesh as well. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day; of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; As to zeal, persecuting the church; as to the righteousness which is in the law, become blameless Philippians 3:3-6. In Philippians 3:5, Paul says that he was circumcised the eighth day, the day for a genuine Israelite to be circumcised (Genesis 17:12). This day distinguished him from the Ishmaelites and proselytes, who were circumcised later. Paul could also be confident in the fact that he was of the tribe of Benjamin. This was a lovely and faithful tribe, among whom was the royal city of Jerusalem with the temple of God. Paul also says that he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. He was a Hebrew born of Hebrew parents with Hebrew ancestry on both sides. Furthermore, his grandparents on both sides were Hebrews as well. Only such a one could say that he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. A full-blooded Hebrew, he could boast that he was of pure Hebrew blood. In Philippians 3:5, Paul tells us that, as to the law, he was a Pharisee. The law here is the law of Moses respected by all orthodox Jews. As a Pharisee, Paul was a member of the strictest sect of the Jewish religion, a sect exceedingly zealous for the law of Moses. The Pharisees were proud of their superior sanctity of life, devotion to God, and knowledge of the Scriptures. Out of zeal for the law and Judaism, Paul persecuted the church. Those Jews who persecuted the church were certainly among the leading ones in Judaism. No one could surpass them in their zeal. Paul boasted in his zeal in persecuting the church. Finally, Paul says that, as to the righteousness which is in the law, he was found, or proven, blameless. This, of course, was in the eyes of man according to mans judgment. In the eyes of God, according to His righteous law, no flesh is blameless (Galatians 2:16). Paul once had been a leading Judaizer (one who promoted Judaistic ways), but a radical change had taken place in him. Had Paul remained a Judaizer, it would have been impossible for him to experience Christ. But because he became another kind of person, one who served by the Spirit of God, boasted in Christ Jesus, and had no confidence in the flesh, he could enjoy Christ and experience Him in a very rich way. We also should be those who have no confidence in the flesh, in our natural ability, or in our heritage or tradition. Rather, we should be those who serve God by the Spirit, who boast in Christ, and who put no trust in the flesh. If we are such persons, we shall have the genuine experience of Christ. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh Philippians 3: 2-3. Now, do not get offended all you dog lovers; here is the point... Although we are not Judaizers, in principle we may actually be the same as the Judaizers were. Even though we have been regenerated [Born again], we may continue to live in our fallen nature, boast in what we do in the flesh, and have confidence in our natural qualifications. We have pointed out that in 3:2 the dogs, the evil workers, and the concision refer respectively to the fallen nature, deeds, and religion. A dog is a disease carrying scavenger by nature and was considered unclean by the Law (Leviticus 11). I pray you get the sense of this message. If we continue to live according to our old nature, boast in what we do in ourselves, and have confidence in our qualifications, we shall be the same as the Judaizers. As a result, we, in this fallen nature, shall cause problems within the Church Body, and we shall not be able to progress in the experience of Christ. In order to experience Christ, essentially we must: 1). Serve by the Spirit of God, not by our fallen nature; 2). Boast in Christ, not in our own doings; and... 3). Not trust in our own feeble natural qualifications, but trust only, and boast in the Lord JESUS. This is a secret to the experience of Christ. It is important that we all be deeply and personally touched by these verses in Philippians 3. We need the Lords light to shine on us concerning our nature, our deeds, and our confidence in the flesh. If we are enlightened by the Lord, we shall confess that although we have been regenerated to become children of God with the divine life and nature, we still live too much in our dog nature. Yes, we have a right to proclaim the fact that we are children of God. But if this declaration is contrasted with our daily experience, it may be little more than a doctrine to us. One day, when the light shines on you concerning this, you will want to prostrate yourself before the Lord Jesus and confess how unclean your nature is. Then you will condemn everything you do by your fallen nature. Then we shall boast in Christ alone, realizing that in ourselves we have absolutely no ground for boasting. ONLY when we have been enlightened by God shall we be able to say truly that we have no trust in our natural qualifications, ability, or intelligence. ONLY then shall we be able to testify that our confidence is wholly in the Lord. ONLY after we are enlightened in this way, we shall be able to experience Christ.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 15:33:46 +0000