The Weekend Sermon -- "Philippians 3:2-6"

      Thanks for reading the message. I am glad to be able to post it. I am doing some better, and I hope that you are all doing well.

     Last week, we focused on just one verse as we began our study of chapter 3 in Philippians. We focused on the fact that we need to be glad and rejoice in the fact that we belong to the Lord. In our section for today, Paul is going to switch gears and give the people in Philippi a warning. 

     In verse 2, Paul tells the people to "Watch out for those people who behave like dogs."  What is Paul speaking about? In many of the places that Paul went to to preach the Gospel, there arose opposition to his message of grace. Some believed that in order for a person to be right with God, that person had to follow the Jewish law. This was all settled at the Council of Jerusalem recorded in Acts 15. However, there will still many who said that people where saved not by faith alone but by faith plus the keeping of the law. 

     Paul wanted to make sure that people didn't fall into a false teaching. No one can be made right with God by keeping the law. No one can be made right with God through doing good deeds. As Paul will say, "We take pride in Christ Jesus." He means by this that the only way that we can be made right with God is through what Jesus has done for us. In Ephesians, Paul tells us that we are saved by grace through faith. We are not saved by works lest anyone should have reason to boast. Our salvation is dependent all on the finished work of Christ on the cross and His bodily resurrection. 

     As he continues, Paul will explain that if salvation was dependent on following the law or doing good, he would have something to boast about. He was extremely diligent in keeping the law. He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He was firmly committed to following the Law of Moses. However, Paul knew that this meant nothing. It is only through faith in Jesus that one can be saved and forgiven. 

     Now, there is something else that we can see in the teaching of Paul in our section today. We should not go around comparing ourselves and our work to other believers. Paul is letting people know that boasting in good deeds is not the way that Jesus would want us to go. We are to follow the Lord and do His will in His way in our lives. We aren't to worry about what others are doing or what others are accomplishing. We are responsible for following the Lord as He leads us. 

     It is unfortunate that many people in churches today do not understand that they are saved by grace through faith and not by works. I see so many people who have been going to church their entire lives and they believe that they will have eternal life in heaven because they have been a good person. We will only have eternal life because of what Christ has done for us. Do not trust in your own good deeds and good works to save you from your sins. Put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus and in Him alone. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am doing some better in my health. Please keep praying that the weather will straighten up in my area. Thank you. 

     Keep praying for peace in the world. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Syria, Sudan, Cambodia and Thailand all need our prayers for peace. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Myanmar and Mauritania. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday. We will continue with our current series for the sermon. May God bless you all.