Philippians For Times Like These #15 – No Confidence In The Flesh Philippians 3:3-6

Where Does Our Confidence Lie? Tempted by self-confidence Self-confidence should properly be replaced by God-confidence John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Some Men Boast In Horses… Psalm 20:7 – Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.

Confidence in What? “I tremble for my country when I hear of confidence expressed in me. I know too well my weakness, that our only hope is in God.” -- Robert E. Lee

The Focus On False Circumcision Philippians 3:2, 4-6 – “…beware of the false circumcision….although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh….circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”

Confidence in a dead rite Galatians 5:16 – For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love

Confidence in a dead covenant Colossians 2:14 -- …having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Paul’s Impeccable Credentials Properly circumcised Of the tribe of Benjamin Hebrew of Hebrews Pharisee Zealous in persecution Blameless in the Law

Benjamin? 2 Chronicles 11:1 Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were warriors, to fight against Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

Pharisee? Acts 26:5 “…since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.”

Zealous In persecution Acts 22:3 -- “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.”

Apparently He Forgot His Teacher Acts 5:34, 38-39 – “But a Pharisee named Gamaliel [said] …stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

Where Do We Place Confidence? Job? College degree? Bank account? Friends? Family? Reputation? Denomination?

The True Circumcision Philippians 3:3 – “…for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…”

made without hands Colossian 2:10-12 – “…and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Who worship in the spirit of GOd Romans 8:9 --However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. John 4:23-24 – “…true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth…God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Who Glory In Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians 4:3-5 -- And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God….”

Colossians 1:25, 27-28 “Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me…so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God…to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles….We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

Who put No Confidence IN Flesh 1 Corinthians 15:50,57: “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”