“Expense Of Excellence”
Scripture: Philippians 3:3-6 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,
Philippians 3:3 (NASB)
What does it mean to put confidence in the flesh? To answer this question we must first understand what Paul is referring to, in this context, when he speaks of "the flesh". In the Scriptures the word flesh (sarx) can mean many things, all depending on the context; here, Paul is speaking of advantages, achievements, and status that are limited to the external.
Paul defines for us the boastings of his flesh ... (vs. 5,6)
-Circumcised the eighth day-
-Of the Nation of Israel-
-Of the tribe of Benjamin-
-A Hebrew of Hebrews-
-A Pharisee-
-A zealous persecutor of the church-
-The Law declared him righteous-
To the unconverted first-century Jew, Paul was the living definition of excellence. He was circumcised, a descendent of Jacob, of a tribe that was not only the favorite son of Jacob but was faithful to Judah when the Kingdom split , a full-blooded Hebrew, and an excellent Pharisee who not only kept the Law perfectly, but was willing to do something about the heretical Jesus followers. However, Paul’s understanding of excellence was drastically changed the day in which he met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1- 19). He no longer viewed excellence as having to do with external things such as birth-rite, heritage, race, social status, profession, intellect, or adherence to the Law. He became a new man who was circumcised for the first time, on the inside. He now knew that excellence meant selling all his achievement and status and becoming a slave of Christ.
Pastor Bill