One of the most important questions a person faces is how to obtain salvation. If one were able to live a completely sinless life, the question would not arise. But Scripture is very clear that Jesus is the only one who was ever able to avoid sinning. All the rest of us do sin. How, then, does one obtain salvation in spite of being a sinner? Is it by living a ‘good’ life? Is it by doing works of merit? Do we escape hell by having the right ancestry? The Apostle Paul addresses these questions in his inspired letter to the followers of Christ at Philippi. In chapter 3, verses 1 through 9, he writes:
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh; though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ. Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;”
Paul tells those to whom he is writing to “rejoice in the Lord.” (3:1) From this we learn, that whatever their background, or whatever circumstances they may be in, the followers of Christ have assurance. While those who do not follow Christ have no guarantee of salvation, those who have made Him their Lord need not have any anxiety about whether they are acceptable to God.
While the follower of Christ need not be anxious about salvation, Paul says that what he writes is a safeguard. This why it is so important to keep reading and studying the inspired writings of the Apostles. There are many false teachers, but by comparing what they say to the teaching of the Apostles, we will be able to recognize them for what they are. We must never forget that what is written in the Bible is the standard by which we must judge every teaching or doctrine.
When Paul urges the people to beware of “dogs” and “the false circumcision” (NIV, “mutilators of the flesh”) (3:2) he is referring to those Jewish teachers who taught that it is necessary for the followers of Christ to also obey the Law of Moses. They made the mistake of putting their faith in the rituals and customs of the Law, rather than God who had given the Law. The true people of God, however, cannot be identified by some physical mark or by the rituals they perform. As Jesus said, “…the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) Paul points out that it is not those who are Jews by birth, but the followers of Christ whom God considers the circumcision. Speaking of Christ, Paul writes in another place, “in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11-12)
Paul uses himself as an illustration of someone who, one would think, possessed all the qualifications for being acceptable to God. He was “circumcised on the eighth day”. In other words, right from his birth, his family had done to him exactly what the Law of Moses required. He was “of the stock of Israel,” the people whom God had chosen above all other peoples on the earth through whom to fulfill His plan for mankind. He was “of the tribe of Benjamin.” This was one of the tribes which remained faithful to the royal house of king David and to God while the majority of the Israelites not only rebelled, but went into idolatry. He was “a Hebrew of Hebrews.” In other words, there was no taint of foreign blood in his lineage. He was “a Pharisee.” The Pharisees were the Jewish sect which had the highest regard for the Law of Moses. They bound themselves to not only follow everything which is written in the Torah but, also, all of the traditions which had been added to the Law. Paul says in another place that he studied under the famous Pharisee teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and that he advanced in Judaism beyond those of his own age. (Galatians 1:14) Paul was so zealous for God that he set about persecuting the church. He did this, not because his motives were evil, but because they were good. He could not tolerate anything which he perceived as being contrary to, or polluting, God’s Law. In short, Paul writes, in terms of legalistic righteousness he was “blameless” (NIV,“faultless”). He had all the advantages: the right lineage, birth, religion, place in society, teaching and achievements.
When Paul measured all he had against God’s expectations, however, he realized that his attainments and privileges were worth nothing. They were rubbish. What, from a human point of view, appeared to be advantages were actually a loss. God demands perfection and no matter how hard we strive, we can never attain it on our own. Position, privilege and human achievement can even be a detriment to obtaining salvation. The reason this is so, is that any attempt to earn salvation by our own efforts is self-centered. By definition, God must be all.
Paul clearly states that all of his qualifications and works of righteousness were not enough. Most of us have far fewer qualifications than he. If his righteousness was inadequate, then where are we? What is the answer to obtaining salvation? The answer is Jesus Christ. It is not our own righteousness, but that of Christ which will save us. He, the only sinless one, died on our behalf so that we can be declared righteous in spite of our shortcomings. We obtain this righteousness, not by our deeds but, by faith. If we die to ourselves in repentance and are buried with Christ in baptism, we will also share in Christ’s resurrection. In another place Paul writes, “ I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Are you willing to die with Christ so that you might live in Christ?