Christ is Our Confidence

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Christ is Our Confidence

Date: Oct. 27, 2016

Passage

Philippians 3:1-11 (ESV)

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:10a

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

First, no confidence in the flesh (1-9). We are tempted to earn our own righteousness, as if that were even possible. False teachers were infiltrating the church and teaching that salvation required circumcision and obedience to the Jewish laws and traditions. Paul says that if that were true, he would be better off than anyone else! But his conversion on the road to Damascus taught him differently. When Christ intervened in his life, he realized that everything he had done in the flesh was pure rubbish. The only thing that mattered was gaining Christ and having the righteousness that comes from God alone through faith.

Second, every confidence in Christ (10-11). In Christ, we find salvation, sanctification, discipleship, and glorification. To know Christ is to have a relationship with him and to have eternal life. Jesus said, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you." To experience the power of the resurrection is to experience the power of the Holy Spirit as he shapes and molds us into the image of our Lord. To participate in our Lord's sufferings is to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. To attain the resurrection from the dead is to be with him and share in his glory forever. Our only hope, our only desire, our only passion is to know Christ.

Prayer: Father, help us to hold on to the only thing that matters - the righteousness we have in Christ.

One Word: I want to know Christ

Countless Saved from God’s Wrath by the Blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:1-17

Key Verse: 7:9-10

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Today's Question

Are all sins equally evil?

See answer and references