Get Rid of the Garbage!

Philippians 3:4 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, 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 is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Just as the Galatians were plagued by legalists, so the Philippians also had legalism slip into their ranks.  Like the church in Galatia, there were some who insisted that male Gentiles who converted to the Christian faith should be circumcised.  This is what Paul refers to as the "mutilation of the flesh"  

Then, Paul says that if anyone had reason to be confident in their religous pedigree it was him.  Paul recounts his numerous qualifications.  He was circumcised on the 8th day according to Leviticus.  He was a part of the tribe of Benjamin from whom Israel's first king came from.  He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, meaning he was from a elite sect of the Pharisees.  He kept the law as well as anyone could expect from a man. He was so zealous for the Jewish faith that he persecuted the new sect of Christianity with a vengeance.  If you were totaling a score for righteousness (doing the right thing according to the Law), Paul would be ranked up there with the best of them. 

But despite all of this Paul says that all of these achievements are WORTHLESS compared to knowing Jesus.  Paul calls all of his religious merits garbage. Paul is willing to give up all of it so that he can KNOW Christ.   Paul's experience of grace is so powerful it made everything he did seem superflous.  Paul was tireless in trying to measure up to the letter of the Law and even did a pretty good job of it.  But compared to knowing Jesus it was garbage.  

Are you still trying to measure up to God's law by trying to do enough good things to merit God's love?  Have you realized the futility of your efforts to justify yourself?  The Good News is you can stop trying.  The Good News is that Jesus has already obtained for you everything you need.  The Good News is that by faith you are saved not by works so that no one can boast.  Your salvation is not based on what you do, but what was done for you! Faith in what Jesus has done for you is all you will ever need.