Philippians 3:1-11 (ESV)
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.
Sermon Quotes and References:
Not what these hands have done can save this guilty soul;
not what this toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers & sighs & tears can bear my awful load.
Thy work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God, not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
can rid me of the dark unrest, and set my spirit free.
– “Not What These Hands Have Done”, Horatius Bonar (1864)
Legalism has its origin in self-worship. If people are justified through their obedience to the law, then they merit praise, honor and glory. Legalism, in other words, means that the glory goes to people rather than to God. The true gospel, however, teaches that all human beings are fundamentally flawed by sin, and thus salvation is only available by relying on & trusting in God, who has sent Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. God receives the glory & praise in this gospel because in His mercy He saves helpless sinners through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The legalist’s desire to obey the law, though it appears commendable, is actually an insidious way to try to gain recognition before God & some measure of approval from God. – Tom Schreiner, The Law and Its Fulfillment