Philippians 3:2 “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
This phrase, “and have no confidence in the flesh”, emphasizes that man cannot make himself worthy or fit to be accepted by God for an Eternal Home in Heaven; it excludes any claim of worthiness by human lineage, worthiness by obedience to the Law, worthiness by righteous behavior, worthiness by personal sacrifice, or worthiness by any recitations or other human actions. Paul goes on to explain that if it were possible for a person to make themselves a Child of God or make themselves worthy to be one by obedience to the Law of works; then he would have surely done so, for he had the proper lineage from Abraham, had kept the Law of works, and had been a member of the most zealous and committed religious group (Philippians 3:4-6). Then he explains that “what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7). Furthermore, he could not claim to have made himself “righteous”; that is, fit to be raised from the dead or to obtain Eternal Heaven. But, he was “righteous” “through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9); that is, man failed and fails to obtain and maintain a state of “righteousness”; but, where man fails, our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God absolutely has not, does not, and will not fail to impute His “righteousness” to His Children and to securely maintain their “righteousness” until He takes us Home. So blessedly glorious is this precious truth that Paul declared, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” (Philippians 3:8). Said another way, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8). In this context, to “win Christ” is to obtain a more complete knowledge of Him and a greater sense of His loving nearness. The more we discount human glory and achievement and sacrifice, the more we “win Christ”, feel His Holy Presence with us! There is nothing in this present world more pleasing, more comforting, or more satisfying than the knowledge and experience of our Lord’s loving Presence with us! Thus, we yearn to and strive to live in obedience to Him, for we know His love for us and strongly desire to show our love to Him by our obedience to Him (John14:15)!