Freedom from the burden of good works

² Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. ³ For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, ⁴ though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

⁵ I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. ⁶ I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

Philippians 3:2-6

The Apostle Paul issues a strong warning here to the church of the Philippians. It seems that, though they were a flourishing church, they were disturbed by teachers who pressed them to keep up the law of Moses and mix the observances of it with the doctrine of Christ.

Paul exhorts the Philippian church to rely on what Christ Jesus alone has done for us and put no confidence in human effort.

While we may not experience the exact temptation that was present for the early Jewish Christians, we can be tempted to rely on our own human confidence and outward performances.

Speaking personally as someone who grew up in a church and a professing Chrisitan all my life, it took me many years to fully understand that my ‘good works’ were not the basis of my relationship with God.

Putting my confidence in Christ alone has freed me from the burden of trying to ‘be good’ in my own strength, and it has greatly enriched my relationship with God and others. This has been truly life changing for me.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for the incredible freedom that comes from trusting in You alone for our salvation. Guard us from taking pride in our own efforts. All glory belongs to You!

Written by Shelley Witt