What a great passage! In the context of Paul's battle with the Judaizers who added the Law to Jesus, Paul takes us deep into the very heart of the Gospel!To the religious Judaizer Paul says - I have more reason than any of you to have confidence in the flesh! By YOUR standards, I am far better than you. Yet, none of these matters of the flesh matter - they cannot satisfy God's righteous requirements. Be the best that you can be - do all the good that you can do - and it isn't enough. As bad as that sounds, the good news is that Jesus has accomplished for you what you cannot! So, Paul says, in the light of Jesus and the righteousness that is mine - IN HIM by faith - I count all my works as dung! The Gospel is about what He has done for us.
We looked as well at all that Paul had and had accomplished in a worldly sense. He had a great family and the right blood line. He was from the right tribe. And he was a Pharisee - which came with a great deal of power and authority and privilege. Paul had accomplished much of what we pursue in our jobs, in our relationships - with our lives. And in the light of the glory and beauty of Jesus all those things looked and smelled like dung! Paul found Jesus to be his joy and satisfaction - all that he needed for life and forever more! That too is the heart of the Gospel!
Not only will our fleshly works not satisfy God, our fleshly works won't satisfy us either! The good news is that Jesus satisfies both!
Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?
Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.
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