Which Religion Saves Philippians 3:1-9
Down through the years of my ministry I have know
several cussing, drinking, fighting, wild-living men get converted,
--and a few women. When their life really changed it was not
uncommon for their old crowd to say, "He got religion".
Numerous times I have asked people about their
relationship with God, and they answer, "I'm satisfied with my
religion". I have also noted that when someone dies who has been
faithful in church attendance, lived a good life and had done good
things for others, that a common expression has been, "If anybody
makes it to heaven He (or she) will."
What these statements imply is that if someone
has a religion and lives a good life that his will surely satisfy
God and He will accept them into Heaven. The fact is, not one
statement in scripture teaches we an be saved and go to heaven by
religion. The word religion does not even appear in the Old
Testament. The sum total that religion/religious appears in the New
Testament is six times. Three times the apostle Paul speaks of how
faithfully he observed the Jews religion before he trusted Christ as
Savior (Acts 26:5; Galatians 1:13, 14). The word religious is
applied to Gentile proselytes to Judaism (Acts 13:43). James makes a
distinction between those whose religion is vain and those whose
religion is real. James 1:26-27
Religion Is Powerless
The Apostle Paul discovered that religion is
powerless to give salvation. In Philippians 3:4-6, He refers to the
religion he zealously practiced for most of his life: "Though I
might also have confidence in the flesh. If any one else thinks he
may have confidence in the flesh, I more:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless.´" In the first nine verses of
Philippians 3 Paul reveals the uselessness of religion to give
salvation and take a person to heaven.
Religious Rites Will Not Get You Into Heaven
Paul speaks here of those who trusted in the rite
of circumcision as necessary for salvation. He describes them as
vicious agitators and evil workers. We can be sure that if he
desired, he could have given many illustrations from personal
experience. Many are given in the book of Acts. According to Romans
4:9-11, circumcision was given to Abraham as a seal of the
righteousness of faith which Abraham had before he was circumcised.
(See Genesis 15:6 AND 17:9-11)
In the same way many have made rites out of the
New Testament ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The
observance of these ordinances do not save us. They point to the
sacrificial death of Christ for our sins which made our salvation
possible.
Religious Orthodoxy Will Not Get You Into Heaven
(Verses 4-5)
PAUL HAD CIRCUMCISION
.
He was born into the tribe of Benjamin. This was the tribe that
continued to worship Jehovah, along with Judah, when ten tribes
split away. Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. This was a term to
describe those who were "the cream of the crop". Paul was a
Pharisee. He described them as being "the straightest sect of our
religion" in Acts 26:5. During Paul’s days as a Pharisee he was
undoubtedly counting on this religious orthodoxy to gain him much
favor with God. On the Damascus Road he was jolted with the
realization that it didn’t gain him any favor at all.
Religious Works Will Not Get You Into Heaven
(Verse 6)
In other scriptures Paul made such statements as
"I…was zealous toward God, as you all are this day." Acts
22:3 "And profited in the Jews religion above many my equals in
mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of
my fathers." Galatians 1:14 (KJV). An honest and objective appraisal
of Paul’s works in his Jewish religion was that he was "Off the
charts" when compared to anyone else.
Yet, Paul came to realize that all of his zeal in
performing religious works gained him absolutely no merit with God.
He came to realize that the law was a "tutor to bring us
unto Christ that we might be justified by faith." Galatians
3:24.
You Get To Heaven Only Through Faith in Christ
To Know Christ Jesus as Lord
"But what things were gain to me, these I
have counted
loss for Christ. Yet, indeed I count all things loss for
the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them as rubbish,
that I may gain Christ. And be found in him, not having my own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the
faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith."
Philippians 3:7-9.
Paul is referring to that time on the Damascus
Road when he had an experience that caused him to throw his
religious rites, his religious orthodoxy and his religious works on
the garbage dump as far as giving any home of salvation is
concerned.
What is it that Paul said will bring salvation to
the seekers heart and get you to Heaven? "… the knowledge of
Christ Jesus as Lord", "… And be found in Him", "…not having my
own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ." Paul is testifying, "When I reached out in
faith to Jesus Christ that day on the Damascus Road it resulted in
me coming to know Him as my personal Savior. I have come to realize
that God placed me in Christ and no longer sees me in my
self-righteousness. That is what saves me and makes me acceptable to
God.
Good Deeds and Clean Living Are Results of Christ
in Me
As far as my Christian life, I have discovered
that my works are no longer what I am doing for God to help save me,
but they are the result of what God is doing in me that makes me
want to live pleasing to Him and serve Him." Ephesians 2:8-10.
Apostle Paul speaks In Jewish Synagogue
A sample of what Paul preached is found in his
sermon in the Jewish synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia. "Be it
known to you, brethren, that through this Man is
preached to you the forgiveness of sins: And by him everyone who
believes is justified from all things, from which ye could not be
justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:38-39.
Personal Experience of Apostle Paul
… The Philippian jailer in Acts 16:31, 32.
Paul’s Damascus Road experience Acts 9:1-6.
Hopefully, you are trusting Christ alone for your
salvation. If you are still trusting religion, the words of Christ
in Matthew 7:22, 23, give a powerful warning "Many will say to
Me
in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? Cast out demons
in Your name? And done many wonders in Your name?' And then will I
declare to them, I never knew you, depart
from Me, you who practice lawlessness! that work iniquity.
Copyright © 2002 Thomas E Berry
All Scripture quoted from NKJV unless otherwise noted
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