June 13 2026

Saturday June 13

“In Christ Alone”

Philippians 3:3

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we are continuing in Philippians 3:3, where we are looking at the three distinguishing marks of a genuine believer. Let us read verse 3 again: "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Yesterday, we talked about the fact that we worship God in the Spirit. Today, we are going to look at the second mark of a genuine believer: “We rejoice in Christ Jesus.”

Notice Paul did not say we rejoice in our accomplishments. He did not say we rejoice in our denomination. He did not say we rejoice in our church attendance. Remember when Jesus sent out the seventy-two, two by two, and they came back reporting what they had experienced. They said they had seen this and that, and that even the demons were subject to them. Jesus said, "Do not rejoice in that, but rejoice in the fact that your name is written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Jesus teaches us that our joy should be found in our relationship to Him. That is what Paul reminds us of here.

The word rejoice literally carries the idea of boasting or glorying in. So what are we proud of? Jesus! What do we celebrate? Jesus! Who do we talk about? Jesus! Religion boasts about what people do. Christianity boasts about what Christ has done. Remember the Pharisee in Luke 18. He prayed, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men." Then he proceeded to list all of his accomplishments. The publican, however, bowed his face before God, beat his breast, and cried out, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." Jesus said that man went home justified rather than the Pharisee who had done so much. You see, true believers boast in Christ alone.

I love the words of Galatians 6:14: "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." So when someone praises us, we reflect that praise back to God. We thank Him. When something good happens in our lives, we thank God. When we see spiritual fruit, we give glory to God. Why? Because we know where it all came from. Remember, Jesus said in John 15:5, "Without Me, you can do nothing."

Now, the third mark that distinguishes a genuine believer is probably the most important of all. Paul says here that: “We have no confidence in the flesh.” This statement strikes at the heart of human pride. The flesh refers to our fallen nature. Paul says that true believers place no confidence in themselves. None. Zero. Our culture today teaches just the opposite. Believe in yourself. Trust yourself. Follow your heart. Depend on your abilities.

Scripture teaches something very different. Jeremiah 17:9 says: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" In Romans 7:18, Paul proclaimed: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing." The flesh cannot save us. The flesh cannot please God. The flesh cannot produce righteousness. The flesh cannot earn heaven. Only Jesus Christ can do that.

John 19:30 records the triumphant words from the cross of Calvary, where Jesus proclaimed: "It is finished." Not partly finished. Not almost finished. But finished. Completely. Totally finished. His death on the cross and His shed blood accomplished propitiation and satisfied God completely for our sins. Everything necessary for salvation was accomplished in Jesus Christ. That is why true believers have no confidence in the flesh. Our confidence is not in ourselves. Our confidence is in Jesus Christ and in Who He is. The Holy Spirit now dwells in us, and whatever He leads us to do, we can accomplish because it is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

So let me ask you a personal question today. Which of these three marks best describes your life? Do you worship God from the heart? Do you rejoice in Jesus Christ? Do you have any confidence in the flesh, or is your confidence in Christ alone? Or are you still trusting your own goodness, your church membership, your baptism, or your religious activities? My friend, the true believer worships God in the Spirit, rejoices in Christ Jesus, and places absolutely no confidence in the flesh. That is the difference between religion and a relationship with Christ.

Let’s pray. Father, thank You for showing us what genuine faith looks like. Help us to worship You in Spirit and in truth. Help us to rejoice in Christ above everything else. Forgive us for the times we place confidence in ourselves instead of You. Teach us to trust completely in the finished work of Jesus Christ and to give Him all the glory. We pray this in His wonderful name. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!