June 14 2026

Sunday June 14

“When Religion Looks Impressive”

Philippians 3:4

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we begin looking at Philippians 3:4, where the Apostle Paul starts giving his personal testimony. Up to this point, Paul has warned the Philippians about false teachers who were teaching salvation by faith plus works. He has described the marks of true believers in verse 3. They worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Now Paul does something very interesting. He anticipates an argument from the Judaizers. They might say, "Paul, you tell people not to trust in the flesh because you do not have anything in the flesh worth trusting."

So Paul responds in verse 4: "Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so." In other words, Paul is saying that if we are going to compare religious credentials, family heritage, religious training, zeal, and outward righteousness, he can surpass them all. Paul is not boasting here. He is setting up one of the greatest testimonies in all of Scripture. He is about to show us that everything he once trusted in turned out to be worthless when compared to knowing Jesus Christ.

Before Christ saved him, Paul was known as Saul of Tarsus. He was highly educated, deeply religious, and respected by his peers. If anyone could have earned heaven through religion, surely Saul would have been near the top of the list. Yet notice what Paul says here. He does not say, “I used to have confidence in the flesh.” He says, “I might have confidence in the flesh.” In other words, if salvation could be earned by human effort, he would qualify. If anyone had reason to trust in religious accomplishments, it was Paul.

This reminds us of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19. He came to Jesus with an impressive moral record. He had kept the commandments from his youth. Yet something was missing. He had religion, but he did not have Jesus Christ. Many people today are just like that rich young ruler. I am concerned about everyone who listens to this chat because sometimes we trust in our church membership, our baptism, our confirmation, our giving, or our efforts to be a good person. Maybe we trust in the fact that we were raised in a Christian home. Yet none of these things can save a person.

The Judaizers believed that faith in Christ was not enough. They insisted that a person must also keep the Jewish laws and rituals. Paul says, “If that is true, then I win the contest.” But as we will see in the coming verses, Paul discovered something that changed his life forever. All those religious accomplishments and achievements could never remove a single sin. They could never give him peace with God. They could never make him righteous before a holy God. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us: "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags."

Notice that Isaiah does not say our sins are filthy rags. He says our righteousnesses are filthy rags. Even the very best we can offer God falls short of His perfect standard. That is why salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes this clear: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." The problem with trusting in the flesh is that the flesh always gives us something to boast about other than Jesus. If I trust my goodness, I boast in myself. If I trust my religion, I boast in myself. If I trust my accomplishments, I boast in myself. But when I trust in Christ alone, all the glory belongs to Jesus.

Paul's testimony reminds us that a person can be sincere and still be lost. He can be religious and still be lost. He can be moral and still be lost. He can know Scripture and still be lost. The issue is not whether we have religion. The issue is whether we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. As we continue studying this passage, Paul is going to take us through his impressive religious résumé. Then he is going to show us why he gladly threw it all away for the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ. What a testimony!

So let me ask you today: What are you trusting in? Are you trusting in something you have done? Or are you trusting completely in Jesus Christ and in Him alone? I pray, my friend, that your trust is in Christ and Christ alone. Remember, true believers worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Let’s pray. Father, thank You for reminding us that salvation is not earned by human effort. Forgive us when we are tempted to trust in our own goodness, accomplishments, or religious activities. Help us to place our confidence completely in Jesus Christ and in His finished work on the cross of Calvary. May all the glory belong to Him alone. We pray this in His wonderful name. Amen.

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