The False Confidence of Spiritual Pride (Part 2)

Spiritual Pride and Paul’s Warning in Philippians 3

All right, please open your Bibles to Philippians. Philippians chapter 3 will be continuing our study from last week. We are finishing up this two-part series on spiritual pride and what Paul has to say about this topic.

Some very helpful words for us this morning. The false confidence of spiritual pride. And the passages we want to look at is chapter 3 verses 1 through 7. And so let's read these verses this morning and put the Word of God before us.

Philippians chapter 3 verses 1 through 7. Finally my brothers rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs. Beware of the evil workers.

Beware of the mutilation. For we are the circumcision who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh.

If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more Circumcised the eighth day of the nation of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of Hebrews as to the law a Pharisee as to zeal a persecutor of the church as To the righteousness which is in the law found blameless.

But whatever things were gained to me those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. The false confidence of spiritual pride. The passage before us is about spiritual pride. Spiritual pride causes blindness a blindness that leads to death.

It's possible to be so spiritually proud and have a false confidence in obedience. That you are blind to the fact that you are in danger of spiritual death. How serious it is to have a false confidence in spiritual pride that blinds you to the reality of how much danger your soul actually is in.

In Verse 1 we saw Paul come to his main point. He issued a command to rejoice. He let the Philippians know his gospel reminders were not tedious or burdensome. Paul said his gospel reminders were a means of safety for the Philippian believers.

In verse 2 He gave a stark warning that false teachers are animals with ravenous desires they are infamous and evil in their desire for vomiting out doctrinal error and heresy as if it were the truth.

In Verse 3 Paul made it clear that true believers worship God in the spirit. True worshipers Glory in the life death and resurrection of Jesus and put zero confidence in their own works. Paul's point in verses 1 through 3 is that obedience to the law does not produce righteousness.

It never has and it never will a legalistic Religious obedience devoid of a heart motive of glorifying God produces a false confidence of spiritual pride. Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Philippi to communicate his Thanksgiving and rejoicing in their partnership of the gospel to exhort them to walk in unity and Christ likeness in the way they conducted their lives as Well as to remain loyal to the gospel while defending it against opponents of the faith.

We are in the area of the letter that includes the exhortations of Paul. The Apostle warned of the church in Philippi against legalism and lawlessness. Chapter 3 can be broken up with the exhortations against legalism and lawlessness.

Regarding legalism in chapter 3 verses 1 through 11 Paul warned not to put any emphasis on deriving righteousness through the law. He reminded the Philippians that righteousness with God only comes through faith in Christ.

In verses 12 through 16 he challenged them to live their lives in a manner that looked beyond worldly pursuits and Past mistakes and to press on toward the upward call of Christ by pursuing a godly standard.

In Verses 17 through 21 Paul. So Paul also warned against lawlessness when he stated that their citizenship in heaven should be manifested in personal holiness in a model of godly pursuits and he told them to live in a way that would anticipate the return of the Lord Jesus.

In verses 1 through 7 Paul makes two critical observations about Spiritual pride so that you can avoid succumbing to false teaching that promotes legalism as a means of salvation. In an article titled What is legalism and why is it dangerous to your faith by an author named Ashley Hooker?

She discussed this issue of legalism and she defines legalism in the article. This is what she said. She says a term Christians use to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulating the achievement of salvation and spiritual growth.

Legalism she pointed out there are three kinds of Legalism that affect the church today. Three kinds of legalism that affect the church today. The first is traditions. Traditions. Every church has certain traditions that would incite heresy if it were altered in any way.

Examples come in many forms including maybe even a communion that is always done on the same Sunday or at a certain time the same Sunday of each month or Or always having a Christmas play each time of year.

The idea behind these traditions is not to hinder but to worship. The problem is when a church or believer feels that they cannot worship with another form of the tradition. One of the most common problems with traditions is they lose their value.

It becomes a situation where a statement is like this is made. That's the way we've always done it. It becomes a hindrance to worship and the ability to praise God in those sacred moments. The second form of legalism is personal preferences.

Personal preferences or convictions. This happens when a pastor or individual Enforces their personal convictions as a requirement for salvation and spiritual growth. The action of enforcing personal preferences.

Usually comes comes without a clear answer from the Bible. This is a personal preference. This variety of legalism rears its head in the personal lives of believers. Examples include reading only the King James Version of the Bible required requiring families to homeschool.

Not having specific instruments like a guitar or drums in service or forbidding the use of alcohol. The list could go on and on. What believers must understand is that these are personal? Preferences not law.

We cannot use our personal convictions to set a standard for all believers. Christ has already set the standard and laid out the way we should live in our faith. The third form of legalism is personal views of believers.

Personal views. They have a personal set of standards and they believe all Christians should live up to it. Writer Fritz Cherry explains this as a mechanic type faith in Essence. We should pray at a certain time and Sunday at a certain time.

Sunday worship at noon or. The only way to learn the Bible is through memorization of verses. Some believers even say one should not shop at certain stores because of donations made to non-christian foundations or the sale of alcohol.

After reviewing these three types we can see that having a personal preference or Choosing to read a certain version of the Bible is not bad. It becomes a problem. When one begins to believe that their way is the only way for spiritual growth or to gain salvation.

David Wilkerson sums it up nicely with this statement at its heart. Legalism is a desire to appear holy. It is trying to be justified before men and not God. Two critical observations. About spiritual pride.

We saw last week. Obedience to the law does not produce righteousness. Two critical observations about spiritual pride. Number two human achievement. Human achievement. Paul says although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh if Anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh.

I far more. Paul is now going to transition to list what the false teachers are promoting themselves to be. He says if they want to talk about having confidence in the flesh, then let's lay out our accomplishments.

They think they have a reason to have confidence in the flesh. Look at my reasons and they fall short in Verse 4. Paul is saying I have reasons but I don't use them. Paul is trying to make the point that if human accomplishment means righteousness.

Then he has nothing to worry about. He can check the boxes. This verse is a challenge by Paul. If anyone thinks they're good with God. I have even more reasons. One commentator noted here of verses 4 through 7 to counteract the Judaizers claim that certain ceremonies and rituals of Judaism were necessary for salvation.

Paul described his own lofty attainments as a Jew which were greater than those his opponents could claim. But were of no benefit for salvation. Remember the context of the letter in Paul encouraging the Philippians to defend the gospel against opponents of the faith.

One could wrongly interpret this section as Paul boasting about his achievements in the context of Verses 7 through 11. We see he's actually doing the opposite. Let's read on from our passage this morning.

But whatever things were gained to me. Those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that I count all things to be lost because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish. So that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own which is from the law. But that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness.

Which is from God upon faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings being conformed to his death in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul is demonstrating that human achievements will never earn a personal salvation. Nor eternal life with God. No matter how impressive Paul did have impressive credentials. Did he not? I mean, let's review his resume.

He had the upbringing the nationality. He had the family background inheritance check. Orthodoxy check. He excelled in religious activity. And certainly he could point to standards of morality in his living.

Here's the thing his conversion to faith in Christ was not based on what he had done. His salvation was based on what God had done. Specifically on God's grace. Paul is saying he did not depend on his deeds to please God.

Paul is saying he did not depend on these human achievements. That's what a false teacher would say. That's what false teachers say today. Paul said no. Even his most impressive credentials fall short of God's holy standards.

So let me ask you this morning. And I don't see any young kids in here. I see a few. But I want to think about this in the in the big term. So for the couple younger folks we have in here. This matters to you.

This matters to you. Let me put it like this are you depending on Christian parents to make you right with God. That's an important thing to think about. Are you depending on other people on their relationship with God to make you right with God?

Or how about for all of us? Are you depending on church affiliation to make you right with God? Are you depending on being good to make you right with God? Amazing credentials human accomplishments or a moral reputation cannot earn salvation.

Salvation comes only through faith in Christ alone not faith in Christ plus obedience. Look at verse 5 he says circumcised the eighth day of the nation of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin. A Hebrew of Hebrews as to the law.

A.

Pharisee.

Paul discussed heart circumcision early in verse 3. He is now referring to the physical act of circumcision in obedience to what God had commanded through the covenant. He made with Abraham Genesis 17 11 and 12 you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins.

And it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Paul says not just circumcised but on the eighth day. He says I'm an Israelite and the first to bring it all the way back to the beginning.

He's going to reference the Mosaic Law, but he starts here and he says I go back to the beginning Circumcised and on the eighth day. He says I'm a child of Abraham and and my observance Predates the Mosaic Law.

I mean look at what he's saying here. This is a reference that he was not circumcised later as a Jewish convert. He was a Jew from birth and from the tribe of Benjamin. Paul is a born Descendant of Benjamin the second son born of Rachel not the maidservant.

The tribes of Benjamin and Judah were part of the southern kingdom and they remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty. He is saying I can boast in my pure Jewish blood and loyalty to the lineage of the king of Israel.

He is a Hebrew of Hebrews meaning neither one of his parents were Gentiles and he retained the original language of his forefathers. Even though he was from Tarsus a Greek city, he calls himself a Hebrew and as to the law a Pharisee a strict obedience in legal status of obedience to the law.

Paul can rightfully boast of his legal precision in the law and High status of zeal for the law. He makes it clear if opponents of the true Christian faith want to bring an arguments of obedience to the law.

Then they can't stand next to him. No one has more reason to have confidence in the flesh than Paul. Paul's days as a Pharisee. Paul explained his association with the Pharisees in his defense before King Agrippa in the historical Account in the Acts of the Apostles.

He says my manner of life from my youth Spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem is known by all all the Jews. They have known for a long time if they are willing to testify that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.

Acts 26. As Paul points out he belongs to the tribe of Benjamin. This was very important for bragging rights because heritage in the tribe of Benjamin was Greatly esteemed among the Jews a couple of reasons in addition to the loyalty to the Davidic line Israel's first King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin.

Also, the tribes of Benjamin and Judah were the only two tribes to return to Israel after the exile of the Jews. Paul explained that his Jewish credentials were impeccable. Not only was he a Benjaminite, but he was also a Pharisee.

Paul was part of the very devout Jewish sect that kept to the laws of Moses and its own numerous rules in addition to the laws of Moses and He'll continue in verse 6 He says as to zeal a persecutor of the church as to the righteousness, which is in the law found blameless.

When Paul explains his zeal for the law as a Pharisee, he's talking about an intense positive interest in something mainly the law and the traditions of Judaism. Paul had a twisted zeal for God that put the main interest in the traditions of Judaism.

Not an intimate relationship with the father. Here's a supporting scripture thinking about Paul's zeal. Paul explains this zeal and his persecution in Galatians chapter 1. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my father's.

Yeah, he wasn't zealous for God or his relationship with with Yahweh as a Jew. He was zealous for the religion. He was zealous for the traditions that men had stacked on top of the tradition. The tradition and tradition and truth they were just making up rules and they were adding it to the Mosaic law and they were following it down to the letter and It produced in them a false confidence in spiritual pride.

He was a persecutor of the church. Someone who harasses others especially because of their beliefs. He was an harasser of God's people. Paul says if possible he attained righteousness under the law. Remember Paul is not saying he actually attained righteousness.

We need to remind ourselves. Paul is Lowering himself to the low standards in false confidence of spiritual pride of the Judaizers. They were the ones that were Jewish converts who were demanding people adhere to the restrictions of the Old Testament.

The right of circumcision and if you didn't you cannot be saved. Paul is lowering himself to them to give them this challenge. The Judaizers are deceived in promoting righteousness through obedience. He is saying if they want to play that game I can play it better.

If they want to play the obedience to the law game I win no. In the immediate context Paul makes his point to the Philippians that his Righteousness is found in Christ. Look again at verses 8 and 9. More than that.

I count all things to be lost because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and Count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ and be found in him.

Not having a righteousness of my own which is from the law. But that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness, which is from God upon faith. But in verse 6, he's pointing out how foolish the opponents of the Gospels grace really are.

They put confidence in their works and it is a false confidence. Paul says if righteousness and the law were possible then he would have it. He is referring to the quality or characteristic of upright behavior uprightness or righteousness.

Specifically uprightness as determined by divine legal standards. Imagine the false spiritual pride of false teachers who add obedience to justification and salvation. They promote human attainment of divine righteousness by living up to God's legal standards of uprightness as.

If they are blameless or faultless under the Mosaic law. Paul says if it were possible like these dogs claim then I would leave them in the dust. But Paul says no. He says it's all a loss. In verse 7.

John MacArthur is helpful here. MacArthur writes this to counteract the Judaizers claim that certain ceremonies and rituals of Judaism were Necessary for salvation. Paul described his own lofty attainments as a Jew.

Which were greater than those his opponents could claim but were of no benefit for salvation.

To the Jew.

Zeal was the highest single virtue of religion. It combines love and hate. Because Paul loved Judaism. He hated whatever might threaten it. Paul refers to the standard of righteous living advocated by God's law.

Paul outwardly kept this so that no one could accuse him of violation. Obviously his heart was sinful and self-righteous. He was not an Old Testament believer. But a proud and lost legalist. Because Paul was a devout Jewish leader He had persecuted the church.

He agreed with the leaders of the religious establishment of the day. Because of his false confidence in spiritual pride Paul had thought that Christianity was heretical and blasphemous. Jesus did not meet Paul's expectation of what the Messiah should be like like many other Spiritually dead religious leaders.

Paul had assumed that Jesus's claims were false. Like many of his pharisaical counterparts. He accused Jesus and his disciples of wickedness. Like many of the religious authorities and their unquenchable thirst for power He had seen Christianity as a political nuisance.

The Pharisees thought Jesus threatened to disrupt the tenuous balance between the Roman government and the Jewish rulers and. Then Paul continues in verse 7. But whatever things were gained to me Those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Paul says the gain is a loss. Because it did not come from Christ. He now renounces every human achievement of obedience that he just listed in verses 4 through 6. Christ spoke about the cost of discipleship in Luke 14 when he said so therefore anyone of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

And. This immediate context the Lord is referring to physical possessions. So let's keep it in the context physical possessions. But there's something else going on here. Think about this as An example the false pride of human achievement in the same section.

Jesus said this in Luke 14. He says whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost whether he has enough to complete it otherwise when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish all who see it begin to mock him saying this man began to build and was not able to finish or What King going out to encounter another king in war? will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with 10 ,000 to meet him who comes against him with 20 ,000 and If not, while the other is yet a great way off.

He sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace so therefore any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. There is a strong implication in this passage that holding on to possessions or earthly accomplishments produces pride as one commentator notes on Luke 14.

Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have Wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise ruler enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that despite Formidable odds two to one he may be able to stand his ground.

And if he has no hope of this he will feel that nothing remains for him. But to make the best terms he can in this simple sense of the parable two things are taught. Number one better not begin than begin and not finish.

And number two. Though the contest for salvation be on our part an awfully unequal one the human will in the exercise of that Faith with which overcomes the world and nerved by power from above which out of weakness makes it strong.

Becomes heroical and will come off more than conqueror. But without Absolute surrender of self the contest is hopeless and that's what Paul is talking about here. He counts all his earthly accomplishments as a loss.

Paul is saying I Absolutely surrender myself to Christ. This is the opposite of false confidence in spiritual pride. Surrendering yourself to Christ and renouncing all that you have attained produces true confidence.

A true confidence that is devoid of spiritual pride in one's own achievements. A true confidence that boasts only in Christ's achievements. A true confidence because it because it is based on the Gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul says here. I once thought these things were valuable. But now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. It's clear from verse 7 that when Paul spoke of those things he was referring to his credentials.

Whatever gain he had meaning credits and successes. Paul wanted to show that he could beat the Judaizers in their confidence in the flesh. They were proud of who they were and what they had done. Paul listed his own achievements to show how ridiculous that is.

He warned the Philippians and this warning stands for all of us this morning. Be careful of considering your past achievements so important that they get in the way of your relationship with Christ. Two critical observations about spiritual pride.

Obedience to the law does not produce righteousness. And Number two human achievement is nothing Compared to the glories of Christ human achievement is nothing compared to the glories of Christ. One way to think about this.

I once heard a man preach that Described his own false competence and spiritual pride. And one of the things that's dangerous here for us as believers. Is that it can hurt our testimony to unbelievers?

And so I was at Chapel at the Master's Seminary and a speaker had come to preach to us that morning and This person was a well-known theologian. He was a elder at Grace Community Church. He was a professor at the seminary he had a lot of degrees and credentials and He was relaying this as he was preaching his sermon.

And he told this story to all of us men who were training to be pastors. And this is the story that he told he was going off to preach at a conference. Being a theologian. Often there are invited to speak at conferences.

So he was going out of town to go speak at this conference a prestigious conference. And so he lands at the airport gets in the car. He's gonna go straight to the conference. He's all dressed up in his suit, you know, this guy is an established You know trained seasoned vet essentially Bachelors of Theology Master of Divinity THM Masters in Theology Demon doctor in ministry dean of students director of grace advance all of these.

You know titles and things and so as he's getting in the car to go to the conference. The driver asks him. Oh who you know, who are you and what why where are you going? And so he starts telling him all about who he is.

I'm this I do this I'm this position. This is what I'm all about. I'm going here. I've been invited to speak here and then he's Delivered to the place he gets out of the car. Thanks the driver very cordial exchange and he's telling us this story.

So here's this preacher and he said that when he was walking up to the event, he was suddenly gripped With like a terror. He was deeply deeply just deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit and He had realized in that exchange That he had communicated his credentials and what he was there to do.

But he had not asked the person if he knew Christ he had not shared the gospel and As he was telling us this story was overwhelmed with emotion and tears were in his eyes. And he says all the credentials the demon the THM and this and that he said it's all a farce.

So I didn't even share the gospel. I even asked him about Christ. I didn't even bring up my Lord Jesus and I'm going to a Bible conference to go talk about Jesus. I can't even the Lord basically gave him this opportunity.

It's like a slow-pitch softball. It's like t-ball. He just it's all he has to do is hit it. He didn't even add. He didn't even talk about the gospel with the guy. A False confidence in spiritual pride based on human achievement robs Christ of his glory and it hurts our our witness as believers.

We must not put our hope in our own works. That produces a false confidence in spiritual pride. We must put our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ a true confidence that is devoid of pride. A True confidence devoid of pride is based on the gospel and as believers we need to remember these truths every day.

True confidence is based on the gospel. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. Let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance. The race that is set before us looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.

Who for the joy that was set before him? Endured the cross despising the shame and he's seated at the right hand of the throne of God the Lamb will conquer. For he is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

But as for you flee sin pursue righteousness godliness faith love steadfastness gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you are called. Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Which God will display at the proper time? He who is blessed and only sovereign the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to him be honor and eternal dominion. Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard Lest we drift away from it.

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience Received a just retribution. How shall we escape if we neglect such a great? Salvation it was declared at first by the Lord and it was attested to us By the gospel writers while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit Distributed according to his will the founder of salvation.

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come of which we are speaking. Now in putting everything in subjection to him. He left nothing outside of his control at present. We do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

But we see him for a little while was made lower than the angels namely Jesus Crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone for it was fitting that he for whom and by whom all things exist in.

Bringing many sons to glory should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood he himself likewise partook of the same things that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death that is the devil and Deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

For surely it is not the angels that he helps, but he helps all believers. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merciful and faithful High priest in the service of God to make a legally accepted down payment for the sins of the people.

That's the gospel. That's what we need to put our confidence in not human achievement. In verse verses 1 through 7 Paul makes two critical observations about spiritual pride so that you can Avoid succumbing to false teaching about legalism and and legalism as a means of salvation or spiritual growth.

Obedience to the law does not produce Righteousness and human achievement is nothing compared to the glories of Christ. At the conclusion of the article what is legalism and why is it dangerous to your faith the author says this.

The Pharisees and scribes had begun to see themselves as more important than They actually were. Their actions became a show and not an expression of their heart. Just like every decision we make has consequences.

So does the choice to become legalistic? Unfortunately, the negative consequences far outweigh the good for churches. This train of thought could lead to a shrinking fellowship and even the splitting of the church.

When we begin to impose our personal preferences on others, we walk a fine line. As humans, we are not going to agree on everything. Non-essential doctrines and rules can cause some to leave a church running.

What I believe to be the most tragic consequence of legalism is that churches and individuals fail to accomplish God's purpose? There is an outward expression, but no inward change. Our hearts are not turned to God and his will for our lives.

Tully and chavitian the grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham Says this. Legalism says God will love us if we change. The gospel says God will change us because he loves us. God will change our hearts and the hearts of others.

We can't impose our rules and expect one's heart to turn for God as Paul exhorts in verse 3. May we worship in the Spirit of God and put no confidence in the flesh. Let's pray Heavenly Father. We are grateful God for our salvation.

We acknowledge that it is from you God we ask for your help this morning as we consider these very convicting exhortations from Paul. May we not be those that have a false confidence in spiritual pride?

God in heaven we praise your name. We give you all glory and honor. We praise you in the in the highest heaven. I Thank you for this piece of Scripture. That is so wonderful and and such an encouragement to the soul as a reminder that we put no confidence in our fleshly Accomplishments and that we can boast in your work of salvation.

We can boast in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can glory in Christ and glory in the gospel. That our hope isn't based on any confidence in the flesh. But as Paul says that we worship by the Spirit of God in glory in Christ Jesus and we put no confidence in the flesh.

God, thank you so much for this passage this morning. Thank you God for helping us to remember the wonderful truths of the gospel message. That we were not saved or justified before you by adding anything to your free gift of grace.

That we would have faith in the Son in your only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ. God that we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone not by adding anything to the cross of Christ lest we add to his works.

So thank you God for this teaching this morning. I pray that you help us put it into our hearts help us to recognize False teachers as those that reveal themselves to have a distorted version of the gospel.

Where they would claim that obedience and the faith is necessary for justification. And we don't have salvation unless we add good works to your act of justification. I pray that in your perfect timing you would reveal these false teachers in our contemporary setting and that you would reveal that to your.

People I.

Pray that you use these verses in the sermon and the preaching of your word this morning to reveal to anyone that is here this morning if they are under the influence Of a false teacher someone who is popular and charismatic who says many of the right things But God who is false in their heart and is in error in their teaching about the true gospel.

I thank you for Paul's example that he puts no confidence in the flesh Despite having an amazing pedigree and God even compared to the false teachers having a reason to have confidence in the flesh. But Paul says that those things and whatever he considered gain in his human achievement He counted as nothing that they were worthless compared to the work of Christ that he counted.

It all is lost for the sake of Jesus Christ. God, we love you, and we give you thanks and praises this morning. Help us father to live our lives as an act of worship to you and Help us to put our trust in Jesus Christ alone and not in any of our human achievements For your glory and the good of your people.

I pray in the mighty and awesome name that is above every name the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.