Discipleship Explored - worksheet 5 EN
Righteous in Christ
Philippians 3:1-9 says 1Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the
In verse 3 Paul exhorts that he and his companions boast in Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. Althoug, he says that he has reason to have confidence in the flesh because of his credentials (verses 4 and 5). But since he converted all earthly things are considered loss, even garbage. Paul doesn’t have any righteousness from himself nor the law. All righteousness comes from God on the basis of faith. He enjoys the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, his Lord.
The Old Testament law can’t produce the righteousness God requires, and that’s why Paul descibes attempts to use it in that way as garbage compared with the perfect righteousness available to us in Christ.
Q1 Describe the role of Old Testament law and regulations in Paul’s life and in your life.
If you are genuinly born-again:
Q2 Now describe the role of love and salvation that came into your life through the Son of God.
If you are not so sure about your salvation:
Q3 Then write down your confession now and pray to the Lord to fill you with His love and salvation and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit now.
Q4 Describe in your own words how you become righteous. Use verse 9 to help.
Q5 Does the title of this study cover the content? Or are you missing something?
In the coming weeks
Try to tell someone, preferably an unbeliever, how you can become righteous.
Write down Philippians 3:9 and memorize