From Religion to Righteousness

In Philippians 3.1 and verse 3 Paul tells them to Rejoice.

V1 Paul says Rejoice in the Lord.
V3 Paul says Rejoice in Christ Jesus.

I think as Christians we really should be the most joyful people on earth.

If you are walking with the Lord there should be a joy in your life.

1. Paul’s Pressing Concern

Phil 3:2 NKJV Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!

Paul knew that there was the constant danger of false teachers that would come along and ad works to the Gospel.

It’s the same in our day. Non Christian religions have their people trying to make there way to God by religious observances, good works and even martyrdom. Their acceptance comes by works.

In Christianity acceptance by There is a real danger today just like in the early Churches that there will be those preaching another Gospel.

We are not saved by our good works and we are not kept saved by our good works.

When a person accepts Christ as Saviour the great act of justification takes place.

We are declared righteous in the eyes of God.
Salvation comes through His grace.

Titus 2.11, Rom 3.23-24

Albert Barnes said: What is justification? It is the declared purpose of God to regard and treat those sinners who believe in Jesus Christ as if they had not sinned, on the ground of the merits of the Saviour. … It is an act by which God determines to treat him hereafter as righteous--as if he had not sinned. The basis for this is the merit of the Lord Jesus Christ, merit that we can plead as if it were our own. He has taken our place and died in our stead;