Biblical Text: Philippians 3:4-14

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The King James Version of the scriptures can sometimes present a challenge to even the most astute bible reader. We get sidetracked by antiquities writing style, which often puts so many thoughts in one sentence, that by the time you get to the end, you are glad to retain just one of them. This is one of those scriptures that challenges the hearer.

And yet, this message is too important to fall through the cracks of misunderstanding or incomprehension, so for all our sakes, I took the liberty of breaking one of my ministry rules, and I reached for a clearer translation. So let us take a look at this epistle of Pauls from the Living Bible translation. The Apostle Paul says:

Yet if anyone ever had reason to hope that he could save himself, it would be I.

That seems like a strange statement coming from a man who knows that no man can save himself from the penalty for sin. So let me stop right here and give you some background information about Pauls situation. While he was in prison in Rome, Paul was writing to the church he had established at Philippi some 10 to 11 years earlier. Ten years was just long enough for some of the church folk to develop their own gospel rules and regulations. While Paul was trying to spread the good news of salvation through Christ, this group called the Judaizers was advocating that Gentiles had to be circumcised before they could become Christians. You remember the covenant. God required all the males to be circumcised as a sign of submission. Well, these Jews were not ready to release the exclusivity of their specialness as Gods chosen people. If Paul was going to save the Gentiles with the true message of salvation, which required a circumcision of the Spirit through Jesus Christ,then he was up against some stiff competition.

You see, these Judaizers believed that WORKS were the key to a right relationship with God. They took pride in their heritage as Gods covenant people, and they wanted the Gentiles to know that the only way to come to Christ was through the old covenant relationship God had with the Jews. They were proud of their history; proud of their obedience to the Mosaic Law; proud that they kept the Hebrew ordinances; proud of their knowledge of the scriptures.

Now do not condemn them too quickly for their national, cultural and religious pride. Must I remind you how easy it is to put culture and nationality before faith? Back in the late 60s and early 70s there was a major resurgence of Black pride that motivated the African-American community to wear colorful dashikis, don black gloves as a sign of black power, and buy blow-out kits to accentuate our afros. And way before there was BET (Black Entertainment Television) there was Don Cornelius and SOOOOUL Train. That whole phase of our history caused a great falling away in the Black church. It gave birth to Kwanzaa, a celebration of our cultural heritage, as the preferred celebration over Watch Night, the celebration of our deliverance from slavery at the hand of God. Do not get me wrong. Culture has its place, but it should be SECOND PLACE to God.

Paul knew that pride was a problem; he knew the scriptures. He learned in rabbinical school that Solomon said: Pride goeth before destruction; and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). So Paul sat down with pen in hand, in a cold, dank prison, to refute the religious piety and perfection of the Judaizers with these words: Listen:

If others could be saved by what they are, certainly I could! 5 For I went through the Jewish initiation ceremony when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish home that was a branch of the old original Benjamin family. So I was a real Jew if there ever was one!

Cant you hear Pauls ardent attempt at boastfulness? If anyone was a GOOD JEW it was Paul! He was circumcised at 8 days old; he was a pure-blooded Jew; his family tree could be traced all the way back to one of the twelve tribes of Israel - the original tribe of Benjamin. That would have been enough bragging to make his point, but Paul continues:

What's more, I was a member of the Pharisees who demand the strictest obedience to every Jewish law and custom. 6 And sincere? Yes, so much so that I greatly persecuted the Church; and I tried to obey every Jewish rule and regulation right down to the very last point.

If ever there was a life of WORKS, we sure see it in Paul who was once Saul, the Christian killer. You remember how ruthlessly Paul persecuted Christs followers before his conversion. He actually stood by and watched with approval as a mob stoned Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church (Acts 7:58). And he did it in the name of obedience to the Jewish law. He was a good Jew.

If a man could earn his way to heaven, Paul certainly had the credentials. But he, and WE, know better. Faith without works may be dead, but WORKS without faith in Jesus Christ is a lesson in futility.
We dont rack up points on our way to heaven.
We cant hitch a ride to glory on a pride train.
This thing called FAITH is not a contest.

We ARE special, dont get me wrong. We are privileged. We are set apart.
We are separated and different, but not because of our works.
Not because of our perfect attendance at church;
Not because of our devotion to duty;
Not because of our church titles and positions;
Not because of our earnestness and sincerity;
Not because of our diligence and determination;
Not because of our biblical proficiency and aptitude;
Not because of our parents and grandparents long history with the church;
Not because of pressed white garments and carefully coiffed doos! (hairdos).
We ARE special ...but ONLY because of Jesus.
It isnt what WE DO that saves us, but what HE has DONE!

Paul remembered a time when he thought his titles guaranteed him position and rank, but no MORE! Now he knows that its not about what WE have achieved, but what CHRIST has ACHIEVED. All that stuff he stood on before was nothing more than a pile of rubbish now. He says, But all these things that I once thought very worthwhile--now I've thrown them all away so that I can put my trust and hope in Christ alone.

At this juncture in our text, I like the King James translation better. Its more dramatic. Paul says, of all his works: I count them but dung! You know what dung is, dont you? It can be human or animal, but dung is dung. You cant do much with it, unless you are a farmer.

Paul says that a life built on WORKS is a pile of dung, its rubbish.
And a religion built on rubbish is no religion at all.
But a faith built on Christ, the solid Rock, is priceless.

Paul says, Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have put aside all else, counting it worth less than nothing, in order that I can have Christ, 9 and become one with him, no longer counting on being saved by being good enough or by obeying God's laws, but by trusting Christ to save me; for God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith--counting on Christ alone.

Do you know that no matter how hard you try you cant make yourself right in the sight of God?
That old pile of plaques and prizes youve earned through the years¬hing but rubbish!
That resume of Christian accomplishments& nothing but rubbish!
That file of perfect attendance awards¬hing but rubbish!
Its DUNG. Rubbish. And it represents the worthlessness of a man who rests his fate upon them.
WORKS cant save you. Only Christ can save!

Whats it worth, all that rubbish you have acquired? In Palestine, dried dung was used for fuel (Ezekiel 4:12-15). When it burned up, it turned into ash and was cast to the wind. If your faith is built on rubbish or dung, thats all your rubbish is worth. Its firewood.
And when it burns up, there is nothing left.
Like rubbish, a faith built on WORKS is a short-lived and shaky thing.
But a life built on Christ is FOREVER.

Paul says: Now I have given up everything else--I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and to die with him. 11 So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead.
12 I don't mean to say I am perfect. I haven't learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. 13 No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.

Are you straining while standing on a pile of rubbish?
Or are you straining while standing on faith in Jesus Christ?
Your godly character wont save you.
Your humble spirit wont save you.
Your pure motives wont save you.
Your faithful commitment wont save you.
Your careful conduct wont save you.
Your compassionate heart wont save you.
Philanthropic men and women of great renowned have also displayed these attributes. These are just sweet juices squeezed from an otherwise sour sinful life.

But there is a way to sure salvation;
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;(Titus 3:5)
No boasting, no bragging
Its all rubbish, its all dung.
I am washed, renewed, saved
By my Jesus, who was hung!