The Spiritual Balance SheetPhilippians 3:4-6

Relying on Religion (3:4-6)

• Religious rituals like circumcision, baptism, ceremonies, disciplines

• Born into a religious family heritage

• Zealous to follow the rules of organized religion

• Human righteousness – good works etc.

Relying on Christ (3:3)

• “… who glory [boast] in Christ Jesus and who put no confidence in the flesh (externals) (3:3)

• May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Galatians 6:13,14)

Me Christ

We cannot be saved by our own righteousness• (Romans 3:20-22) Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his [God’s] sight by observing the law... But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known... This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

• (Titus 3:5) …He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

• (Ephesians 2:8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.

How to be saved

1. Sin – My real problem – I deserve God’s judgment (Romans 3:23; 6:23).

2. Jesus’ death on cross – Our only solution. Jesus suffered God’s punishment for my sin (2 Cor. 5:21).

3. Faith in Christ – I must choose to trust in Christ alone as my sin-bearer (100+ times in the New Testament).

We cannot be saved by our own righteousness

• (Romans 3:20-22) Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his [God’s] sight by observing the law... But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known... This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

• (Titus 3:5) …He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

• (Ephesians 2:8-9) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.

We can only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ!

What are you trusting in for eternal life?

• (1 Corinthians 15:2-4) By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. {3} …that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Which kind of Righteousness do I have?

Self-righteousness through good works

A Righteousness from God through faith in Christ

MEME