Counting Works As Rubbish
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Philippians 3:7-11
To counteract a growing influence of Judaizers upon the Philippian church, Paul made reference to his own Jewish pedigree to squash any talk about the merit of works. Paul not only identified his works as loss, he said that he counted them as rubbish that he might gain Christ and be found in him. But beyond that, he also adds that his works count as nothing for his sanctification. Paul explains that the only way to experience the ongoing resurrection power of Christ at work in the pursuit of sanctification is through continuously counting works as garbage. When it comes to both justification and sanctification then, the only ground of hope is regarding works as loss and Christ as everything.