No Confidence In Self

"As long as you are a good person, you will go to heaven." What a bunch of absolute RUBBISH!...

[This is the fourth part in a series on the book of Philippians.]

Philippians 3:1-12

"1 Finally, my brothers, 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. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh–4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.  If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:5 circumcised 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;6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ9 and 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 righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

I don't know if you've noticed, but today, it seems like a lot of people have this idea of being a "good person".  Have you ever heard anybody say, "Oh she is such a good person!", or maybe "He is such a good person, he'll go far in life."  A lot of people in my personal life would probably say that I, myself, am a "good person" (and that's cool, I'm fine with that).  When someone dies tragically, people try to seek comfort in the fact that the deceased was a "good person".  There is this trend that has born this idea of being a good person, which many believe will get you to Heaven.  There's this idea that "all good people go to Heaven."

The Bible, however, paints a clearly different picture of this whole "good person" idea... 

Romans 3:12 - "All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Matthew 19:17 - “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

Mark 10:18 - "Jesus answered. 'No one is good–except God alone.'"

Paul writes us, saying that if ANYONE should have "confidence in the flesh" (in other words, confidence in themselves and what they've accomplished) then it should be HIM!  Paul would have been considered to be one of the most qualified people, according to his background, heritage, nationality, accomplishments, good deeds, and social standing.  He had ALL the things that would factor in to people saying, "Yep, that guy is DEFINATELY going to Heaven."  But Paul himself says, "Look, all these THINGS that I have going for me, mean NOTHING!  I consider them all RUBBISH! (I really like the word 'rubbish'). They are WORTHLESS compared to knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!"  

Friends, the fact of the matter is this:  you cannot buy your way into Heaven.  You cannot get into Heaven based on your heritage, skin color, good things you've done, political or religious standings that you hold... NONE OF THAT MATTERS when compared to what Jesus Christ has done on the cross.  

Now, I'm not saying that doing "good things" is BAD!  Not at all!  Doing good things is GOOD!  Giving to the poor, helping the needy, volunteering for charitable organizations, sending me money, etc. - all those things are GREAT!  Jesus encouraged those things!  (Well maybe not the 'sending me money' thing).  By all means, give until you can't possibly give anymore, help those who need help, love your neighbor as yourself, because that will shine the love of Christ into the lives of those who need it.  But in NO WAY put your CONFIDENCE in those things to 'save you'.  

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."

Jesus wants us to realize that his sacrifice was sufficient.  You can't out give God, and you can't buy your way into Heaven.  Put all of your confidence in Jesus alone, and stop thinking you can do anything to out-do what has been done.

How does it make you feel to know that nobody can buy their way into Heaven?  Have you ever been led to believe that good-works, or good deeds get you into Heaven?