Philippians 3:5-7,
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.
Paul is moving from religion to knowing Christ life expression. He was a Pharisee and they thought they were the best, better than anyone else. The church has gone through that at times, a feeling of we are better than others especially the world. Now a word should be said about your position as a Christian, you may be better off or in a better position but you are never better than anyone else. For the simple fact we are all all made of the same stuff. That is what amazes me about earthly positions, man feeling they have an upper hand in their creation some how. Now we do recognize authority but as far as being better no, they are made of the same stuff. I think that is why we are let down when men fall, we want them to be better but the truth is they can't. We know oursleves and so want another to come to the forefront and maybe be created for such a tast. Well that's not going to happen, they are going to do as all men do, all men are created equal. There are no big I's and little you's in God, all the same and God does not accept any man's person anyway, Galatians 2:6.
We jump for joy when a celebrity gets saved, and thank God. But he accepts no man's person, we know this man is going to do great things for God. They might but I bet God was doing ok before they came along. Point is none are better than the other, your witness is just as important or even greater because you reach those around you no one else is going to reach. So pray for those you may have burden for but it is not their person that will make the difference in the world, it will be their understanding of the things of God.
Paul went from the important person (at least in his mind) to being a Christ life for others person. Christ lived in paul. Paul is the one that gives us the message that Christ lives in the believer. Without Paul we would not know the full plan of God. As Moses is to the Old Testament, so is Paul to the New Testament. One brought the message of law (doer religion) the other brought the message of grace (Christ in you the hope of glory).
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.
Paul is moving from religion to knowing Christ life expression. He was a Pharisee and they thought they were the best, better than anyone else. The church has gone through that at times, a feeling of we are better than others especially the world. Now a word should be said about your position as a Christian, you may be better off or in a better position but you are never better than anyone else. For the simple fact we are all all made of the same stuff. That is what amazes me about earthly positions, man feeling they have an upper hand in their creation some how. Now we do recognize authority but as far as being better no, they are made of the same stuff. I think that is why we are let down when men fall, we want them to be better but the truth is they can't. We know oursleves and so want another to come to the forefront and maybe be created for such a tast. Well that's not going to happen, they are going to do as all men do, all men are created equal. There are no big I's and little you's in God, all the same and God does not accept any man's person anyway, Galatians 2:6.
We jump for joy when a celebrity gets saved, and thank God. But he accepts no man's person, we know this man is going to do great things for God. They might but I bet God was doing ok before they came along. Point is none are better than the other, your witness is just as important or even greater because you reach those around you no one else is going to reach. So pray for those you may have burden for but it is not their person that will make the difference in the world, it will be their understanding of the things of God.
Paul went from the important person (at least in his mind) to being a Christ life for others person. Christ lived in paul. Paul is the one that gives us the message that Christ lives in the believer. Without Paul we would not know the full plan of God. As Moses is to the Old Testament, so is Paul to the New Testament. One brought the message of law (doer religion) the other brought the message of grace (Christ in you the hope of glory).
