Philippians 3:1–4:1

Be still: Lord help me cut out the distractions of the world to encounter to you in your Word. Amen

Read: Philippians 3:1–4:1

Further, my brothers and sisters, 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. (v1)

Encounter: Queuing for a zip-wire, I grew restless. The instructor shouted directions at me in a less-than-pleasant tone, and he didn’t say please. Yet, in context, he was serving me. I was about to launch myself off a 70-foot tower, and if I had not followed his instructions, it would not have ended well.

His instructions were for my protection, not my restriction.

Paul tells us the same is true of his writings. His instructions are there to ‘safeguard us’, and this is true of all Scripture. God’s words are the framework for flourishing, like the bumpers at the bowling alley, that stop our lives ending up in the gutter.

Occasionally we can see how God’s commands serve us; often we can’t. In those moments, like children who don’t understand why their parent says, 'Don’t touch the flame,' we must trust that the one instructing us knows more than we do and has our best interests at heart.

Paul then tells the Philippians to be alert to three lies that have infiltrated their church and attempt to do the same today. Lies we might call Pedigree, Performance and Plus.

Lie 1–Pedigree: 'We are saved because of our heritage.' Paul had an impressive pedigree—an Israelite, from Benjamin, a Hebrew. None of this made him righteous.

Lie 2–Performance: 'We are saved by our adherence to God’s law.' Paul was a Pharisee, zealous and, according to the law, blameless. None of this made him righteous.

Lie 3–Plus: ‘We are saved by Jesus plus something else.’ This is perhaps the subtlest lie: it makes much of the Cross whilst suggesting that what Jesus accomplished was not quite enough.

Don’t buy the lies, believe the truth: righteousness comes from God on the basis of faith. (v9)

We are not saved by who we were born to, what we have done, or what we can add. We are saved by receiving what Jesus has already accomplished for us.

Apply: Ask God to reveal any lie you may have believed about his Word, or the Gospel.

Devote: Holy Spirit, thank you for protecting me, help me live in truth today.