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OUR CONFIDENCE

Philippians 3:3-4

“For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort” 

Circumcision was given to Abraham as a physical sign in the body of a spiritual and eternal covenant given by grace to Abraham and his progeny. It was given long before the Law was given to Israel at Mount Sinai. The covenant God gave to Abraham had nothing to do with Abraham’s efforts or achievements. It was never based on what Abraham would ever do, but on what God would do.

Salvation, the restoration, and transformation of human life from slavery to sin and self could only be accomplished by what God would do. Those in true covenant with God are in that covenant because they have believed in what God has done in and through Jesus Christ; that plus nothing.

Human pedigree, human accomplishment, or ability count for nothing, for we could never, ever change the true life-condition of our hearts from being dead in sin to being fully human and finally alive. Only Jesus’ death and resurrection could achieve for us forgiveness and restoration to God. God would give us new hearts, a new nature, eternal life. God brings us into His Life, into an eternal relationship with Himself. It’s not our inviting Him into our lives, but God inviting us into His life and making that possible by grace through faith for us to surrender our whole lives to Him. Our turning to Him shows that He has moved us to see the Truth and has given us the grace to say “Yes” to God as Abraham did.

Followers of Jesus Christ have no grounds for any kind of arrogance or superiority in relation to any other human being.  We rely solely and simply on what Christ Jesus has done for us and what he has promised to bring to competition in us.

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