Just read: If ever there was one in the world who could boast of his flesh that person must be Paul, for as to righteousness under the law he was blameless. And if any could boast of his flesh following regeneration, it certainly must be Paul again because he has become an apostle who has seen the risen Lord with his own eyes and who is used greatly by the Lord. But Paul dare not boast, for he knows his flesh. His Romans 7 experience enables him to realize fully who heis. God already has opened his eyes to see via his experience that there dwells in his flesh no good, only sin. The self-righteousness of which he boasted in the past he now knows to be refuse and sin. He has learned and learned well this lesson; hence be dare not trust theflesh again. But with this lesson he does not in any wise cease. No,Paul continues to learn. And so the Apostle declares that he can “putno confidence in the flesh. Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more” (Phil. 3.3-4). Despite the many reasons he can marshal for trusting his flesh (vv. 5-6), Paul realizes how God regards it and well understands how absolutely undependable and untrustworthy it is. If we continue reading Phillipians 3 we shall discover how humble Paul is with respect totrusting in himself: “not having a righteousness of my own” (v.9):“that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (v.11) :“not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (v.12). Should a believer aspire to attain spiritual maturity hemust preserve forever that attitude which the Apostle Paul maintained throughout his spiritual walk; namely, “not that I havealready attained.” The Christian dare not entertain the slightest self-confidence, self-satisfaction or self-joy, as though he could trust his flesh
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 03:16:53 +0000
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