Introduction: Does the concept of righteousness by faith seem logical or natural to you? Not to me. Leaving aside my belief in God’s blessings, all my life I believed and experienced that if I worked hard I would succeed. This is not merely my personal view; it is also the teaching of the Bible. Read Proverbs 24:30-34 which illustrates what we should learn from the “sluggard.” Being lazy makes you poor. No doubt you have observed the same thing. It is natural to apply this same mindset to righteousness. But the Bible teaches us something completely different. Righteousness is a gift that we cannot earn. If we try to earn it, or think we have earned it, we have violated the rules of salvation. Let’s get into Paul’s discussion with the Philippians about righteousness by faith alone!

I. Joy and Dogs

A. Read Philippians 3:1. “Rejoice in the Lord” is a phrase we hear all the time. John MacArthur’s Commentary reports that Paul writes that we should “rejoice,” but this is the first time Paul adds “in the Lord.” Is there a difference between “rejoicing,” and “rejoicing in the Lord?” (Yes. The one cause for joy is specifically tied to Jesus.)

1. How do you “rejoice in the Lord?” (I rejoice in His kindness to me.)
2. Do you feel general joy? If not, can you rejoice in the Lord and not rejoice generally?

B. Read Philippians 3:2. If you knew a person who was always on the lookout for “dogs,” and “evildoers,” would you expect that person to be joyful? (That sounds dark and not an attitude connected with joy.)

1. Most people like dogs. What is Paul talking about? (In Matthew 15 Jesus and His disciples are approached by a Canaanite woman who is begging for help because her daughter is demon-possessed. Read Matthew 15:25-28. Jesus calls this woman and her daughter, “dogs.”)

a. Is Paul writing about non-Jews when he writes about “dogs?”

II. The Flesh

A. Read Philippians 3:3. Paul claims to be “the circumcision.” Does this prove that he is calling non-Jews “dogs?”

1. What does Paul mean when he says that he has “no confidence in the flesh?” (The picture is now becoming clearer to help us understand Philippians 3:2-3. Paul had been a pioneer in fighting against the mandate that Gentile converts must be circumcised. See Acts 15. By calling himself “the circumcision,” Paul has cut away this teaching mandating circumcision.)
2. Let’s break this down. Who is Paul calling “dogs,” “evildoers,” and those who “mutilate the flesh?” (He is speaking of the Jewish leaders who insist on circumcision.)

a. Why would that be “evildoing?” (The idea is that a person must do these things to be in a right relationship with God. It is evil to believe that you can do something to earn your salvation.)

B. Read Romans 2:29. How does this describe circumcision? (The new circumcision is a matter of the heart. It is worshiping with the Holy Spirit, giving glory to Jesus and what He has done for us, and not putting confidence in our own actions.)

1. To summarize, how do you understand Paul’s statements about “the flesh?” (He is writing about doing things to earn salvation.)

III. Super Hero of Works

A. Read Philippians 3:4-6. Why is Paul saying that he has better works than others? (A sluggard might be expected to cheer for righteousness by faith alone because rejecting works is a natural fit for lazy people. Paul proves that he was an extraordinary worker. He is not promoting faith to cover his failures, he is pointing to faith because it is true.)

B. Read Philippians 3:7-8. Let’s discuss this. Except for persecuting Christians, all the other things Paul mentions are great. He says that he was “blameless” in keeping the law. That seems extraordinary to me. How can that be “rubbish?” (Paul means that they are worthless in terms of eternal life.)

1. Think about this for a moment. This is my thirtieth anniversary of working with my son to write and post these lessons on the Internet. Is that rubbish? (Yes, in two ways relating to eternal life. First, that diligent work of decades does absolutely nothing to earn eternal life for me or my son. Second, it tempts me to think that effort makes me righteous.)

IV. Righteousness by Faith

A. Re-read Philippians 3:8 and add Philippians 3:9. What righteousness does Paul seek? (That which comes from “faith in Christ.” This understanding is critical for eternal life.)

1. Do you rely on your works, your obedience, as a factor that will get you into heaven?
2. Is it insulting that you are a beggar, just like every other sinner?
3. Let’s get back to Paul and his “dogs.” Are those who make works a factor in gaining eternal life, “dogs?”

B. Read Philippians 3:10-11. How do we become like Jesus in death? It was necessary that Jesus lived a perfect life, right? (Paul teaches us that when Jesus died, after living a perfect life, He opened the way for us to experience resurrection to eternal life.)

1. Why is Paul saying, “by any means possible,” when he has just emphatically stated the correct path to eternal life? (Paul is leaving the details to God. Paul’s whole discourse is contrary to the general understanding (even from the Bible) that you work and succeed. Paul explains that we stop relying on our works, we rely only on Jesus, and that gives us eternal life. This counter-intuitive view may be what is “by any means possible.”)

V. Pressing for Perfection?

A. Read Philippians 3:12-13. Wait a minute. If righteousness is a free gift that I cannot earn, what is Paul writing about when he says, “press on” and “straining forward?” Pressing and straining sounds like my old attitude about how working hard brings success! (Is it hard for you to put behind you all of your hard work and success in the gospel? Is it hard for you to stop relying on yourself? If so, press on and strain forward in your reliance on righteousness by faith!)

1. Ask yourself this: if you face an unexpected problem, to what does your mind immediately turn? (I immediately ask myself what I should do to fix or minimize the problem. I suspect that is what many of us do. We need a change of attitude. We need to take this change seriously.)

B. Read Philippians 3:14-16. Paul tells us that if we are spiritually mature, we should think as he does and “press” towards the prize of God’s calling. Does this “press” call for hard work on our part? (We must always keep in mind the power of the Holy Spirit to change our attitudes. I find even that to be a constant battle. When I see evil rising, I am constantly considering how I can expose it and resist it. I need the Holy Spirit to influence me to consider first the power of prayer.)

C. Friend, in some ways salvation is easy and in other ways it is hard. I have spent a life learning the lesson that hard, smart work brings success. That is true, but that is not the path to eternal life. Will you join me, right now, in asking the Holy Spirit to change your attitude to trust alone in what Jesus has done for us to provide life eternal?

VI. Next week: A Heavenly Citizenship.

Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

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