This Sunday in Philippians we will get a powerful reminder of a gospel truth that is easier to affirm than it is to live out. Paul reminds us that in Christ we are those who “put no confidence in the flesh.”
Where are we to rest the full weight of our faith that God’s love for us is secure and that He will fulfill every iron-clad promise He has made to us? Not on what we bring to the table, but what Christ has already brought to the table – namely, His perfectly righteous life and His atoning death in our place on the cross. What should cause our hearts to sigh deep sighs of relief?
“[to] be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Philippians 3:9)
As you prepare your heart for our worship gathering this Sunday, take some time to meditate on this beautiful answer from the Heidelberg Catechism to the question, “How are you righteous before God?”
Only by true faith in Jesus Christ:
that is, although my conscience accuses me,
that I have grievously sinned
against all the commandments of God,
and have never kept any of them,
and am still prone always to all evil;
yet God, without any merit of mine,
of mere grace,
grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction
righteousness,
and holiness of Christ,
as if I had never committed
nor had any sins,
and had myself accomplished all the obedience
which Christ has fulfilled for me;
if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.
Jackson Randall will be preaching this Sunday and Caleb Parker will be leading us in sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And would you read the passage for Sunday (3:1-11) ahead of time and pray for our church?
Thank you, Grace. See you Sunday. Come hungry!
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LINK OF THE WEEK
Yet Not I, but Through Christ in Me – CityAlight