“...We Christians glory in what Christ Jesus has DONE for us and realize that we are helpless to save ourselves.” Philippians 3:3 (LB)

“...We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it!”

Philippians 3:3 (MSG)

•        THE TRAP: LEGALISM (vs. 2-6)

         Rituals - Race - Religion - Rules - Reputation   

         “...in legalistic righteousness, I was faultless.” Philippians 3:6

“But I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God's law. Instead I trust Christ to save me! For God's way of making us right with himself is through faith!” Philippians 3:9 (NLT) 

“All the things that I once thought were so important to me, I now consider worth nothing, because of Christ.” Philippians 3:7

•        THE TRAP: POPULAR CULTURE   1 John 2:16

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him.” Philippians 3:8 (NLT) 

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death so that somehow I also may be raised to life.” Philippians 3:10-11

“For my determined purpose is that I may know Christ – that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more strongly and more clearly…” Philippians 3:10 (Amp)

•        THE TRAP: BUSYNESS

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 

“I don't mean to say I am perfect. I still haven't learned all I should, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be...”

Philippians 3:12-13 (LB)

•        THE TRAP: PRIDE

“Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it.” 

2 Corinthians 13:5 (MSG) 

“I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

•        THE TRAPS:  UNFORGIVENESS

         REGRET

         TRADITION

“God says, ‘Forget the former things and do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!’” Isaiah 43:17-18