Phil. 3:1-6; Luke 18:9-14, Confidence

There is a third characteristic of the Church that makes them the true circumcision.

·        They have no confidence in the flesh.

Paul was a confident man.  In this short letter to the Philippians he used this term for confidence several times.  He was confident God would finish His work in the Philippian believers (1:6).  He noted the confidence of others in boldly preaching the gospel (1:14).  He was confident he would not die now so he could continue ministry (1:25).  And he was confident he would come to see them soon in Philippi (2:24).  He often spoke like this.  Is this arrogance?


What is “confidence?”  The Greek word here (peitho) is from the “faith family.”  It means to be persuaded of something.  Paul often spoke of wanting to “persuade” people (Acts 17:4; 18:4; 19:8,26; 28:23-24).  What he meant was he wanted them to come to faith in Christ, to put their confidence in Christ and His death and resurrection.  He did not want people to be “arrogant” but he did want them to be assured about salvation and their relationship with their Creator.


Where does this confidence come from?  Consider three possible sources.

Ø What was the source of confidence for Greeks and Romans?  There was a Greek goddess of persuasion (peitho, same term).  How did she persuade people to do her will?  She seduced them, like a salesman would try to convince people they want something they really don’t need.  This is the persuasion Satan used in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:1-6) and in the desert with Christ (Matt. 4:1-11).  Satan appeals to our lusts and our pride (1 Jn. 2:15-17).  This is confidence in the flesh.

Ø What was the source of confidence for Jews?  Jesus explained it in the parable of the two men who went to the temple to pray (Lk. 18:9-14; if your translation says trusted in v9 note that it is the word for putting your confidence in yourself).  The Pharisee demonstrated this by comparing himself to the tax collector and by speaking of his great accomplishments for God.  This is how Jews persuade others of their righteousness and Paul knew it well as you see in Phil. 3:5-6.  Paul could list off all these things that would put him way above other Jews of his day.  But here is the truth: this is confidence in the flesh.

Ø What was the source of confidence for Paul?  From Phil. 1:21 and 3:7 there is a one word answer: CHRIST!  For Paul confidence in the flesh is loss; instead he wanted to gain Christ.  The former was rubbish; the latter was superior or excellent.  What Paul expects to gain through confidence in Christ is righteousness, something that can never be gained or attained if you put your confidence in the flesh.  He trusted Christ, the One who knew no sin but became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21).  

Of what are we persuaded and why?  Is our persuasion foolish (like a house built on sand) or solid (like a house build on the Rock)?