Continuing the reflection on Philippians 3:1-14, if my battery was soon to run out there are five big statements that I would be happy to make my closing chapter.
The second: Keep your brain switched on.
3:2 “Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil”
You’ll remember that Paul was warning against following the advice of misguided and controlling types, who insisted that these new Christians should be circumcised (as per Jewish traditions) in order to be saved.
Watch out!
Watch out for those who want to ‘improve’ on grace – who infer that we make or need to make a part contribution to the cost of salvation.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Eph. 2:8-9
It is by grace… a rarely encountered commodity in the world.
If someone acts kindly and sacrificially towards another, suspicions are roused; “What are they trying to get?”
Be discerning. Keep your brain switched on.
Do you remember the day of your birth?
What part did you play (apart from being the centre of attention)?
From that day on, you and I feed ourselves to grow and be healthy,
we study to be wise and employable and useful,
we exercise control over our growth and knowledge and health.
But I made no contribution to my human birth and less to my spiritual birth.
My salvation was all of God. He saved me.
When you think about it, it is more than a little arrogant to imagine that the sacrifice of the pure and sinless Son of God was not enough, and that somehow our efforts need to be added to secure salvation.
It is prideful thinking. “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling”
“…it is the gift of God, not by works so no-one can boast”
As we have noted, the tantalizing spin-off to that fundamental truth is that when you or I act in grace towards another, simply out of love with no other agenda, it really plays with their mind.
If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch;
if he’s thirsty, bring him a drink.
[Your gift of grace will throw him off-balance, off-guard]
Your generosity will surprise him with goodness,
and God will look after you. Prov. 25:21-22 (The Message)