Confidence (Philippians 3:1-11)

What do you rely on most in life? When things get hard, when your identity feels shaken, or when you’re uncertain about your future—where do you turn? We all have something we lean on. Maybe it’s your accomplishments, your reputation, or your ability to “hold it all together.” Maybe it’s the security of a job, a relationship, or even your faithfulness to religious practices. The truth is, we all put confidence in something.

But what happens when the things we trust in don’t hold up? When the career falls apart, the relationships disappoint, or even our best efforts fail us? What happens when the foundation we’ve built can’t bear the weight of life?

Paul wrestled with these questions too. In Philippians 3, he reveals the only confidence worth having is the confidence that comes from knowing Christ. Not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him deeply, personally, and completely. And in knowing Christ, Paul finds a foundation that will never fail.

Today, we’re going to walk through this powerful passage together. We’ll see Paul dismantle false confidence, reveal the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, and invite us to build our lives on something unshakable. My prayer is that as we study this text, you’ll discover not just what Paul knew—but the One Paul knew—and that it will change how you live, where you hope, and in whom you place your trust.

Rejoice in Who (1-3)

Philippians 3:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

The Apostle Paul begins this section of his letter with a command: "Rejoice in the Lord!" Not in your circumstances. Not in your accomplishments. Not in the fleeting things of this world. He says, "Rejoice in the Lord." And then he adds, “To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” Paul isn’t just repeating himself out of habit; he knows this reminder is a safeguard for their faith. Why? Because joy in the Lord protects us from placing our confidence in anything else.

Paul shifts immediately to a warning in verse 2: "Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh." Who is he talking about? He’s talking about people who insisted that faith in Christ wasn’t enough. They claimed that believers needed to adhere to Jewish rituals like circumcision to be truly saved. Paul doesn’t mince words here. He calls them “dogs,” a term often used by Jews to describe Gentiles. It’s a sharp rebuke aimed at those twisting the gospel.

And then he contrasts these false teachers with the true believers in verse 3: "For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." Did you catch that? True believers are marked by three things:

1 They worship by the Spirit of God, not in ritualistic acts. 2 They glory in Christ Jesus, not in themselves. 3 They put no confidence in the flesh—no reliance on human effort or achievement for salvation.

⠀Now, let’s pause here. This is rich ground for reflection. Paul is drawing a line between two ways of living: one where we put our confidence in ourselves and one where we put our confidence in Christ. Think about it: How often do we put confidence in the wrong things? We may not be tempted to trust in circumcision, but we do trust in other markers of success, don’t we? We trust in our bank accounts, our job titles, our social status, even our religious practices. We say, “Look at how moral I am, how busy I am for God, how much I’ve achieved.”

But Paul is clear: confidence in the flesh is a dead-end road. Real joy—the kind of joy that sustains us—comes from knowing Christ and living in the power of the Spirit.

Paul’s warning in verse 2 is sharp: "Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh." He’s addressing those who insisted that confidence in Christ alone wasn’t enough—that something external, like circumcision, had to be added to faith for salvation. Paul won’t have it. Instead, he identifies the true people of God in verse 3: "For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh."

True believers are marked by their reliance on Christ. They don’t glory in their works or achievements; they glory in Christ Jesus. Their worship is Spirit-filled, not bound to outward forms. They don’t rest in their own abilities but in the sufficiency of God’s grace.

This is where Paul’s command to "rejoice in the Lord" comes into focus. Rejoicing in the Lord means building your joy and confidence on something that cannot be shaken. If your joy comes from what you can achieve, it will falter. If it comes from circumstances, it will waver. But if it is rooted in the Lord, it will stand firm.

Paul’s emphasis here is clear: anything we build outside of Christ will ultimately fail us. The text itself pushes us to ask: What are you trusting in? Where is your confidence? Is it in the works of the flesh or in the finished work of Christ? The foundation matters. If you build on sand, it will collapse. But if you build on the Rock—on Christ—you can rejoice no matter what comes your way.

Paul’s Mistaken Confidence (4-6)

Philippians 3:4–6 (ESV) — 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

After laying out where true confidence belongs—in Christ alone—Paul turns the spotlight on himself. In verses 4 through 6, he begins to expose what it looks like to put confidence in the wrong things. He writes, "Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more." This isn’t Paul being arrogant; it’s Paul making a point. If confidence in human effort, religious credentials, or personal achievement could save someone, Paul would have been at the top of the list.

And then he gives us the list. Listen to his resume: "Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless." This is a stacked portfolio. Paul wasn’t just a Jew—he was the epitome of what a Jewish man could aspire to be. He followed the Law perfectly. He came from the right lineage. He was passionate, even to the point of persecuting the early church, because he thought he was protecting God’s honor.

If anyone had reason to boast in the flesh, it was Paul. Yet, the irony is clear: all of it, as impressive as it seemed, was worthless in terms of gaining righteousness before God. His natural abilities, his religious zeal, and his flawless adherence to the law—it all came up short.

Let’s pause and consider why Paul spends time here. He wants his readers to understand that even the most impressive human achievements cannot replace or supplement Christ. Confidence in the flesh will always fail us. And here’s the subtle danger: these false foundations often look good. They appear solid. Paul’s credentials were not inherently bad; they were even commendable in many ways. But the problem comes when we make good things ultimate things, trusting them to do what only Christ can.

This forces us to reflect: what are the “resumes” we build today? Maybe it’s a career you’ve spent decades building. Maybe it’s a reputation for being a “good person” or a moral leader in your community. Maybe it’s your ability to raise a godly family, to serve faithfully in the church, or to live a disciplined life. These are all good things—just like Paul’s list was good. But when we start to trust them as the source of our confidence or identity, they become false foundations.

Paul’s testimony is clear: even the best credentials fall short. If we’re not careful, we’ll spend our lives building towers of achievement only to discover they cannot stand before God. This is why Paul forces us to see that what looks like strength is actually weakness apart from Christ. Confidence in the flesh—whether in morality, status, or religious effort—leads to spiritual bankruptcy.

As Paul exposes the emptiness of these foundations, the text challenges us. Are we building our confidence on what we’ve done or who Christ is? Are we trusting in our “resume” or in the cross? Paul’s example serves as both a warning and an invitation: tear down the false foundations and prepare your heart for something far greater. Because in Christ, there is a foundation that never fails.

Finding Surpassing Worth (7-8)

Philippians 3:7–8 (ESV) — 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

After exposing the false foundations, Paul pivots to one of the most stunning declarations in Scripture. In verse 7, he writes, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ." All of those achievements, all of that status—he now sees them as worthless. It’s as if Paul has taken everything on his "profit" column, everything he once prized, and moved it over to the "loss" column. And what’s in the "gain" column now? One thing: Christ.

Paul isn’t just using poetic language here. This is the testimony of a man whose life has been utterly transformed by Jesus. He goes on in verse 8 to double down: "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Not only does Paul count his past achievements as loss, but he goes further—he counts everything as loss compared to knowing Christ.

Let’s stop and sit with that for a moment. The phrase "surpassing worth of knowing Christ" is the heart of this passage. Paul is saying that knowing Jesus is so valuable, so rich, so infinitely satisfying that everything else pales in comparison. It’s not that Paul’s accomplishments were inherently evil; it’s that their value is like dust when weighed against the treasure of Christ.

And to drive the point home, Paul uses one of the strongest words in the New Testament. He says, "For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." The word "rubbish" (Greek: skubalon) could also be translated as "garbage" or even "dung." Paul isn’t being polite here. He wants his readers to feel the sharp contrast between the worth of Christ and the worthlessness of everything else.

This is a radical reordering of priorities, isn’t it? And it forces us to ask some uncomfortable questions. What are we counting as "gain"? What’s in our "profit" column that might be keeping us from fully treasuring Christ? For Paul, it was his religious accomplishments and social status. For us, it might be career success, personal comfort, financial security, or even good things like family and ministry.

Here’s the point Paul is making: you cannot hold on to both the world’s values and Christ’s values. One will always outweigh the other. And when you truly see Christ for who He is—His beauty, His glory, His love—you will gladly let go of anything that competes for your allegiance. That’s not to say it’s easy. Paul says he suffered the loss of all things. Letting go of false treasures is painful. But it’s worth it because Christ is worth it.

So what does it look like for us to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ? It starts with a shift in perspective. Instead of viewing success, status, or possessions as ultimate, we begin to see them as tools or opportunities to glorify God. We hold them loosely, knowing that our true treasure is not in what we have but in whom we know.

Paul’s words invite us to examine our hearts. Is Christ your greatest treasure? Can you honestly say that knowing Him surpasses everything else in your life? If the answer is no, that’s not a call to despair—it’s an invitation. Paul isn’t calling us to muster up affection for Christ on our own. He’s calling us to see Christ for who He truly is, to behold His surpassing worth, and to let that vision reshape our values.

This is what it means to discover the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. It’s not just about letting go of the wrong things; it’s about being captivated by the right thing—by the One who is more precious than anything this world could ever offer. When we see Christ this way, our priorities shift, our hearts are transformed, and we can truly say with Paul: "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

Rely on Christ’s Righteousness (9)

Philippians 3:9 (ESV) — 9 and 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—

Paul has already exposed the futility of relying on human effort and revealed the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Now he takes us deeper into what this treasure entails: a righteousness not our own, but one that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. In verse 9, Paul says, "And 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."

This verse gets to the very heart of the gospel. Paul contrasts two kinds of righteousness: the kind that comes from our own efforts and the kind that comes through faith. Let’s be clear—Paul is talking about the righteousness needed to stand before a holy God. And here’s the hard truth: no amount of human effort, no adherence to the law, no moral achievement can ever make us righteous enough. Paul had tried that route, and it left him bankrupt.

But here’s the good news: there is a righteousness that comes not from our striving but from faith. The former is self-reliant; the latter is God-reliant. The law cannot make us righteous because, as Paul writes elsewhere, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But God, in His grace, offers to count us as righteous when we trust in Him.

Think about what Paul is saying here. To “be found in Him” is to be hidden in Christ, accepted by him. This is why Paul can let go of his achievements. He’s not standing on his own merit anymore; he’s standing on Christ’s love for him. And this is the foundation for real confidence—not in what we do, but in what Christ has already done for us.

Let me ask you something: have you ever felt like you’re not good enough for God? Maybe you’ve tried to clean yourself up, to live a good life, to follow all the rules, and yet deep down, you still feel like you’re falling short. Paul’s testimony here is a lifeline for anyone who’s weary from trying to earn God’s approval. Paul’s personal testimony here is a model for us. He had every reason, by human standards, to feel righteous because of his accomplishments. But he realized that those things could never make him right with God. He had to let them go and choose to trust in Christ alone. The gospel tells us that our standing before God doesn’t depend on how good we are but on how good Jesus is. And He is more than enough.

But this truth doesn’t just free us from striving; it also calls us to live differently. When we stop relying on our own righteousness, we stop being enslaved to performance. We don’t serve God out of guilt or fear; we serve Him out of love and gratitude. And when we know we’re covered by Christ’s righteousness, it gives us a boldness to approach God with confidence and to live for Him with joy.

Paul’s words here are deeply practical. They invite us to rest in grace. They call us to stop measuring ourselves by our own performance and to anchor our identity in Christ. If you’re in Christ, then you’re already accepted. You’re already loved. You’re already righteous—not because of what you’ve done, but because of what He has done.

So, where is your confidence? Is it in your ability to check all the right boxes, to live a moral life, to be a “good Christian”? Or is it in Christ and Christ alone? Paul’s answer is clear: the only righteousness that counts is the one that comes through faith. And when you rest in that righteousness, you discover a confidence that nothing in this world can shake.

Live in Resurrection Power with an Eternal Perspective (10-11)

Philippians 3:10–11 (ESV) — 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Verses 10 and 11 are not a new direction but an extension of Paul’s thoughts in verses 7-9. After declaring the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and emphasizing the righteousness that comes through faith, Paul now unpacks what it means to truly know Christ. It’s as if Paul is saying, “Let me show you what this looks like in real life.”

In verses 7-9, Paul talks about gaining Christ and being found in Him, letting go of his old identity and resting in the righteousness that comes by faith. But what does it mean to know Christ in this way? This is where verses 10 and 11 take us deeper. Paul says, "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

Let’s break this down. Paul isn’t talking about a superficial or distant relationship with Christ. To know Christ is far more than just intellectual belief; it’s an experiential, all-encompassing relationship. In verse 10, Paul describes two key aspects of this knowing: the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.

First, the power of His resurrection. This ties directly to verse 9, where Paul emphasizes being found in Christ and receiving righteousness through faith. That righteousness isn’t just a legal standing; it’s the gateway to experiencing the transformative power of the risen Christ. The power of His resurrection isn’t just a future promise—it’s a present reality. It’s the power that brings dead things to life, that renews and restores, that gives us strength to live as God’s people in a broken world.

But then Paul adds, "and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." Here’s the connection to verse 8, where Paul counts everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Knowing Christ means identifying with Him so completely that even suffering is seen as a privilege, not a curse. To share in His sufferings is to walk the path of humility, obedience, and self-denial that Jesus walked. It’s to trust in God’s purposes even in the midst of pain, knowing that suffering for Christ deepens our relationship with Him.

And why is Paul willing to embrace this kind of life? Verse 11 answers: "That by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." This is Paul’s ultimate goal, his ultimate confidence. All of this—letting go of worldly achievements, being found in Christ, experiencing His resurrection power, and sharing in His sufferings—leads to the hope of eternal life. The resurrection Paul speaks of here is the future bodily resurrection, when believers will be fully transformed and glorified with Christ.

So, how do verses 10 and 11 explain verses 7-9? They show us that knowing Christ isn’t just about what we lose (verses 7-8) or even about the righteousness we gain through faith (verse 9). It’s about living in a relationship so real, so profound, that it shapes every part of our lives. It’s about experiencing the resurrection power that makes us new and embracing the fellowship of sufferings that makes us more like Jesus. And all of this is anchored in the hope of resurrection—a hope that allows us to endure, to press on, and to live with eternal perspective.

This is Paul’s vision of the Christian life: to know Christ fully, to experience His power, to walk with Him through suffering, and to live in the hope of resurrection. These verses aren’t just theology—they’re an invitation. An invitation to let go of the fleeting and embrace the eternal. An invitation to move beyond intellectual belief to a life deeply rooted in the person of Christ. And an invitation to live with the kind of confidence that only comes when you truly know Him.

Conclusion

When we step back and look at this passage, one thing becomes overwhelmingly clear: there is only one foundation that will never fail us, and that foundation is Christ. Paul’s testimony isn’t just an argument against misplaced confidence; it’s an invitation to build our lives on something infinitely greater.

He shows us the futility of trusting in our achievements, our religious practices, or our own efforts. He helps us see the surpassing worth of knowing Christ—not just as a distant figure but as the center of our lives. He reminds us that righteousness isn’t something we earn; it’s something we receive through faith. And finally, he calls us to live in the power of Christ’s resurrection and the hope of eternity, even when the path involves suffering.

So let me ask you again: Where is your confidence? If it’s in yourself—your accomplishments, your strength, or even your religious efforts—it will fail. But if it’s in Christ, it will stand, no matter what life brings. Knowing Christ isn’t just a part of life; it’s the whole of it. And when He becomes your treasure, your righteousness, and your hope, you’ll find that He’s more than enough.

The world around us is constantly shifting, offering promises of security that never deliver. But in Christ, you have something unshakable, unchangeable, and eternal. So today, take the step that Paul took. Count everything else as loss. Let go of the false foundations. And choose to build your life on the one foundation that will last forever.

In Christ, there is joy that endures, righteousness that frees, and power that transforms. And that’s a foundation worth trusting. Let’s rejoice in Him together.