Getting ready for a Bible class in Philippians three, two things came to mind I’ll share with you:

High orthodox religious pedigree doesn’t give anyone standing with God. You may have, before your birth and time of accountability, a long line of family predecessors who enjoyed religious reputation. Do not deceive yourself into thinking that history gives you standing with God. It may be an advantage if you were taught the truth and saw that truth in the lives of family. If, however, you rest on that “orthodox religious pedigree,” it becomes a disadvantage. High orthodox religious pedigree doesn’t give anyone standing with God. Only Christ gives you standing with God, if you are responsive to Him. Responsive to Him in this way: “…whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ,” (Phil. 3:7).

Paul was not a “conservative” in the sense of hanging on to what he had always done, because he always did it. I know. I’ve used a trigger word. Here’s what I mean. It would have been easy for Paul to resist change, had he not been honest. “This is what I’ve always done. Why change now!” Not so with Paul. When he found the new and living way, he gave up the old and dying way, to gain Christ.

Read Phil. 3:1-11.