Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(Php 3:9) “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”   No doublespeak, folks. It is Jesus’ righteousness that saves the soul. Salvation is not salvation if it doesn’t take you to heaven, for that is what salvation is; it is being saved from hell. So one cannot say, “I was saved and lost it”, for it didn’t save you from anything if it was lost. To say you “lost it”, says you didn’t do something right which speaks of your righteousness, not the righteousness of Christ. So, such a person is basing their salvation upon the cross plus….self. That is not what these verses are teaching!  

(Php 3:8) “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”  Remember, the subject here is how one is saved and whether the sacrifice of the cross is sufficient to save. Does one need something on top of what Jesus has provided, a measure of quality of life? Since Paul counts all things loss, including “…touching the righteousness which is in the law….”, shouldn’t we conclude the same when it comes to ‘our obedience to the Word of God? Once again, we must conclude, Jesus paid it all!

(Php 3:4)  “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: …. (2 whole verses list what he once had confidence in; then) …..(7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”  To comparison Paul’s background to ours, I dare say none of us can do so. Yet, the standard for salvation is not each other, or to the Apostle Paul; it is our life compared to Christ’s. There…..we fall far short. It is that life, Jesus’ life, that was offered on Calvary as substitution for our just penalty of death! Jesus paid it “all”!  

(Php 3:3)  “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”   “…in the spirit”: if one is not “spirit” as well as body and soul, then they cannot worship God Who IS spirit. Jesus very plainly said in John Chapter 3 that the “spirit” of man needed to be “birthed”, made alive. You can sing gospel songs until your voice is hoarse, strained, played out; yet, if you have not been born spiritually you have not worshiped! Jesus added this, in John Chapter 4, “spirit and in truth”. You must act upon the truth of Jesus’ Words or die in your sins.  

(Php 3:3) “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”  As a pastor I have said many times over the years, “If I thought salvation had anything to do with me and my goodness, I would quit and find another job.”  I have no confidence in my flesh. I could not merit salvation in the first place and certainly don’t today since I see spiritual things much more clearly. My Savior, the sinless Son of God’s blood, was sufficient to purchase my completeness of salvation! 

(Php 3:1)  “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”  The “same things” – things you have been told before. Friends, through these 44 years of my salvation experience, I have read the same Bible over and over and over again. Yet, I am always afraid I will forget something. There is nothing more important than the knowledge of what our God has imparted unto us. It troubles me every time I read some book where a person says something like, “John wrote what he remembered….” Garbage! My Bible’s author is God Himself, and thus beyond accurate. Since God gave it, every Word should be taken, believed, and held dear: “Such knowledge is too great for me”!  

(Php 3:1)  “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.”  When one beholds the many troubles and fears in this world, we have a tendency to become mentally down. Yet, if we just stopped and began to count our blessings: the Lord Jesus dying for my sin; forgiveness; a home in heaven; the blessings of home, family, friends, food, etc.., we cannot help but rejoice in the Lord!

(Php 2:21) “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Remember, the context here is “who” Paul had to send for the purpose of finding out about the Philippians’ spiritual welfare. Sad, there were few “ministers” of whom could be entrusted to put those body of believers “first” in the matter of concern. Is this where we find ourselves today? Is it the physical and spiritual welfare of the sheep that is of foremost concern in the life of the local pastor? Only the Lord knows for sure.

(Php 2:19) “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. (20)  For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.”  This insight into Paul’s carefulness regarding who is sent to them, “likeminded, who will naturally care for your state”, is significant. Souls are entrusted by God to certain individuals, such as missionaries (Paul and Timothy) and pastors of today. This is a sacred responsibility not taken lightly. Responsibility cannot be given or passed away. It can be delegated to another, but the delegator must still answer to He Who gave them. Like it or not, child of God, your pastor must answer for your actions  and thus may at times seem to “meddle” in your life!