Gospel vs. Religion

Philippians 3:1-11

Philippians 3:1-7• 1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to

write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. • 2Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those

mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Philippians 3:7-11

• 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead – Philippians 3:1-11

Acts 15:1,2

• 1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

Genesis 17:9-12

• 9 Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

• 6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. -Deuteronomy 30:6

• 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Galatians 6:15

Romans 10:3-5

• 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

Religion vs. The Gospel

• Religion says that God will not love or accept me until I obey his rules.

• The Gospel says that God already loves me and has clearly displayed that love at the cross.

Religion vs. The Gospel

• Religion is about mans quest to find God.

• The Gospel is about God coming to find us in Jesus.

Religion vs. The Gospel

• Religion says that the world is filled with good people and bad people.

• The Gospel says that the world is not filled with good and bad people because everyone is bad and only Jesus is good. Therefore, there are really only repentant people who trust in Jesus and non repentant people who don’t.

Religion vs. The Gospel

• Religion is about what you do to make yourself acceptable to God

• The Gospel is about what God has done to make us acceptable to him.

Problems with Religion

• Religion turns God into a tyrant with a whip instead of

loving father.

• Religion leads to uncertainty in regards to our standing before God.

• Religion leads to pride or despair.

• Religion steals are joy