In Philippians 3:1-11, the apostle Paul was warning the early Christians about relying on circumcision and following other Jewish rituals and obeying other laws and rules. He described his own life, saying, “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised 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; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (verses 4-6). Then Paul said that he considered all of these good deeds as garbage compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

We may find it hard to see the relevance in Paul’s description of his life as a devout Jew (Philippians 3:4-6). But consider the following testimony:

I grew up in a Christian home and was raised by godly parents. I publicly accepted Christ as my personal Savior at a Christian camp when I was twelve. I was baptized at sixteen and joined our local Baptist church. I was active in the youth group and helped out with summer vacation Bible school and Sunday school. I went to Bible college and earned a Master’s degree in theology from a respected evangelical seminary. I have taught Sunday school and led Bible studies and am a member of the church board. I am married with three children. I have never committed a crime. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs. I am well respected in my community and church.

We would all applaud such a testimony. But what if the person giving the testimony went on to say: The truth is I am not saved by any of this. In fact, I consider it all as less than useless compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

How easy it is to see the flaws in Paul’s early life. And how easy it is to fail to see the flaws in our own. How easy it is for us to fall back into relying on our own righteous works to be justified before God, instead of recognizing that we are sinners saved by grace, saved by faith in Jesus alone, justified only by Jesus dying on the cross to save us.