Context: Paul has been warning the Philippians to beware of those who are trying to convince them that circumcision is a requirement for salvation.
Text:
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (NIV)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
Paul was a very dedicated Jew. He did all the right things, he pursued religious righteousness with a vengeance, and he worked hard to be successful. Unfortunately he was wrong.
Paul had one of the most famous conversions in history. In the course of just a few days he was rerouted into a totally different direction. Instead of being the hunter, he was now the hunted.
But regardless of how his heart changed, God still let him keep his basic personality traits -- his drive for excellence at his pursuits. When we are saved, God doesn't turn us into robots -- he maximizes the wonderful traits he gave us at birth and uses them to further his kingdom!
How have you changed since you became a Christian? How are you the same?
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