In chapter 1, Paul described how we can experience Joy in Suffering,  http://wp.me/p5nZpi-mF.  In chapter 2, Paul described how we can experience Joy in Serving,  http://wp.me/p5nZpi-nA.

Perhaps you thought serving would be an easy, and obvious way, to experience joy.  Yet, as we learned with experiencing joy in suffering, experiencing joy in serving, also requires sacrifice and dependence on God.  And we’ll see that to experience joy in believing, will require no less.

When I think of experiencing joy in believing, it seems like this will be easier than to experience joy in suffering and serving.

After-all, how hard can it be to believe?

Well, I guess it all depends on what you believe. Because our beliefs are the foundation on which we base our decisions, make our choices, determine who or what we follow, and what formulates our worldviews.

For our purpose, we’ll be looking at experiencing the joy in believing from the perspective of what we put our “faith” in (a strong belief or trust in someone or something).  As Paul puts it in Philippians 3:3 – We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us.

Paul was the perfect person to make this statement because, as we’ll see in a moment, Paul has the “creds” that would easily allow him to puff out his chest.  People that knew him, might have even called him “SuperJew”.

Perhaps he looked a bit like Jason Alexander, better known as, George Costanza from the hit comedy, Seinfeld??

• I was circumcised when I was eight days old.
• I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one!
• I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 
• I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church.
• And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

Now how’s that for a resume?

But let’s look at Paul’s very next verse.  I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.  Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with Him.- Phil. 3:7-9a

                         

 

WOW!!

IF PAUL, AND ALL HIS CREDENTIALS WERE CONSIDERED GARBAGE, THEN WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US, OR PAUL, FOR THAT MATTER??

< All My “Creds” are Garbage???  –  Joy in Believing –  PHILIPPIANS  (Chapter 3)   [9], http://wp.me/p5nZpi-sC >