It makes sense that as we get closer to Christ's return, how people identify themselves and others is a giant mess. But Paul's letter to the Philippians reminding them of the Gospel gives grounding truth to cut through all the noise. In this Bible study, we will see that a daily core question we should be asking ourselves is: Are we identifying in our own works/accomplishments, or in Christ’s?

• _{What’s one thing about your life, your accomplishments, or even your family and your ancestry that you are particularly proud of and like to share with others (not for bragging, but just because it means a lot to you)? How does sharing that make you feel?}
• _{We are willing to bet there’s something about what came to mind that gives you a sense of identity, a grounding and comforting sense of connection to something greater than yourself.}

Read Philippians 3:1-6

[Phl 3:1-6 NASB95] 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things [again] is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the [true] circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

• What do you think is the significance of saying to ‘rejoice,’ and then ‘beware’?
• Remember the context of Paul’s letter thus far. We rejoice ‘in Christ’... did Christ have enemies?
  
• Why do you think people were trying to force the Gentile Christians to get circumcised? What kinds of things do we say a believer “Must do” in order to be saved beyond receiving Christ?
• See Romans 2-4 and Acts 15. Circumcision was an outward sign, meant to be a reminder of Abraham’s FAITH. There was no magic or special inclusion given because of the physical practice of circumcision. Adding this tradition as a requirement to new believers was a man-made righteousness; a different standard than what God required. Denominationalism, behavior modification and oaths of performance are several such tactics used by groups today to accomplish the same.
  
• Why is there a sense of power in getting people to conform to our own standard?
• It feeds into our god-complex. To get someone to conform to your standard proves you as an authority. When Satan convinced Eve and Adam to eat of the fruit, they abandoned God’s headship and confined themselves under him as their new ruler. The Jews still sought to elevate themselves above the rest of humanity by clinging to types and shadows which really pointed to Christ. Now that He is revealed, He becomes the identifier of the worshippers of God, not Jewish legalism or ceremonialism.

Read Philippians 3:7-11

[Phl 3:7-11 NASB95] 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which [comes] from God on the basis of 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 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

• Paul was the most Jewish Jew who may have ever lived, but the argument he makes is that all those things are worthless compared to what Christ has done for us. The standard for what Jews thought was ‘great’ he actually attained, and now he’s calling it garbage. What are some of the accomplishments we put stock in today? Either in the world or in our faith tradition?
• Job title, position in our church, our hobbies, our past, even our testimony of how screwed up we were before accepting Christ can be ways to shift attention to ourselves and away from Jesus.
  
• Paul’s language in verse 8 is strong, he doesn’t just consider his past accomplishments garbage, the Greek is actually dog dung. How would it feel to have what you hold so dearly verbally cut down and minimized to nothing?
• What is our inner-narrative? What do we cling to in order to feel secure? Who is the only security?
  
• In verse 9 & 10, Paul says he wants to be identified by the righteousness of Christ (not his own right-doing), and know Jesus intimately, experiencing His power, even if it means suffering with him. What does that mean?
• Did Christ suffer for doing good? Was He mislabeled and mistreated while upholding the ultimate love and generosity to His fellow man? Is he concerned with how he is perceived by others? If we aren’t physically with Christ what does it mean to suffer with Him?

Read Philippians 3:12-21

[Phl 3:12-21 NASB95] 12 Not that I have already obtained [it] or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of [it] yet; but one thing [I do:] forgetting what [lies] behind and reaching forward to what [lies] ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same [standard] to which we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is [their] appetite, and [whose] glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

• What does he ‘regard’ and disregard?
• After accepting Christ, how are we to reckon or consider everything in our lives before that point? Dead. See Rom 6:8-10.
  
• How does he describe those who are not seeking Christ above?
• ‘Whose god is their appetite.’ Think of a serpent - it’s propelled by its belly, all of its being is directed and controlled by what it hungers for. To follow worldly pursuits, ambitions and even ‘right-doing’ (remember the tie to circumcision he’s made) only leads to destruction. To pick up our cross and follow Christ is to war against all of these natural tendencies, and alternatively, to submit to worldly definitions of righteousness makes us enemies of the cross of Christ.
  
• What does being a citizen of a nation mean? Does that identity/culture disappear when you travel? What’s the point Paul is making in the context of the Gospel?
• Read 2 Corinthians 5. We are ambassadors for Christ (our King) while here on earth. Our citizenship was paid for and purchased by the blood of God and we are to represent Him in all settings and circumstances, pressing forward to the call home.
  
• What drives such a radical tie to be with someone who we cannot see? Through hardship, through persecution, through great pain, what motivates such a steadfast decision to be with Christ?

Read Isaiah 49:14-16

[Isa 49:14-16 NASB95] 14 But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, And the Lord has forgotten me." 15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 16 "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms [of My hands;] Your walls are continually before Me.

• The Love of God in the person of Christ dispels any doubt from the mind in regards to God’s faithfulness. He has severely proven the depths of His love towards every human soul in identifying and bearing our sins, so that we can imputed His righteousness, covered by His perfection.

[1Jo 4:10 NASB95] 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

[Eph 2:4-9 NASB95] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

• Notice the connection between these next two verses.

[Jer 23:5-6 NASB95] 5 "Behold, [the] days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. 6 "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our righteousness.'

[Jer 33:16 NASB95] 16 'In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is [the name] by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.'

• Jesus came to ransom a bride to Himself. By His blood and death and life, He redeemed her from death and now her identity is swallowed up in His. ‘The LORD our righteousness’ is our King, our Kinsman Redeemer, and our identification in the Book of Life.

Read Isaiah 53

[Isa 53:1-12 NASB95] 1 Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no [stately] form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being [fell] upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke [was due?] 9 His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. 10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting [Him] to grief; If He would render Himself [as] a guilt offering, He will see [His] offspring, He will prolong [His] days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see [it and] be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

• The most glorious and epic truth of the gospel is that the eternal Creator left His throne to be identified and condemned as a criminal in our place. By doing so, He made it possible for us to be identified and treated with the benefits of His perfection; an eternal inheritance of abundant life. When our name comes up on the register of the Book of Life, the life-record of Christ is seen next to it. Infinite and perfect. By our own good deeds? Never. He is our righteousness. He is our identity. Let the ambitions, the titles, the conflicts and competitions of this world fade away and dissolve, our King remains forevermore.