Spiritual Grit - Part 1

This week, Michael writes: True Grit describes a person who is firm and steadfast in mind and spirit. A man or woman of true spiritual grit is unyielding in courage in the face of hardship and danger. They have intestinal fortitude. They stand firm in the faith and is spiritually strong, courageous in his Lord Jesus Christ.

As men and women of God, Christ likeness is our goal. The book of Philippians reminds us of who we are in Christ. In this epistle of joy Paul exhorts followers of Christ to “rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice.” According to 1 Corinthians 5, “you are not your own ... you were bought with a price.” A man of God is God’s man and a woman of God is God’s woman. The most important thing is not who we are but rather whose we are.

Philippians 3:1-2 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” False teachers were coming into the fellowship of the believers and said that they needed to follow the Old Testament law of circumcision. However, Paul reminds them that true spiritual grit means that we are circumcised according to the spirit of life in Christ and not according tot he flesh:

Philippians 3:3. “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

Paul reminds them of his own credentials as a “Hebrew of Hebrews in Philippians 3:4-6 “ though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

Paul had impeccable credentials according to the traditions of the Old Testament law. He was born into one of the elite tribes of the southern kingdom of Judah. In the eyes of the Hebrew religious leaders, he had a lot to brag about. However, Paul came to the conclusion that his earthly credentials were worth nothing compared to his credentials in the spirit of Christ: Philippians 3:7-8 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Compared to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, everything the world considers valuable is “counted but dung.” 

Philippians 3:9-10 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

It’s not what we know that’s important but rather who we know. The important question is, “Do you know Jesus?” To know Jesus Christ is to know the power of His resurrection. Because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, we who have confessed Jesus is Lord have been raised in the newness of life. Since we have received the Holy Spirit through faith, He will open the eyes of our spiritual understanding as we walk in close proximity in fellowship with Him. When we walk with Him, He will take us through the suffering and endurance of the trials of life. To be conformed unto His death, we must die to self so that we can live for Him. According to Galatians 2:20, “I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” 

Let's continue Michael's message on "Spiritual Grit" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian