What are the kinds of things that we can mistakenly put our confidence in for salvation or for God to be more favourable toward us?
Paul uses himself as an example of one who could take pride and confidence in his past and works for self-salvation. Paul writes,
‘…Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 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.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.’ (Philippians 3:4-9)
However, Paul has rejected all spiritual pride and has dropped everything in order to trust in Jesus alone.
None of Paul’s works or heritage were of any help in his becoming righteous before our holy God. To outward appearance, Paul could say of himself, ‘as for righteousness based on the law, faultless’. However, he came to see that he was a sinner. We read of his inner turmoil in Romans 7; he writes,
‘We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.’ (Romans 7:14-15)