Holy Priest-Martyr Dionysius the Areopagite.
Philippians 3:1-8. Luke 7:17-30.
Read Philippians 3:1-8
Paul warns the Philippians about the Judaizers, those who were teaching that Christians needed to submit to the Law of Moses. He compares the Judaizers to those pagans who would perform acts of self-mutilation since they so strongly advocated for the circumcision of the flesh to keep the Law of Moses. However, Paul teaches that “we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3). Paul admits that he had done all the deeds that the Jews thought would make him righteous: “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee, as to zeal a persecutor of the Church, as to righteousness under the law blameless” (Phil. 3:5-6). Having all the external qualities that might make one righteous before God in the eyes of the Jews, Paul recognized that it all accounts for nothing for the sake of Christ. Christ is our righteousness: “so that no flesh might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord’” (1 Cor. 1:29-31).
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes: “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Thus Abraham ‘believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. . . . Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’; but the law does not rest on faith, for ‘He who does them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree’—that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:5-7;11-14). Paul taught that Abraham’s faith was reckoned to him as righteousness, and it is through our faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified.