In Philippians 3:1-11, Paul passionately defends the true Gospel against those who were adding requirements to salvation. He counters these distortions by sharing his own impressive religious credentials, only to declare them worthless compared to knowing Christ. Today, we face similar distortions when we believe our goodness earns God's favor, add extra requirements to faith, or create barriers for certain people to feel welcome in God's family. To safeguard the Gospel, we must recognize our desperate need for a Savior, study Scripture in community, and remove barriers to God's family, remembering that righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone.
