Philippians 3:4b-6

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.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 2^nd & 3^rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The “great rabbis” had distilled Torah instruction down to the 613 mitzvot (commandments). The readers are encouraged to access the following link...




...where one version of this list can be found: http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm.

To be “righteous” in relationship to such a list simply meant you can check off the items you have obeyed. Is Torah more than such a list? For Jesus, the answer was clearly, yes! For Paul, before he met Jesus, the list was a source of comfort that he had met the requirements for “righteousness” (Hebrew: tzedaqah, “righteousness,” “blameless behavior,” “justice,” “what is reliable,” “godliness,” “salvation”; Greek: dikaiosune). Righteousness, on these terms, was an “achievement” which, under the right circumstances, could bring the kingdom of God near to Israel. As a “righteousness achiever” Paul saw himself as contributing to that end. [BN, 8]

Join us this week in Study, Worship, Praise and Celebration at Chicago First Church of the Nazarene –

* Saturday 6:00pm
* Sunday 8:30am & 11:00am, 5:30pm